Long-term forecasts of diamond jewelry consumption are difficult to make, even under normal circumstances, and they are surely far more challenging today. We used to rely on regression analysis to identify indicative variables, which historically have shown a correlation with observed diamond consumption. Read More...

For the diamond industry, the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas are crucial to gauge where we are and where we are going. Whatever views one may hold on the state of the global economy, these are days of hope and expectation as well as anxiety and trepidation. Read More...

After many months of rumors it is now official: the possible sale of the Antwerp Diamond Bank is contained in the $5 billion Belgian government bail-out of ADB’s parent company KBC. Read More...

While moderating the Diamond Symposium, I watched AWDC CEO Freddy Hanard intently listening to every word. From my perspective, Hanard had moved away from the glamorous Antwerp Diamond Conference format that featured the likes of Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Joseph Stiglitz and Sir Bob Geldof. Read More...

It always seemed logical that Rio Tinto – the only major diamond mining company that sells solely to long-time customers and has no effective “market price” discovery system through tenders or otherwise – would sooner or later change its business model. It has done so now. Read More...

Sometimes the diamond industry is getting heartwarming active support from organizations that otherwise have nothing to do with the business. This afternoon I became aware of Avaaz.org, when I received an e-mail stating, “Our gifts of love should not fund hate.” Read More...

A turkey is much more than just a bird. At De Beers, the turkey has become a symbol – since time immemorial, employees in London and in Maidenhead always received a turkey around Christmas as a tasty reminder of their employers’ appreciation. Read More...

The untimely passing of Mahendra Mafatlal “Madhu” Mehta deeply shocked his family, friends and business associates. With his father and brothers, Madhu built one of the diamond world’s greatest empires. Read More...

I wonder how many Idiamantaires are acquainted with Prof. Dina Siegel, a cultural anthropologist and criminologist. You may not know her – but she might have secretly taped your conversations with third parties in routine business transactions. Read More...

At the beginning of this week, we were almost convinced that a new huge bubble was in the making in Indian goods. But not all the facts fully add up to reach an unequivocal conclusion.   Read More...