The Rapaport Diamond Podcast

Follow The Rapaport Diamond Podcast
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Senior Analyst Avi Krawitz hosts this show with deep analysis and hard hitting interviews. The Rapaport Diamond Podcast is your gateway to the diamond industry.

Rapaport


    • Apr 29, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 35m AVG DURATION
    • 145 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from The Rapaport Diamond Podcast with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from The Rapaport Diamond Podcast

    Episode 137: India, Diamonds and the One-Price System

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 49:15


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 51:04


    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?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 60:06


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 40:39


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 55:06


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 46:00


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 26:36


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 59:03


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2025 35:58


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2024 35:11


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 40:27


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 53:05


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2024 40:22


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 37:51


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 38:07


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 37:39


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 20:22


    Podcast title: A Natural FutureBlurb: 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

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 37:39


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2024 34:22


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2024 29:32


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 51:29


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2024 30:02


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2024 32:13


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2024 36:10


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2024 26:52


    Hertz Hasenfeld of US-based diamond manufacturer Hasenfeld-Stein shares his experience handling market crashes.

    Episode 112: Is the Kimberley Process Broken?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2024 37:08


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2024 37:56


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2024 28:19


    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?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2024 22:47


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2024 29:18


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2024 27:16


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2024 37:08


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2024 53:36


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2024 35:40


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2023 24:28


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2023 30:42


    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?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2023 31:39


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 28:07


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2023 17:40


    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?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2023 36:08


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2023 16:30


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2023 38:30


    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?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2023 53:39


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2023 30:22


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2023 28:43


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2023 33:37


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2023 28:58


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2023 29:13


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2023 28:46


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2023 4:18


    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

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2023 23:29


    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.

    Claim The Rapaport Diamond Podcast

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel