Paul Zimnisky Diamond Analytics Podcast

Diamond wholesaler Mel Moss from Regal Imports in Vancouver joins the show again for a candid conversation about the current state of the diamond industry. The episode starts off with Mel giving an account of his experience going to the Soviet Union to buy diamonds in the early 1980's. Next, Paul and Mel discuss their thoughts on the impact that U.S. sanctions on Russian diamonds will have on the...

In this episode, George Hadary of high-jewelry boutique Astteria, joins the show to discuss the exceptional stone market. The conversation starts with George telling the story of how he got into the business and how he attracts clients. The two then discuss what is driving demand in the high-jewelry market and George provides an anecdote of a ~6-carat "fancy orangey-pink" diamond that he recently...

In this episode, Rory Moore, CEO of Arctic Canadian Diamond Company (ACDC), joins Paul to discuss an array of interesting diamond-related topics. The conversation begins with the two discussing underwater diamond mining and ACDC's strategy to test a remote underwater mining strategy at the company's Ekati mine to prolong its conventional life. The conversation then moves to the seasonal ice road t...

Artist and jewelry designer Reena Ahluwalia returns to the show. The conversation starts with Reena explaining how and why she recently immersed herself in the world of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Paul and Reena then take a step back and discuss what NFTs (and the Metaverse) are in a more general sense. The two then discuss what NFTs mean for the diamond and jewelry industry specifically, and Reen...

Brothers, John and Ken Armstrong, both high-profile professionals in the diamond mining industry, join Paul for a special three-way conversation on an array of diamond-related topics. The conversation begins with John and Ken sharing their background stories leading up to their current roles as Vice President of Lucara Diamond and CEO of North Arrow Minerals, respectively. Next, Paul, speculates t...

Diamond and jewelry industry journalist and author Rob Bates joins the show for a third time. The episode begins with a brief conversation about Rob's new fiction novel "Murder is Not a Girl's Best Friend" and how he manages his time between writing, his day job and family. Next, Paul and Rob exchange thoughts on Signet Jewelers' launch of lab-grown diamond versions of two of its most popular bran...

ALROSA's Deputy CEO and head of the company's United Selling Organization, Evgeny Agureev, joins the show from Moscow, Russia. Paul and Evgeny begin by discussing the current state of diamond industry fundamentals and whether the "good times will last." Next, Evgeny shares his thoughts on ALROSA's short, medium, and longer-term supply potential. The conversation then shifts to mid-stream participa...

In this episode, Amish Shah, of integrated man-made diamond company ALTR Created Diamonds, joins the show for a candid, high-level discussion on the lab-grown diamond business. The conversation starts with Amish providing a glimpse into the company's production method and supply profile. Next, Paul and Amish discuss the upstream segment of the industry and address where the market is experiencing...

Paul talks with Grant Erskine and Dr. John Watling of Source Certain International, a Perth, Australia-based provenance verification technology company that is tracking diamonds using their chemical signature. The conversation begins with Paul discussing the diamond industry's need for a reliable provenance tracing strategy –and why a chemical signature approach may be the preferable solution. Nex...

In this episode, Paul talks to well-known diamond industry veteran James AH. Campbell, currently the managing director of Botswana Diamonds, a diamond exploration and development company with assets in Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The conversation starts off with James talking about the early days in his career and about his experience working directly for Nicky Oppenheimer, the famed busi...

Author Matthew Hart rejoins the show upon the debut of his latest thriller novel "Ice Angel." The conversation begins with Matthew providing a glimpse into his new book (a follow up to "The Russian Pink") which involves the murder of a diamond prospector in the Canadian North and a plot that parallels the current geopolitical climate between the U.S., Canada and China. Next, Matthew explains how h...

Created-gem pioneer Tom Chatham joins the show to tell the history behind his eponymously-named company and to discuss an array of topics related to lab-created diamonds and other gems. The conversation starts off with Tom telling the very interesting story of his father, Carroll, who at a very young age successfully grew commercial-quality emeralds in the 1930's. Tom details the challenges and su...

