Let's start with the bottom line – U.S. retailers need to pay more for the jewelry they are selling, and don't get that much more when selling it. The wholesale prices they are paying are rising at a higher rate than the retail prices they are charging. It's a margin squeeze. Read More...

Dubai is actively working to position itself to replace Antwerp as the rough diamond-trading center of the world. The role that tax breaks, police raids and the DTC play in this shift. Read More...

When talking about the future of the diamond industry, we usually talk about the U.S., China and India. In this context, Japan, once the world's second largest diamond market, is often overlooked. With billions of dollars in diamond jewelry sales, this is a mistake.   Read More...

The world is in constant flux, and nothing remains static. Amsterdam long ago lost favor to Antwerp, which enjoyed the benefits of Belgium's rule over Congo. Rising labor costs in Europe and a budding hungry diamond center in Tel Aviv led to Israel becoming the world's largest polished diamond exporter. Read More...

Is there any merit to criticism that the Indian diamond industry is using bank financing for "destructive interest" or are they making use of the advantages their government provides them with – just as other diamond centers do? Read More...

The diamond theft at Brussels’ airport is more a cautionary tale than a story of financial harm. How did it happen, why are the failures so alarming, and what does it have to do with global terrorism. Read More...

The debate about investing in diamonds in the economic press mostly considers investment in 1-carat white goods, the kind considered the "bread and butter" of diamonds. However, the real action is somewhere else, and the returns are impressive. Read More...

Hardly anything trumps bad news, especially if it's full of blood and gore. Everyone rubbernecks to see the damage when passing a car accident, a habit, just like sharks circling blood. So what should we do with good ol' boring news? Read More...

It used to be that if you needed money for a project you either dug deep in your pockets or approached the bank for a loan. These days, some enterprising companies and individuals are bypassing the bank altogether and looking to you and me to help fund their projects. Read More...

We usually know when what we do is not good enough, we just sometimes ignore it. Life is like that sometimes. You’ve prepared a project with a lot of good intention, and found that it just did not deliver. It happens, you just have to let go. Read More...