The New York-based company advertised in the Globe and Mail (Toronto) recently for finishers, bruters, and supervisors.

How much success the firm will have attracting them to the North isn't yet clear.

"I've been asking myself that," said New York-based spokesperson Juan Fernandez. "How do we get people there?"

The company wouldn't say how much interest the ads have attracted. A more likely scenario, said Fernandez, is that the firm will hire and train polishers locally.

Tiffany's has been actively looking within the industry internationally -- including in Europe -- for management and supervisory personnel.

"We may well bring in core management people from international locations.

"Diamond polishing tends to move from market to market. We definitely feel that in certain markets there will be under-utilized talent. We are looking to attract some of those people to Yellowknife to train local people."

The company has met with other large companies operating in the North to compare hiring notes, he said.

"We have made some fantastic contacts at companies like BHP and have looked at hiring practises to attract people."

Other than core management, the company considers that local hiring and training will be the key to establishing a "viable, long-term" facility in Yellowknife, he said.

"We need to have a local talent pool. The employment situation is very difficult right now, but we have also made some very good contacts in the communities and are looking at ways to attract good people."

Incentives might include offering flexible hours or shorter shifts for working parents, he said.

What the company offers in return is "stability and a commitment to the business and to Yellowknife."

Under construction on the city's 'Diamond Row,' the Tiffany plant is scheduled to open by May.

"That will become clearer once we have our management people in place. And we are close on that."

The plant is Tiffany's first move into cutting and polishing.

It will employ an estimated 20 people initially and 75 at capacity.

The 1,080 square metre facility (12,000 sq. ft.) will cost about $3 million.

The plant will cut and finish diamonds from the Diavik mine, also nearing completion.

The company has an agreement with Aber -- which owns 40 per cent of the Diavik mine -- to purchase at least $50 million in diamonds annually for 10 years.

Tiffany has 130 stores in 17 countries. Its 2002 revenue was $1.6 billion, most from jewelry sales.