The Rapaport Diamond Podcast

The Rapaport Diamond Podcast looks at the impact of Artificial Intelligence on diamond grading and discusses what changes this will bring to the industry.

With consumers more than ever interested in the story behind their diamond we discuss the various technologies tracing the journey of diamonds from mine to market and how it is helping to empower the storytelling aspect behind each individual stone.

A roundtable discussion on the diamond trade’s embracement of technology over the decades and the current state of the industry in terms of technological advancement. Featuring guests: Ben Smithee, Grant Mobley and Sam Karmiel.

The  Rapaport News  team looks back at a tumultuous year in our final podcast of 2020, highlighting the most significant stories and trends that shaped our industry.

The diamond and jewelry industry has made some important strides in its responsible sourcing practices but cannot become complacent, especially during the pandemic, explains Juliane Kippenberg, associate director of the Children’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch.

How does the next generation of diamond professionals view the industry? We find out by interviewing two active members of the Young Diamantaires group — South Africa-based polished supplier Kealeboga Pule, and German jewelry retailer Chris Zoettl.

Alliance of jewelry suppliers is helping members trade all year round, and not just at the JCK show, says president Michael Lerche.

Erich Jacobs, president of the Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT), explains how US businesses have handled this year’s liquidity crisis

The Natural Diamond Council (NDC) is looking to work more closely with retailers and the trade to take its marketing activities to the next level, CEO David Kellie explained in the latest episode of the Rapaport Diamond Podcast. Kellie urged the trade to consider the jewelry featured in the “For Moments Like No Other” campaign and the categories outlined in the 2020 Holiday Trend Report, both of w...

Susan Jacques, CEO at the Gemological Institute of America, talks about the laboratory’s response to the pandemic, its approach to lab-grown diamonds, and the future of artificial intelligence in grading.

The number of jewelry pieces being sent to the International Gemological Institute (IGI) for grading and authentication continues to rise, indicating a faster-than-expected revival among jewelers, according to CEO Roland Lorie. Lorie spoke with Rapaport Senior Analyst Avi Krawitz about market conditions as well as hot-button issues affecting the industry and the grading labs, including lab-grown d...

The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the use of technology in the diamond supply chain, diminishing the fear that many in the industry had toward embracing innovation, according to David Block, CEO of Sarine Technologies. Block spoke with Rapaport Senior Analyst Avi Krawitz about various ways in which technology is driving efficiencies in the diamond industry, outlining some of Sarine’s projec...

Eira Thomas, CEO of Lucara Diamond Corp. appears cautiously confident the mining company has the balance sheet, the sales platform and the right product mix at its high-value Karowe mine in Botswana, to manage through the crisis.

From online engagement ring consultations to new products and new ways of selling, the traditional jewelry stores needs to adapt and quickly. We examine the various elements jewelers should consider when making changes in the time of corona.

Rapaport Senior Analyst Avi Krawitz spoke with the NDC’s CEO, David Kellie, about the relaunch in the second episode of the Rapaport Group’s “The Recovery” webinar series.

With an eye on the fourth quarter, Sally Morrison, director of PR at De Beers’ consumer and brands division, puts into perspective some of the lessons learned during the crisis. Morrison provides particular insight into how brands are changing their marketing as consumers gravitate toward more discreet, understated and restrained messaging. That should favor the diamond industry, she said in the f...

In the latest episode of the Rapaport Diamond Podcast, we discuss the extent to which things have fundamentally changed in the past two months and what that means for the trade’s future. We assess whether the industry will maintain its sense of community in the new virtual reality, how its pivot to digital will look, and some positives that the trade can take away from the coronavirus experience.&...

The diamond industry will need to tweak its messaging to emphasize the values the product and brands represent, De Beers executives stressed in episode 24 of the Rapaport Diamond Podcast. Rapaport Senior Analyst Avi Krawitz spoke with Stephen Lussier, executive vice president, consumer and brands, at De Beers, and David Prager, the company’s executive vice president of corporate affairs, about the...

Rapaport Senior Analyst Avi Krawitz spoke with Tikhonov in episode 23 of the Rapaport Diamond Podcast about how the mining company is using data to improve efficiency in the rough-sales process. Capturing data about the diamond at the mining level is enabling Alrosa to provide value-added services, including source verification with an Alrosa-issued certificate of origin to its clients.

With the coronavirus dominating headlines since late January, the Rapaport Diamond Podcast looks at its potential impact on the diamond and jewelry market — spanning the retail sector, manufacturers and miners. In addition, Rapaport Senior Analyst Avi Krawitz sums up the mood at the recent International Diamond Week in Israel and outlines the panel on traceability that he moderated at the event –...

The Rapaport Diamond Podcast ushers in the New Year with a review of the holiday season and some bold predictions for the year ahead. Is this the year of retail refurbishment? Will rough buying become more demand driven? How is De Beers relating to sightholders going into lab-grown? Will John stick to his fitness regime and Sonia to her goal of being more mindful? And will Billy Porter steal the s...

Episode 20: Trends Shaping the Industry by Rapaport

The Rapaport Diamond Podcast interviewed Stephen Lussier, De Beers’ vice president, consumer and brands, after the company published its annual Diamond Insight Report. Lussier outlines the key takeaways from the report, titled Diamonds and Love in the Modern World, stressing how the industry can capitalize on the trends in modern relationships. While the bridal segment has struggled to stimulate g...

Joshua Freedman, Rapaport’s Senior News Reporter, joined 25 members of the Young Diamantaires group on a visit to De Beers’ Venetia mine in South Africa. Joshua interviews Rami Baron, who led the trip and is working to secure the future of the diamond industry.

Episode 17: Oversupply, Tariffs and Silver Linings by Rapaport