The Diamond Dudes

Live from the CIBJO Congress in Vicenza, The Diamond Dudes, Avi Krawitz, Rob Bates and Edahn Golan, were joined by industry leaders to discuss the natural diamond market’s tentative stabilization, the divide between stronger high-end demand and weakness at lower price points, and the need for a more demand-led recovery. The conversation also explored CIBJO’s synthetic-diamond nomenclature debate, the importance of clearer consumer communication, and how the industry can build desire through cultural relevance, digital engagement and a more compelling luxury retail experience.Chapters00:00 Introduction04:15 Supply Reduction and Market Stability05:41 Demand Segmentation and Price Dynamics07:01 Defining a Full Market Recovery08:25 Signs of Optimism and Market Signs09:18 Consumer Sentiment and Holiday Season Outlook11:08 Retail Experience and Consumer Expectations13:02 High-Value Goods and Market Segmentation14:49 Synthetic vs Natural Diamonds: Industry Debate16:42 Terminology and Marketing of Synthetic Diamonds18:29 Legal and Regulatory Aspects of Diamond Terminology21:23 Industry Standards and Ethical Considerations24:56 Social Responsibility and Human Rights in Mining27:29 Market Supply, Demand, and Industry Challenges30:52 Industry Collaboration and Demand Generation35:35 Marketing Strategies and Consumer Engagement40:23 Consumer Connection and Emotional Value of Diamonds44:52 Retail Experience and Customer Expectations49:33 Inventory, Rarity, and Market Segmentation52:33 Driving Consumer Demand and Industry Action55:03 Marketing and Consumer Messaging01:00:43 Generational Consumer Preferences and Trends01:02:29 Standardization and Certification in Diamonds01:04:58 Industry Marketing and Consumer Outreach01:07:45 Connecting Diamonds to Cultural and Emotional Values01:09:06 Closing Remarks and Industry CelebrationsWant to collaborate? Contact The Diamond Dudes: [email protected] The DudesAvi Krawitz is the founder and publisher of The Diamond Press, delivering insight and analysis on the global diamond and jewelry market. He also authors the Pressing Matters executive memo and hosts Diamond Debates, a LinkedIn Live series featuring industry leaders discussing the sector’s most pressing issues. Visit: www.thediamondpress.comRob Bates is the founder of The Jewelry Wire, a daily newsletter covering news and developments across the jewelry industry. Visit: www.thejewelrywire.com and www.robbatesauthor.comEdahn Golan is the founder of Edahn Golan Diamond Research & Data, providing research, analysis and consulting services to the global diamond industry. He is also co-managing partner of Tenoris, a data analytics company serving the diamond, jewelry and financial sectors. Visit: www.edahngolan.com and www.tenoris.bi

In Episode 5 of The Diamond Dudes, Rob, Edahn and Avi discuss the contrasting trends shaping the diamond industry. They examine encouraging growth in luxury jewelry sales, signs of stabilization in parts of the natural diamond trade, and why leading luxury brands continue to outperform the broader industry through stronger branding and marketing. The conversation also covers Rob's takeaways from the World Diamond Congress in Singapore, where rebuilding consumer demand emerged as the industry's top priority. The dudes also explore the closure and suspension of major diamond mines, De Beers' handling of synthetics, consumer confidence following recent disclosure scandals, and the industry's long-term response to a rapidly changing market. Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests02:24 Upcoming Vicenza Show and Live Podcast Announcement04:14 Focus on Demand at the Singapore Diamond Congress05:56 Industry Resilience Amid Market Challenges08:18 Market Sentiment and Consumer Confidence10:24 Industry Data and Market Trends Analysis13:05 Marketing Strategies of Luxury Brands16:12 Attracting New Consumers and Brand Differentiation20:02 The Role of Category Marketing and Brand Development25:53 Impact of Mine Closures and Industry Restructuring33:09 Lab-Grown Diamonds: Market Perception and Challenges42:36 De Beers and the Future of Natural Diamonds50:46 Regulatory and Ethical Issues in the Diamond Industry56:35 Industry Adaptation and Future Outlook Want to collaborate? Contact The Diamond Dudes: [email protected] About the Dudes Rob Bates is the founder of The Jewelry Wire, a daily newsletter covering news and developments across the jewelry industry. Visit: www.thejewelrywire.com and www.robbatesauthor.com Edahn Golan is the founder of Edahn Golan Diamond Research & Data, providing research, analysis and consulting services to the global diamond industry. He is also co-managing partner of Tenoris, a data analytics company serving the diamond, jewelry and financial sectors. Visit: www.edahngolan.com and www.tenoris.bi Avi Krawitz is the founder and publisher of The Diamond Press, delivering insight and analysis on the global diamond and jewelry market. He also authors the Pressing Matters executive memo and hosts Diamond Debates, a LinkedIn Live series featuring industry leaders discussing the sector’s most pressing issues. Visit: www.thediamondpress.com

