The fundamental corporate interests of DTC Sightholders, the best national benefit of a diamond producer country, as well as those of De Beers don’t necessarily coincide. In fact, they seldom do. Botswana’s pleas for added value creation (i.e. the establishment of diamond factories) have traditionally been resisted by De Beers... Read More...

You really can’t call yourself a “promoter of ethical behavior in the jewelry supply chain” by fabricating irrational, inconsistent, factually wrong and actually quite weird arguments to exclude from membership companies that are active in the jewelry business and have an outstanding ethical record, but also sell some products the mainstream... Read More...

For Angelique, the "Diamond Dream" is coming true. Angelique (not her real name) is a kindergarten teacher in Madison County.  She only paid $24 for diamond earrings at Wal-Mart, featuring two one pointers polished in Surat. Then she joined the class action that sues De Beers for defrauding the diamond jewelry consumer.  Now it's Christmas time and she will probably be getting... Read More...

The Antwerp diamond industry is lobbying its government to extend the diamantaire’s “favorable tax regime” to the Belgian jewelry distribution sector. This aim was highlighted in a recent presentation given by HRD managing director Peter Meeus on Antwerp’s choices in a global world. “Our answer will determine whether our future is ahead or behind us,” he said. Extending the tax assessment system to the jewelry sector will enhance the likelihood of vertical... Read More...

At the first International Diamond "Omgungo" meeting in Windhoek, where issues of development and value-creation opportunities in Namibia were discussed, Lev Leviev demanded that the Namibian government sell rough diamonds to him “at the same export price it gets paid by Namdeb” (which is the DTC’s Standard Selling Value minus 10 percent). Read More...

Rap has spoken. However, our initial joy turned into sadness when we realized that it would have been far better for Martin Rapaport’s reputation and image if he would have kept his silence on the GIA’s Bribery Scandal. The inconsistency in his logic, laudatory words and applause about the GIA all gave the impression of representing a “salute to the sponsor,” who is responsible for a substantial part of Rap’s... Read More...

Lately, there are many questions about the “non profit” structure of the Gemological Institute of America. The organization’s president, William E. Boyajian, recently reflected on an internet website on the meaning of “non-profit” in the GIA context. We quote: “GIA is a public benefit corporation, governed by a board of industry, academic, and business leaders. In effect, we perform myriad functions that address public issues... Read More...

Has the DTC now locked itself in and will it have to sacrifice a sightholder to show that it is serious about its own Best Practice Principles? That was one of the questions raised after we first published that DTC managing director designate Varda Shine’s reaction to the Certifigate scandal in an extraordinary warning... Read More...

In virtually every “gate” in recent history, the very discovery of the crimes always paled in its next phase: The cover-up. If history repeats itself, the greatest disgrace, humiliation and damage are done while the crimes are being covered up. This is the last thing that I expected to happen – and I have written in these columns that the GIA Board of Governors seems to be determined to get to the bottom of this. I probably was wrong – dead wrong. Read More...

When a man who hitherto used to live in the shadows, shunning publicity and preferring to operate as a quiet power-broker, suddenly makes great efforts to become a popular highly visible media personality... Read More...