The Rapaport Diamond Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Steve Feldman reveals his tricks of the trade from more than 45 years as a salesman in the diamond and jewelry sector.

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.

Shenil Shah of polished distributor Aspeco explains how the company has focused on selling bundles of matching diamonds to tackle competition from lab-grown.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sustainability consultant Danielle Keller talks about the circular economy, the benefits of repairing old jewelry, and the challenges of tracking a supply chain.

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.

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.

William Lamb, CEO of Lucara Diamond Corp., relates how the company discovered a 2,492-carat rough at its mine in Botswana.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jeff Loots of New York-based diamond-jewelry brand Henri Daussi gives his assessment of the US wholesale market following the Las Vegas shows.

Venus Jewel partner Devansh Shah reflects on developments in India's diamond-manufacturing sector and how his company shifted toward large stones.

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

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.

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.

Craig Miller, CEO of Australian diamond wholesaler and distributor JC Jewels, gives the inside scoop on the country's jewelry market.

Journalist and author Rachael Taylor discusses how red-carpet events and well-chosen brand ambassadors can impact revenues.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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?

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.

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.

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.

Consumers' changing spending habits are the real cause of weak retail sales – more so than rising inflation, says consultant David Marcotte.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.”