Rapaport Senior Analyst Avi Krawitz and News Editor Joshua Freedman question whether sentiment in the diamond industry is aligned with that of the retail sector. They also discuss the high-end market, the growing importance of the GemGenève show, the lab-grown diamond segment, De Beers’ negotiations with Botswana, and the recent Kimberley Process (KP) plenary meeting.

Rapaport Acting Editor Rachael Taylor and Senior Analyst Avi Krawitz examine the move toward gender-neutral styles by jewelers and designers, expecting unisex to be a major trend this holiday season.

The editorial team examines the slowdown in diamond trading, considering the impact of economic forces on consumer sentiment even as the US is supporting the trade while China remains sluggish. The journalists also assess some of the headlines that shaped the market in the past month, including those relating to the rough sector, De Beers Forevermark and the recent trade show in Singapore.

Kieron Hodgson, managing director at UK investment firm Panmure Gordon, discusses mistruths about lab-grown and natural diamonds, the role of research analysts in the industry, how regulatory improvements have helped the trade through Covid-19, the current market environment, and why rough prices must rise. 

Matt Stuller, founder and chairman of Stuller, discusses how he got into the jewelry industry, the company’s growth, how it has navigated the Covid-19 crisis, the state of the jewelry market and its challenges, and his expectations for the holiday season.

The editorial team discusses key events and some surprising stories that dominated the headlines in the past month, including Signet’s acquisition of Blue Nile, the India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) and Tiffany & Co.’s move into non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Pritesh Patel, chief operating officer at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), outlines the organization’s digital and sustainability strategy following its recent move toward paperless reports.

Rapaport’s Avi Krawitz chats with Wesley Tucker, head of digital transformation and Tracr at De Beers, about the industry’s drive to develop diamond tracking programs.

Lisa Bridge, CEO of jewelry chain Ben Bridge, discusses her recent appointment as president of the American Gem Society and the mood among US jewelry retailers heading into the second half of 2022.

Digital-marketing expert Ben Smithee, founder of The Smithee Group, joins Rapaport’s Avi Krawitz to discuss the rapidly changing media space and how it is impacting the diamond and jewelry industry.