The Rapaport Diamond Podcast
Rapaport’s Joshua Freedman hosts this show with deep analysis and hard-hitting interviews. The Rapaport Diamond Podcast is your gateway to the diamond industry.
Episodes
Episode 160: Stuller’s New Leaders
Stuller CEO Danny Clark and president Belit Myers talk about the US diamond and jewelry supplier’s recent leadership change and why the company has seen both natural and lab-grown flourish. Plus: The importance of the company’s focus on “just-in-time” inventory.
Episode 159: A New Era for Old Cuts
Guy Burton, managing director of high-end UK jeweler Hancocks London, digs into vintage diamond cuts and how they compare with modern styles. Plus: The state of British retail and the Hatton Garden trade.
Episode 158: Face Recognition for Diamonds
Mayank Jain, CEO of DiaDNA, outlines how the company is developing technology to identify diamonds and prevent stone-switching. Mayank explains the difference between optical and atomic scanning and how the industry can benefit from the extra traceability.You can watch this episode on video at: https://youtu.be/VzDUXlmVhoI
Episode 157: How India Has Come to Love Diamonds
Richa Singh, managing director for India and the Middle East at the Natural Diamond Council (NDC), explains the rise of one of the world’s fastest-growing diamond markets. Plus: What the US-India trade deal might mean, the lab-grown sector’s expansion, and how jewelers use WhatsApp to sell.
Episode 156: Lobbying Washington on Tariffs
John Ford, CEO of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), and Bruce Bridges, its president, report on talks with US government officials over potential tariff relief. Plus: How colored gemstones have staved off competition from synthetics.
Episode 155: Who Buys Lab-Grown Diamonds?
Randy Cole, CEO of Michigan jewelry retailer Diamond Vault of Troy, breaks down the perhaps surprising demographics of natural and synthetic diamonds. Plus: How the holiday season went.
Episode 154: Chaos in the Diamond Industry
From Trump to tariffs to diamond marketing, Rapaport Managing Editor Leah Meirovich and Senior Analyst Joshua Freedman reflect on the year that is about to end.
Episode 153: How Tariffs Affect Jewelry Auctions
Pre-owned jewelry should be exempt from US tariffs, says Max Fawcett, incoming global head of jewelry at auction house Christie’s. Plus: Why the market for spectacular diamonds has slowed.
Episode 152: Gold Prices and Lab-Grown Diamonds
Alexandra Beth Samit, founder of New York-based Alexandra Beth Fine Jewelry, explains how developments in the metal markets have spooked consumers and pushed some to buy cheaper stones.
Episode 151: Why the Market Shuns Fluorescent Diamonds
On his second appearance, Thomas Hainschwang of GGTL Laboratories discusses underqualified gem labs, the latest developments in synthetics, and why fluorescent diamonds have a bad name.
Episode 150: Dubai, Tax, and Diamond Tenders for Consumers
Conner Curran, CEO of commodity firm Dexterous DMCC, says Dubai is a fantastic place to live and work but raises concerns about tax changes. Plus: Why the company branched out into polished-diamond tenders for consumers.
Episode 149: Back to the (Diamond) Origins
Sean Dunn, vice president of Florida-based retailer J.R. Dunn Jewelers, believes diamond provenance is the key to the industry’s future. Visit www.youtube.com/@rapaportYT to watch the full video version.
Episode 148: Polishing Spectacular Diamonds
Greg Katz, managing partner of South Africa-based dealer and manufacturer Trigon Adamas, digs into the market for large, fancy-color diamonds.
Episode 147: The Man Who Transformed the Rough Market
Adam Schulman, CEO and founder of tender house Koin International, believes his sales system has made the rough sector more transparent and competitive. Plus: Wildlife photography in the Dubai desert. Visit www.youtube.com/@rapaportYT to watch the full video version.
Episode 146: Diamonds, Retail and the Bullwhip Effect
Small changes in consumer demand can have an amplified impact on the midstream and mining. Industry consultant Pranay Narvekar explains why.
Episode 145: How AI Helps You Sell Jewelry
Jewelry consultant Megan Crabtree discusses ways to improve sales and the customer experience, from data to artificial intelligence (AI).
Episode 144: Buying Diamonds in the Tariff Era
Brian Stamey, vice president of marketing and operations at International Diamond Center (IDC), addresses the market’s current challenges and explains the importance of branded jewelry to the Florida-based retailer. This podcast was recorded on July 8, before the US’s announcement of 25% tariffs on Indian goods.
Episode 143: Rocksbox’s Revamp
Allison Vigil, President of the Signet Jewelers-owned business, explains why the company shifted from rental services to selling pre-owned goods.
Episode 142: How to Avoid Credit Losses
Andrew Rickard stresses the importance of getting a credit report and outlines his plans for the Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT) after his recent appointment as its president. Plus: Lab-grown diamonds, tariffs, and the state of the industry.
Episode 141: Fancies, Lab-Grown and the JCK Show
Nilesh Chhabria, chief operating officer at Finestar Diamonds & Jewellery, reflects on the recent JCK Las Vegas show, the market for fancy-shape diamonds, and why natural is regaining some of the ground it lost to lab-grown.
Episode 140: Germany’s Jewelry Pedigree
German jewelry designer Katharina Junkert recounts the history of Pforzheim, the country’s famed manufacturing city. She also explains why German consumers prefer diamonds with high color and clarity — perhaps because of the weather? Plus: The positive and negative impacts of US tariffs.
Episode 139: Trade Shows and the Tariffs
Howard Hauben, president and CEO of the Centurion Jewelry Show, assesses the state of high-end consumer demand and the impact of US tariffs on trade fairs.
Episode 138: Tariffs, Diamonds and the US Consumer
Dan Moran, president of Los Angeles-based bespoke jeweler Concierge Diamonds, explains the impact of tariffs on retail and how his business has shifted its inventory strategy. Plus: The benefits of being a licensed pilot. Visit www.youtube.com/@rapaportYT to watch the full video version.
Episode 137: India, Diamonds and the One-Price System
Shreyans Dholakia, brand custodian at Indian diamond manufacturer Shree Ramkrishna Exports (SRK), assesses the state of the market and explains the company’s pricing and production strategies. Plus: Its response to allegations about Russian diamonds.
Episode 136: Why These Diamonds Are Worth Millions
Roy Safit, CEO of the Fancy Color Research Foundation, delves into the colored-diamond market and what’s driving price trends. Visit www.youtube.com/@rapaportYT to watch the video.
Episode 135: Are Russia Sanctions Here to Stay?
Conflict-diamond expert Brad Brooks-Rubin discusses Trump, tariffs, the Kimberley Process, and whether the US could reverse sanctions on Russian goods. Plus: Brad’s side career as a DJ and music blogger.
Episode 134: Tariffs, China and the Hong Kong Shows
Lawrence Ma, chairman of the organizing committee for the March gem and jewelry shows in Hong Kong, reflects on the fairs and the state of China’s diamond market.
Episode 133: Why It Pays to Be Nice
Steve Feldman reveals his tricks of the trade from more than 45 years as a salesman in the diamond and jewelry sector.
Episode 132: Customs, Sanctions and the Jewelry Trade
David Bonaparte, president and CEO of Jewelers of America (JA), explains the trade organization’s work lobbying on Russia sanctions and other industry issues. Plus: A review of the current state of demand.
Episode 131: Battling the Synthetics Threat
Shenil Shah of polished distributor Aspeco explains how the company has focused on selling bundles of matching diamonds to tackle competition from lab-grown.
Episode 130: De Beers and the Future of Diamonds
In a special video episode, diamond consultant Eyal Axelrod discusses the state of the supply chain, the future of rough production, synthetic diamonds, and what the sector can learn from the movie industry. Visit www.youtube.com/@rapaportYT to view the video.
Episode 129: How Anita Diamonds Beats the Market
Anita Diamonds CEO Chirag Shah outlines how the Antwerp-based company’s credit business, diverse client list and flexible operating model have helped it grow despite difficult trading conditions.
Episode 128: Not Europe’s Blue Nile
Tobias Kormind, CEO of UK-based online retailer 77 Diamonds, explains the company’s low-inventory business model and why he believes Blue Nile’s price-focused approach was a mistake.
Episode 127: Facets and the Future of Antwerp
The Antwerp World Diamond Centre’s Karen Rentmeesters and Ravi Bhansali discuss the themes, conclusions and atmosphere of the recent Facets 2024 conference in the Belgian city.
Episode 126: Le Vian’s Taste for Chocolate Diamonds
On the latest episode of the Rapaport Diamond Podcast, jeweler Eddie LeVian shares his family business’s sweet tooth for chocolate diamonds and how it’s trying to redirect customers toward higher-value stones.
Episode 125: Digging into Colored Stones
Nathan Renfro, senior manager of colored stones at the GIA, discusses treatments, synthetics, gemstone origin, and what attracts consumers to rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Plus: How the cookie monster appeared in an agate.
Episode 124: A Fresh Perspective on Synthetics
David Sherwood, CEO of Daniel’s Jewelers, describes the development of his family’s business into a 100-store retailer and why it offers both natural and synthetic diamonds.
Episode 123: Sustainability in Jewelry
Sustainability consultant Danielle Keller talks about the circular economy, the benefits of repairing old jewelry, and the challenges of tracking a supply chain.
Episode 122: The Diamond Buyer’s View
Scott Berg, president of US retailer Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, explains how the industry downturn has affected his company’s diamond-sourcing strategy. Plus: Changes in the Indian market and his visit to a mine in South Africa.
Episode 121: A Natural Future
Josh Arazi, vice president and creative director at Arazi Diamonds, discusses the New York-based wholesaler’s decision to restrict the services it offers customers that promote synthetics.
Episode 120: The Giant Diamond
William Lamb, CEO of Lucara Diamond Corp., relates how the company discovered a 2,492-carat rough at its mine in Botswana.
Episode 119: The Need for Diamond Marketing
Antwerp trader Shashin Choksi explains why he believes the diamond industry must put more effort into promoting the product. Plus: How India’s recent celebrity wedding boosted the sector.
Episode 118: Tailor-Made Jewelry
Aryeh Rephun, founder of New York-based Aryeh & Co., explains developments in the bespoke-jewelry market and assesses consumer demand ahead of the holiday season.
Episode 117: Making Peace in Antwerp
Isidore (Isi) Mörsel, director of Dali Diamond and president of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) board, gives the inside story on G7 sanctions and other issues affecting Belgium’s diamond trade.
Episode 116: The Diamond-Pricing Prodigy
Ari Jain, chief financial officer of New York-based manufacturer and dealer House of Diamonds, tells how he created an algorithm for pricing polished diamonds while at university. He also discusses the latest trends in the US and Indian markets.
Episode 115: Changes in America’s Diamond Industry
Jeff Loots of New York-based diamond-jewelry brand Henri Daussi gives his assessment of the US wholesale market following the Las Vegas shows.
Episode 114: India's Large-Diamond Story
Venus Jewel partner Devansh Shah reflects on developments in India’s diamond-manufacturing sector and how his company shifted toward large stones.
Episode 113: Diamonds over the Decades
Hertz Hasenfeld of US-based diamond manufacturer Hasenfeld-Stein shares his experience handling market crashes.
Episode 112: Is the Kimberley Process Broken?
Hans Merket, a researcher at the Antwerp-based International Peace Information Service (IPIS), critiques the Kimberley Process and provides an update on the state of conflict diamonds.
