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

GIA to Launch Cut Grade for Select Fancy Shapes in 2027

Lab also rolling out new comments clarifying impact of fluorescence. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) plans to introduce cut grades for marquise-, oval- and pear-shaped diamonds next year, marking a long-awaited development for the market. The diamond industry has been requesting the change for several years, since cut quality can vary greatly, and the GIA currently […]

Russia Insists on “Synthetic” Label for Lab Growns

The Russian government has announced new rules requiring lab growns to be labelled as “synthetic” so that consumers don’t mistake them for natural stones. It does not list “lab grown” or any variant with “lab” or “laboratory” as being acceptable terms. Only the qualifiers “synthetic” or “synth” can be used. In doing so, Russia goes […]

How De Beers’ Origin Program Is Changing the Way Diamonds Are Sold

At the 2023 JCK Las Vegas show, De Beers introduced the fine jewelry industry to Tracr. Founded in 2018, the blockchain platform uses high-speed photography to create a digital twin of a rough diamond, enabling a new standard of traceability. The mining giant promoted the technology as the backbone of its consumer-facing Origin suite of services, […]

Ronnie VanderLinden Takes Over as WDC President

The diamantaire and industry leader succeeds Feriel Zerouki and said he will focus on being a “champion” for natural diamonds. Antwerp, Belgium—Ronnie VanderLinden is the new president of the World Diamond Council, the organization that acts as the industry’s official representative in the Kimberley Process. VanderLinden, a longtime leader in the diamond industry and owner […]

The Kimberley Process Session Focused on the “3 Cs”

The Kimberley Process (KP) intersessional meeting was held in Mumbai from May 11 to 14 around themes uniting the industry, such as compliance with international standards and consumer confidence. However, certain more sensitive issues aimed at broadening the definition of “conflict diamonds” have yet to gain the desired traction. The meeting was chaired by India’s […]

India’s Lab-Grown Diamond Exports Surpass Naturals by Volume

India’s diamond sector has reached a notable milestone, with lab-grown stones exceeding naturals in export volume, as reported by industry analyst Edahn Golan. In both March and April 2026, shipments of lab-grown diamonds (LGD) from India surpassed those of natural diamonds, marking what Golan describes as “a major shift, arguably a tectonic one, but not a doomsday scenario” for […]

Rapaport Intelligence Report: Low Colors in High Demand

Larger diamonds with J grades and down are gaining popularity among wealthier US consumers. What’s driving the craze? Large diamonds in low colors are a hot market in the US. The Rapaport Intelligence Report asks why. The trend represents an important shift in how higher-end consumers perceive diamonds. Those seeking 2.50-carat and larger goods are […]

Do Jewelry Consumers Care About Traceability?

Despite the buzz over digital diamond tracking, today’s customers value honest conversations more than flashy devices. The diamond industry, which is notoriously averse to change, is facing a new challenge when it comes to documenting a stone’s provenance: a lack of interest from customers. A 2024 report from McKinsey & Company declared that “diamond producers should continue […]

The Diamond Disconnect

The contrast between the performance of the retail jewelry sector and diamond mining revealed in the recent round of earnings is striking.  At retail, Watches of Switzerland said its Roberto Coin business delivered an excellent US holiday season. Swatch Group noted that Harry Winston had a record month in December, while Birks Group reported comparable-store […]

Antwerp Sightholders Back Gareth Penny’s De Beers Bid – Sources

Belgian diamond companies Diarough and Pluczenik have joined former De Beers CEO Gareth Penny’s bid for the miner as the deadline nears for making an offer, Rapaport News has learned. The two Antwerp-based manufacturing and trading businesses would provide a financial investment in return for a stake in De Beers, sources with knowledge of the matter told Rapaport […]