Q. To begin, could you kindly introduce your role as Botswana’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, and share your current priorities for the country’s minerals and energy agenda? As Minister of Minerals and Energy, I have the privilege of helping steward two sectors that sit at the centre of Botswana’s economic story and increasingly, at … Read more
1. Can you briefly introduce yourself and your role as Special Adviser to DMCC’s Precious Stones Ecosystem? I spent 34 years at De Beers and Anglo American, and most of the last decade as an Executive Vice President and member of the Executive Committee, with responsibility for group Strategy and Innovation from mining to retail. … Read more
Q. Can you briefly introduce yourself and your role at the Natural Diamond Council? My career has focused on building and sometimes rejuvenating global luxury fashion and accessories brands through digital innovation, consumer insight and storytelling, and disruptive thinking! What drew me to the Natural Diamond Council is the opportunity to work with a category that already … Read more
Q. Antwerp now stands as the only major diamond hub with tariff-free access to the crucial US market. How does this unique position immediately change the competitive dynamic with major polishing centers like India, which faces a significant 50% tariff? It is clear that this is a major boost to diamond manufacturing in Antwerp. Although the labor … Read more
1. What were some of the most interesting issues you dealt with during your long career at De Beers? There is hardly a chapter in the modern story of diamonds that De Beers has not touched, and I have been fortunate to be part of many of them. From ethical assurance and traceability to inclusion … Read more
Q) What impact does the US market have on India’s gem and jewellery exports? A: In FY 2024-25, India’s gem and jewellery exports to the US stood at USD 9.97 billion, accounting for about 33% of India’s total exports of around USD 30 billion to the world. In other words, nearly one-third of India’s gem and … Read more
Q. In a recent article you list technology as one of the greatest threats to our industry. Can you please explain this surprising statement? Technology is not the problem. In fact, I clearly acknowledge in the article that tech has brought remarkable innovations in diamond cutting, grading, and supply chain transparency. These tools have elevated … Read more
Q. What is the role of the JVC in representing the industry in negotiations about import tariffs? The Jewelers Vigilance Committee’s role is focused on providing legal compliance education and guidance to our membership and the jewelry industry at large. We do not lobby as a general practice, but we do advocate for the industry at … Read more
Q. Tell us about The Clear Cut. How you began, how has it grown? A. The Clear Cut began as an educational blog in 2016, created to help demystify the diamond buying process for friends and family. What started as a passion project quickly revealed a real gap in the market—people were craving transparency, personalization, … Read more
A few weeks before the Hong Kong show, the Hong Kong and China markets started to pick up after the Chinese New Year holiday. Sales and sentiment improved significantly. The Southeast Asian market also performed well over the past year, with local economies in countries like Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Cambodia showing strong growth. … Read more
