PRELUDE PANEL OF INDUSTRY EXPERTS

Sally Morrison, chief marketing officer, De Beers' Lightbox Lab-grown diamonds can create new opportunities and, according to SALLY MORRISON, allow jewellers to compete with other fashion categories. Read more »

Jean-Marc Lieberherr, chief executive officer, Diamond Producers Association JEAN-MARC LIEBERHERR says consumers will continue to value the rarity and authenticity of natural diamonds because, in the end, real matters. Read more »

Richard Gerard, secretary general International DIamond Growers Association Lab-grown diamonds offer significant value and legitimate consumer choice. As such RICHARD GARARD says a downward price shift is unlikely. Read more »

Ernie Blom, president World Federation Diamond Bourses Diamonds can’t be made; they are part of Mother Nature. ERNIE BLOM says synthetic stones are akin to making widgets on a factory production line. Read more »

Gaetano Cavallieri, president CIBJO We should not fight the synthetic diamond manufacturers, but rather differentiate their product from natural diamonds says GAETANO CAVALIERI. Read more »

Boaz Moldawsky, chairman Israel Diamond Institute No product, as shiny and sparkly as it may be, can take the place of a natural diamond. BOAZ MOLDAWSKY explains why IDE bans synthetic stones. Read more »

Alan Bronstein, president NCDIA | Nilesh Sheth, president IDCAS ALAN BRONSTEIN and NILESH SHETH believe synthetic stones only threaten the natural diamond market if there is no disclosure or transparency. Read more »

Mehul N Shah, vice president Bharat Diamond Bourse The Indian gems and jewellery sector is a US$40 billion industry and, according to MEHUL SHAH, around 1 million families earn their livelihood thanks to the diamond industry. Read more »



Abe Sherman, chief executive officer Buyers Intelligence Group ABE SHERMAN says bogus claims and overpriced products from synthetic manufacturers probably ‘forced’ De Beer’s into the lab-grown market. Read more »

Bill Sechos, managing director Gem Studies Laboratory While lab-grown diamonds might provide benefits for retailers, BILL SECHOS says there are many potential pitfalls. Read more »

Chaim Even- Zohar, Pranay Narvekar, independent consultants What is really behind the jewellery industry’s greatest U-turn? CHAIM EVEN-ZOHAR with PRANAY NARVEKAR analyse De Beers’ real motives. Read more » FEATURE STORY

The De Beers’ fifth annual Diamond Insight Report has found that Millennials and Gen Z consumers accounted for two-thirds of global diamond jewellery sales in 2017. Read more » |