The R&M “Lettre”

Sign-up for La Lettre from R&M to get the essentials of current affairs in the diamond industry and privileged access to the articles published below

We keep your data private and only share it with third parties that make this service possible. Read our Confidentiality Policy for more information.

esperluette

Balancing act – a discussion with Vipul Shah

India’s Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) tends to set an ambitious ‎agenda for itself. With around 5,300 members across India, the industry body is tasked ‎with lobbying government, trade and consumers to ensure growth for the gems and ‎jewelry sector.  ‎

Reinvent or die

The world is in constant flux, and nothing remains static. Diamond centers, just like other kinds of trade centers, are constantly shifting. Amsterdam long ago lost favor to Antwerp, which enjoyed the benefits of Belgium’s rule over Congo.

A level playing field? Never!

Is there any merit to criticism that the Indian diamond industry is using bank financing for “narrow and destructive interest of speculating on [sic] rough prices,” as the new president of IDMA (the International Diamond Manufacturers Association) recently claimed?

China’s luxury restraint

The decision by the Chinese authorities to clamp down on advertising luxury products is a red ‎flag for the diamond industry. While China represents the primary growth opportunity for the ‎trade, the government’s restrictions are presenting hurdles even if its intentions may be pure.‎

Diamond consumer interests

Among the many significant developments that evolved in the diamond industry in 2012 was a growing awareness about price differences between tinted and non-tinted polished stones. Diamond dealers have come to recognize stones with a greenish-brownish tint as having originated from Zimbabwe’s Marange mines.

Blood in the water, sharks circling

Hardly anything trumps bad news, especially if it’s full of blood and gore. Everyone rubbernecks to see the damage when passing a car accident. Serious twisted wreckage makes us slow down even more to get a longer look at the disaster.

Sustainable diamond demand

The recent improvement in both rough diamond trading and prices in the secondary market should raise some eyebrows. While it has helped inject additional confidence into the market, it remains unclear whether this momentum will be sustained.