Episode 111: Luxury’s Transparency Challenges
Margot Stuart and Prof. Felicitas Morhart talk about OriginalLuxury, a hub that provides events and information to help luxury companies improve their traceability and transparency.
Episode 110: Diamonds Down Under
Craig Miller, CEO of Australian diamond wholesaler and distributor JC Jewels, gives the inside scoop on the country’s jewelry market.
Episode 109: Can celebrities sell diamond jewelry?
Journalist and author Rachael Taylor discusses how red-carpet events and well-chosen brand ambassadors can impact revenues.
Episode 108: A Report from the Hong Kong Show
Roi Sheinfeld, managing partner of diamond manufacturer M&B Group, came on the Rapaport Diamond Podcast to review the recent Hong Kong fair, which occurred amid sluggish Chinese consumer demand.
Episode 107: The visionary and timeless Harry Winston style
Sharon Novak, curatorial advisor to high-jewelry houses and private collectors, talks about the King of Diamonds’ groundbreaking techniques and bold approach to stone-cutting, as well as some of the legendary figures who have bought his pieces.
Episode 106: Russia, Sanctions and the Diamond Market
Diamond consultant Robert Wake-Walker spoke with Rapaport’s Joshua Freedman about G7 sanctions on Russia diamonds, the development of Russia’s diamond sector, and how economic challenges have affected the industry at large.
Episode 105: Handling the Hope Diamond
Dr. Jeffrey Post, the recently retired curator for gems and minerals at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, joined us to discuss the stories behind gemstones, his favorite moments from a 40-year career, and, of course, the Hope Diamond.
Episode 104: Jewelry, Insurance and the Holidays
Dustin Lemick, founder and CEO of insurance technology company BriteCo, shares his insights on the recent festive shopping season in a conversation we recorded on December 20. Plus: How lab-grown pricing impacts insurance.
Episode 103: The Year in Review
Rapaport’s Leah Meirovich and Joshua Freedman pick the stories that had the biggest impact on the industry in 2023. They also reflect on selections for “People of the Year” and express their hopes and expectations for 2024.
Episode 102: Selling the Botswana Story
Nicholas Moltke of Botswanamark chats with Rapaport’s Joshua Freedman about why he founded the brand, which offers US consumers diamonds from the African country. He also explains why now is a good time to launch this venture, despite market weakness.
Episode 101: The Lab-Grown Con?
Rapaport’s Joshua Freedman caught up with Olivia Landau, cofounder and CEO of The Clear Cut, which famously gives away a free lab-grown stone for every purchase of a natural-diamond engagement ring. Olivia explains why she only sells the mined stuff, and reflects on uncertain consumer demand ahead of the holidays.
Episode 100: Looking Back at Our Favorites
To celebrate this milestone, Sonia Esther Soltani, Leah Meirovich and Joshua Freedman discuss their most memorable episodes since the Rapaport Diamond Podcast launched almost six years ago. How has the genre changed? Who would they like to invite as a future guest? Plus: How would you fare in the quiz?
Episode 99: Why the Chinese Market Is Slow
Shanghai-based diamond dealer and consultant Chen Shen reflects on the recent slump in Chinese consumer spending. Is the economy to blame — or are synthetics taking over?
Episode 98: From Engagement Gap to Wedding Boom?
Jewelry journalist Rachael Taylor and Rapaport’s Sonia Esther Soltani analyze the latest developments in the bridal jewelry market, while Rapaport’s Leah Meirovich discusses James Allen’s diamond and jewelry ChatGPT plugin with Shannon Delany-Ron.
Episode 97: Spotlight on Sustainability
A sneak peak at Rapaport’s upcoming GIA-sponsored supplement, which features stories on traceability, social responsibility, and how to talk to consumers about values.
Episode 96: A Story of Stolen Jewels, Prison and Redemption
Reformed jewel thief Bryan Sobolewski talks about his 22-store robbery spree, getting caught, his return to the straight and narrow, and how jewelers can prevent guys like him from making off with their merchandise.
