The Natural Color Diamond Association (NCDIA) announced recently that it would be holding international conferences in Australia, London, Antwerp, Israel and Hong Kong to build greater awareness on the natural colour diamond category.

The organisation plans to cover a range of topics in the course of these conferences. These will shed light on the market, the rarity and hence the value of natural coloured diamonds, issues of natural vs. synthetic stones and retailing with colour.

“We are confident this initiative will allow NCDIA to add valuable information to the trade and retail community to build consumer awareness,” the organisation said in a press release announcing the move.

This follows similar conferences held in the US (New York) and India (Mumbai). The New York conference was styled as the “Pink Event” presented by Argyle Pink Diamonds and focused primarily on the natural pink diamond category. In Mumbai, NCDIA organised a conference on how to “Enter the World of Natural Colour Diamonds” at the GIA India Laboratory, Mumbai.

Though the organisers were of the opinion that both conferences were well attended and that natural colour diamonds “are becoming increasing popular” they do perceive that there “is a lack of awareness at all levels of the supply chain”.  

“Our rarity panel represented perhaps the most thorough knowledge of pink diamonds ever assembled,” said Tom Gelb of the NCDIA. It included Josephine Johnson (Argyle), Alan Bronstein (Aurora Gems) and Wuyi Wang (GIA, Inc.). “From history, through mining, science and practical gemology the group had an unparalleled breadth of information,” Gelb added.

“Argyle Pink Diamonds is more like collecting fine art,” commented Josephine Johnson of Argyle Pink Diamonds. “It is really a connoisseur’s market.” 

NCDIA’s upcoming conferences in Australia, London, Israel, Hong Kong and Antwerp will be announced shortly.