The Diamond Dudes
De Beers Cuts, Tightening Supply and the Battle for the Consumer
Vegas, Botswana, Signet and the Battle for Value
Lab Grown Strategies, Mining Pressure and JCK Expectations
di Rob Bates, Edahn Golan, Avi Krawitz
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 Introduction 01:06 De Beers pricing strategies and market adjustments 07:24 Impact of sightholder cuts on the diamond industry 10:13 De Beers’ retail and branding challenges 21:09 Global diamond production trends and future outlook 26:23 The future of diamond mining 29:17 Lab-grown vs natural diamonds 33:03 Retail dynamics and pricing strategies 39:41 Social implications of engagement ring pricing 42:31 Emerging trends in the diamond market Want to collaborate? Contact The Diamond Dudes: diamonddudespodcast@gmail.com About the Dudes Rob 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.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. He has been researching and writing about the industry since 2001, including many years at Idex Online. 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 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 Dudes 02:32 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 Demand 16:43 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-Off About The Dudes Rob 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.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. He has been researching and writing about the industry since 2001, including many years at Idex Online. 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 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 Industry 01:20 Personal Updates and Industry Insights 02:31 The Lab-Grown Diamond Debate 03:43 Market Dynamics of Lab-Grown Diamonds 06:00 Technological Innovations in Diamond Production 09:22 Consumer Perceptions: HPHT vs. CVD Diamonds 12:20 Value Proposition in the Lab-Grown Market 14:50 Branding and Design in Lab-Grown Diamonds 17:18 Challenges Facing the Lab-Grown Industry 19:13 The Disconnect in the Lab-Grown Supply Chain 21:39 The Natural Diamond Market's Response 32:12 Mining Sector Challenges and Future Outlook 36:29 The Economic Landscape of Diamond Production 40:01 Shifts in Supply and Demand Dynamics 43:51 The Evolution of Marketing in the Diamond Industry 49:50 Brand Identity and Consumer Perception 53:11 Anticipating Trends at JCKS 58:00 Future Prospects for the Diamond Market
In the debut episode of The Diamond Dudes, Rob Bates, Edahn Golan, and Avi Krawitz break down De Beers’ “Desert Diamonds” campaign and what it says about how the industry is reacting to lab-grown competition and changing consumer tastes. The conversation moves into the widening gap between natural and lab-grown diamonds, what’s actually happening at retail, and why it’s getting harder to sell lower-quality natural stones. Along the way, they reflect on World Diamond Day and share their own paths into the industry, before wrapping up with a look at the pending De Beers sale and why it could shape where the market goes next.