Episode 95: What’s Really Going On in Retail?
Consumers’ changing spending habits are the real cause of weak retail sales – more so than rising inflation, says consultant David Marcotte.
Episode 94: RJC Moves On from Russia Crisis
Melanie Grant, executive director of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), joins Rapaport’s Sonia Esther Soltani and Joshua Freedman to discuss the latest developments at the organization and in the wider world of ethical sourcing. Melanie also gives an update on her writing and curating projects.
Episode 93: Dispatches from the Lab-Grown Symposium
Amish Shah of Altr Created Diamonds reports from the inaugural Lab-Grown Diamond Symposium in Dubai. How are prices performing, and what does the future of the sector hold?
Episode 92: A Crisis in Green Diamonds
The market is seeing a spate of green diamonds coming back from grading labs as treated or “undetermined,” says Thomas Hainschwang, cofounder of GGTL Laboratories. Plus: synthetic diamonds, trends in grading, and the science of identifying origin.
Episode 91: Avi Krawitz’s Farewell
The team fires questions at Rapaport Senior Analyst Avi Krawitz, who is leaving after 16 years of service. Plus: A report from the JCK Las Vegas show, the latest in the retail market, and how the New York auctions fared.
Episode 90: The Future of Russian Sanctions
Tiffany Stevens, CEO, president and general counsel of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC), addresses key issues around Russian diamonds in conversation with Rapaport’s Joshua Freedman. Plus: Why the industry has a problem with the term “recycled.”
Episode 89: Diamond Provenance at Scale
Rapaport’s Avi Krawitz chats with Ryan Perry, acting vice president of strategy and innovation at De Beers, about the company’s recent partnership with the GIA on its Tracr blockchain platform, the importance of expanding the industry’s provenance capabilities and how technology can enable better storytelling.
Rapaport Market Comment: Jewelers Selling, but Not Buying
The diamond market is down, but jewelers seem to be doing okay. What do you think is causing that difference in sentiment between the jewelry retail and the diamond wholesale markets?
Episode 88: The Buzz About Geneva, Tiffany and Bridal
Diamond trading may have slowed in 2023, but there are several developments that are shaping the market and creating positive energy around jewelry. The Rapaport editorial team discusses some of the high-profile events that may have raised the bar for the rest of the industry.
Rapaport Market Comment: Diamond Market Slower Than Usual
Trading is slow but there’s a lot to look forward to in the diamond trade. What events or trends do you expect will raise market sentiment?
Rapaport Market Comment: US and China Slowdown Puts Pressure on Diamond Trade
With diamond trading currently quiet, the industry is looking ahead to various events that may lift sentiment and business activity. From where do you see the turnaround coming?
Episode 87: Young Diamantaires Leave Their Mark
Rapaport News Editor Joshua Freedman chats with Lita Asscher, president of Royal Asscher Diamond Company, and Harsh Shah, director of Pasavaja Gems, about the Young Diamantaires group following their recent fact-finding trip to India.
Rapaport Market Comment: Will Independents Survive Signet’s Growth?
Rapaport is the primary source for diamond pricing and information. Here's our view of the global diamond market for the week of April 21st. Read all the stories of the week on our website Rapaport.com, and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
Episode 86: Diamond Supply-Chain Challenges and Opportunities
In his presentation during International Diamond Week in Israel, Rapaport Group Chairman Martin Rapaport outlines the challenges the industry faces regarding synthetics and Russian sanctions, stressing the importance of full disclosure of supply relating to both issues.
Episode 85: De Beers Eyes Massive Botswana Investment
Bruce Cleaver, cochairman of De Beers, sat with Rapaport’s Avi Krawitz to discuss the company’s ongoing negotiations for a new marketing and mining deal with the Botswana government. They also talked about traceability and how De Beers is facilitating this through its Tracr blockchain platform, the importance of branding, lab grown and De Beers positioning in that sector, and current market condit
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