WHO’S AFRAID OF SYNTHETIC DIAMONDS?
Many, particularly the mining companies, think they are the biggest danger to the diamond industry. The diamond processing industry is, however, excited at the thought of ample rough supplies at a price they can make a decent margin on. Vinod Kuriyan reports that synthetic or laboratory grown diamonds represent a threat in that their sale without disclosure could undermine consumer confidence worldwide. Yet they also represent a great opportunity as well.

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The Illusion Doesn’t Need Scarcity
Beauty, durability and rarity are necessary attributes for a stone to be termed precious. Some 40 years ago though, an army of Indian workmen turned what were until then just industrial supplies, into gem diamonds for the masses. Suddenly, diamonds weren’t the scarce prerogative of a wealthy few – everyone could own one at a very affordable cost.

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BRANDWATCH: Gitanjali Gets Sporty
In keeping with the cricket World Cup fever, the Gitanjali Group launched Sporterrati, a new collection for sports enthusiasts.

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DTC NEWS: One-Shoe-Fits-All Policy is Finally Thrown Out
De Beers has moved to correct its assessment system for new sightholders. While requiring applicants to be far more specific in their applications, the new system will do away with the unitary system of criteria on which prospective clients were assessed. It seems human assessment has replaced the computer program that decided these things.

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TRADEFAIRS: Gold Shines at the GJIIE 2007 Show
Now in its third year, the Gem and Jewellery India International Expo (GJIIE) has started to create positive ripples in the Southern market. Shanoo Bijlani profiles the 2007 show.

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BULLETIN: GJEPC’s Indo-CIS Buyer-Seller Meet Blazes New Trail
The Indian gem and jewellery export production industry is making a concerted effort to open up new markets. It made a good beginning with the former states of the erstwhile Soviet Union and some East European nations.

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BULLETIN: China - Entering the Dragon
A GJEPC delegation from India visited China with a view to exploring the possibilities of Indian polished diamonds being sold directly to that country’s fast-growing jewellery production industry, that caters to one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing consumption markets.

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IN FOCUS: Hearts Ring More Cash Registers
Society and religion have traditionally driven the huge Indian jewellery market. But economic transformation and a growing affluence have begun to let in other sales drivers. Romance and the relationships between men and women have now begun to matter. The hitherto alien concept of Valentine’s Day has now become a definite sales driver in the Indian jewellery retail market. Retailers across the country reported significant increases in sales during the occasion. Shanoo Bijlani and Hardika Panchal report.

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SPECIAL REPORT: The Future of Diamond Manufacturing
What is the future of the diamond processing industry? What will it look like a few years on? What must one do to survive and thrive years from now? While the usual strategic considerations weigh on its collective mind, Vinod Kuriyan finds that the focus of the Indian diamond processing industry is on how best to manage its human resources.

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SPOTLIGHT: Tastes Are Changing Down South
Southern India, long known as the gold market with a huge appetite for both bullion and plain gold jewellery, is now undergoing a transformation. Increasingly affluent southern consumers are willing to look at options other than gold and experiment with products other than the traditional. Their gold-buying habits too are being redefined. Shanoo Bijlani reports on the gradual market shift and other trends in the region.

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WIRETAP: Blogaddiction
It has evolved from a cult activity to the internet’s most vaunted information and analysis tool. Blogging has touched almost every sphere of human activity including the gem and jewellery industry. Regan Luis looks at the phenomenon as Solitaire International launches its own blog, Sorting Table.

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