In Episode 4 of The Diamond Dudes, Rob Bates, Edahn Golan, and Avi Krawitz unpack significant developments in the diamond industry, from De Beers' latest sight price adjustments and major cuts to its sightholder list, to what those changes reveal about the company's long-term strategy. The conversation explores the implications of global diamond production falling below 100 million carats for the first time, the evolving competitive dynamic between natural and lab-grown diamonds, shifting retail economics, and how jewelers can position both products in an increasingly polarized market. Along the way, the Dudes debate the future of the De Beers brand, examine changing consumer buying behavior, discuss why old mine cuts are suddenly surging in popularity, and look ahead to the key issues shaping the industry in the months ahead. Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:06 De Beers pricing strategies and market adjustments07:24 Impact of sightholder cuts on the diamond industry10:13 De Beers’ retail and branding challenges21:09 Global diamond production trends and future outlook26:23 The future of diamond mining29:17 Lab-grown vs natural diamonds33:03 Retail dynamics and pricing strategies39:41 Social implications of engagement ring pricing42:31 Emerging trends in the diamond marketWant to collaborate? Contact The Diamond Dudes: [email protected] the DudesRob Bates is the founder of The Jewelry Wire, a daily newsletter covering news and developments across the jewelry industry. He has spent more than 35 years reporting on the diamond and jewelry trade, including senior roles at JCK and Rapaport. He launched The Jewelry Wire as an independent platform for timely news and analysis. He is also the author of several mystery novels. Visit: www.thejewelrywire.com and www.robbatesauthor.comEdahn Golan is the founder of Edahn Golan Diamond Research & Data, providing research, analysis and consulting services to the global diamond industry. He is also co-managing partner of Tenoris, a data analytics company serving the diamond, jewelry and financial sectors. He has been researching and writing about the industry since 2001, including many years at Idex Online. Visit: www.edahngolan.com and www.tenoris.biAvi Krawitz is the founder and publisher of The Diamond Press, delivering insight and analysis on the global diamond and jewelry market. He brings nearly 20 years of experience covering the industry as a journalist and analyst, including a senior role at Rapaport. He also authors the Pressing Matters executive memo and hosts Diamond Debates, a LinkedIn Live series featuring industry leaders discussing the sector’s most pressing issues. Visit: www.thediamondpress.com

In this episode, Avi, Edahn and Rob give their impressions of the Las Vegas shows, debate producer countries' positioning at trade shows, strategic branding and marketing of Botswana, Signet Jewelers apparent pivot within the K-economy, lab-grown diamonds and industry regulation, market trends and consumer behavior in the US, among other hot topics affecting the global diamond market.00:00 Botswana Responds to The Dudes02:32 Producer Countries Take Center Stage at JCK 04:57 Botswana, Namibia & Angola's Strategy 09:40 Can Botswana Become a Consumer Brand? 13:20 Was JCK Las Vegas a Success? 15:00 The K-Economy and Natural Diamond Demand16:43 Why Bridal Buyers Are Under Pressure 21:21 Is Signet Pivoting Back to Natural Diamonds? 23:38 Blue Nile, The Clear Cut & Luxury Jewelry 28:22 What Signet Means for Lab-Grown Diamonds 32:52 Russia's New Synthetic Diamond Rules 35:14 Could the FTC Tighten Lab-Grown Regulations? 40:04 The Lab-Grown Terminology Debate 43:35 Alrosa's Role in the Natural Diamond Industry 46:57 The Diamond Press, The Jewelry Wire & Tenoris 49:05 Final Thoughts & Sign-OffAbout The DudesRob Bates is the founder of The Jewelry Wire, a daily newsletter covering news and developments across the jewelry industry. He has spent more than 35 years reporting on the diamond and jewelry trade, including senior roles at JCK and Rapaport. He launched The Jewelry Wire as an independent platform for timely news and analysis. He is also the author of several mystery novels. Visit: www.thejewelrywire.com and www.robbatesauthor.comEdahn Golan is the founder of Edahn Golan Diamond Research & Data, providing research, analysis and consulting services to the global diamond industry. He is also co-managing partner of Tenoris, a data analytics company serving the diamond, jewelry and financial sectors. He has been researching and writing about the industry since 2001, including many years at Idex Online. Visit: www.edahngolan.com and www.tenoris.biAvi Krawitz is the founder and publisher of The Diamond Press, delivering insight and analysis on the global diamond and jewelry market. He brings nearly 20 years of experience covering the industry as a journalist and analyst, including a senior role at Rapaport. He also authors the Pressing Matters executive memo and hosts Diamond Debates, a LinkedIn Live series featuring industry leaders discussing the sector’s most pressing issues. Visit: www.thediamondpress.com

This episode features a lively discussion on the current state of the diamond industry, focusing on lab-grown diamonds, market dynamics, and industry strategies. Rob, Edahn and Avi share insights on pricing, technology, branding, and the future of natural and synthetic diamonds. They also discuss the immense challenges facing the diamond mining segment and outline what they’re looking out for at the upcoming shows in Las Vegas. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Overview of the Diamond Industry01:20 Personal Updates and Industry Insights02:31 The Lab-Grown Diamond Debate03:43 Market Dynamics of Lab-Grown Diamonds06:00 Technological Innovations in Diamond Production09:22 Consumer Perceptions: HPHT vs. CVD Diamonds12:20 Value Proposition in the Lab-Grown Market14:50 Branding and Design in Lab-Grown Diamonds17:18 Challenges Facing the Lab-Grown Industry19:13 The Disconnect in the Lab-Grown Supply Chain21:39 The Natural Diamond Market's Response32:12 Mining Sector Challenges and Future Outlook36:29 The Economic Landscape of Diamond Production40:01 Shifts in Supply and Demand Dynamics43:51 The Evolution of Marketing in the Diamond Industry49:50 Brand Identity and Consumer Perception53:11 Anticipating Trends at JCKS58:00 Future Prospects for the Diamond Market