Veteran mining executive Mark Brennan joins the show to discuss an array of topics related to commodities and economics. The conversation begins with Paul and Mark discussing the performance of gold during the pandemic and what current fundamentals could mean for future prices. The two then discuss the current debate around inflation and the impact it is having on mining companies. Mark then expla...

Stanley Mathuram of SCS Global Services joins the show to discuss the company's foray into diamond sustainability certification. The episode begins with Stanley explaining why SCS is just now getting into diamonds even though the company has provided sustainability certification (more broadly) for jewelry for years. The conversation then moves to how the social versus environmental impact of compa...

Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) expert and activist Cristina Villegas joins the show from Washington, DC. The conversation starts with a discussion on how the world of ASM employs 40 million people globally, a third of which are women; as Cristina describes "in most cases they are rural villagers trying to make a living." Cristina then provides the story of Moyo Gemstones, a successful colo...

Mel Moss, a Canadian diamond wholesaler with over four decades of experience, joins the show to share his thoughts on an array of relevant and timely topics impacting the diamond industry today. The conversation starts with Mel recounting his memory of when Canadian diamonds first hit the market in the 1990's. The two then discuss the concept of "diamonds with an origin" and what that means (or do...

Jewelry designer and entrepreneur Catherine Sarr joins the show to discuss her journey of building ALMASIKA into a successful brand which is sold around the world and worn by celebrities including: Reese Witherspoon, Alicia Keys, Oliva Munn, Zoë Kravitz and Lizzo. The discussion starts with Catherine telling the story of how she transitioned from working in corporate positions within the diamond,...

In this episode Paul talks with James Kwantes, a Canadian mining journalist and editor of junior mining investment publication Resource Opportunities. The conversation starts with James explaining why Vancouver is a hub for mining exploration companies. The two then discuss how the global move to sustainably is dependent on raw materials like metals. Next, James shares a story of his visit to the...

Dale Vince, founder of the world's first green energy company, Ecotricity, and owner of the Forest Green Rovers Football Club, the world's first vegan professional sports team, joins to the show to discuss renewable energy and his foray into lab-diamonds made from "atmospheric carbon." The episode begins with Dale sharing how he was living an "off the grid, low-impact lifestyle" in a trailer with...

Paul has an in-depth discussion with Tiffany Stevens of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, a 100-year-old organization based in New York that provides compliance guidance and legal services to the jewelry industry. The two start out talking about the Ira Sohn Investment Conference, an acclaimed annual event where hedge fund managers give away some of their best ideas for charity; Tiffany previously...

Paul chats with Olya Linde and Sophia Kravchenko of Bain & Co. about their widely read and referenced Bain Diamond Industry Report. Paul asks Olya and Sophia what it's like working for Bain and Olya shares the story of the origins of the diamond report –which has now been published on an annual basis since 2011. Next, Olya shares what she sees as the most prominent general trends in the diamond in...

Paul talks with diamond and jewelry midstream expert Jon Phillips who joins the Podcast from Vancouver. The two start out discussing the place in the market for Canadian-provenance branded diamonds such as Maple Leaf Diamonds and CanadaMark. The conversation then shifts to whether consumers actually care about diamond fluorescence and other categorization nuance that is prevalent within the indust...

Paul talks with reporter and author Matthew Hart about his recently published thriller novel, "The Russian Pink," which revolves around a fancy pink diamond, a Russian double agent and a U.S. government investigator. Matthew articulately discusses what sparked his interest in the diamond industry as a subject matter and tells the story of the discovery of the Ekati mine in Canada in the early 1990...

Paul talks with Ed about the popular series of webinars he hosted for CIBJO in 2020 on the global gem and jewelry industry. Ed recollects some of the pertinent industry trends he noticed while interviewing and talking to over 60 leading industry experts in only nine months. Paul and Ed then discuss the most frequently asked questions of industry stakeholders attending the webinars and Ed talks abo...

Paul and Michelle begin by discussing lab-created diamonds and how the product will ultimately be seen by consumers: as fashion or fine jewelry? The two then talk about how lab-created fits into independent jewelers' merchandizing strategies, what the net reduction of jewelers in American means for the industry and how the growth of independent jewelry designers is a trend to watch. Paul then asks...