Lucara Names New VP of Mineral Resources
Lauren Freeman, a Ph.D. with more than 25 years of experience in mining, has joined the company.
Her appointment is effective July 1. She will oversee all aspects of mineral resource management for the company’s Karowe mine in Botswana and contribute to its overall development strategy.
Freeman holds a Ph.D. in economic geology and a GDE in mining engineering, both from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. She is also a registered professional natural scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions.
A specialist in large Type II diamonds, she has more than 25 years of experience in the mining industry, with a focus on mineral resource estimation, diamond value management, diamond pricing, geological modelling, and strategic mine planning.
Freeman has held senior roles at several diamond mining and resource consulting companies, leading teams responsible for resource definition and underground expansion projects.
Lucara is currently in the process of going underground at Karowe, its only active mine, but announced last year that the project will take longer and cost more than expected due to unforeseen complications.
“We are delighted to welcome Lauren to the Lucara team,” Lucara CEO William Lamb said.
“Her extensive experience and technical expertise in mineral resource management will be invaluable as we continue to optimize diamond recovery from our Karowe mine and develop our mine and ore extraction plan for our underground project.”
The Latest

The $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.

With gold prices on the rise, the “Modern Electrum” collection uses an alternative, non-tarnishing metal alloy composed of gold and silver.

Fruchtman Marketing has new owners, Erin Moyer-Carballea and Manuel Carballea, and will relocate to Miami.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

In a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Smith lists 10 time-tested principles about sales that still ring true.


In a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Golan spells out how the growing economic divide in the U.S. is reshaping the market.

The “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

The jewel, circa 1890, is from the late Victorian era and was owned by descendants of the last high king of Ireland.

This is what the nine recipients plan to do with the funds.

The Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.

The discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.

A matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.

Sponsored by A Diamond Is Forever

It was the second auction appearance for the fancy vivid blue-green diamond, which sold for $7.8 million at Christie’s Geneva 12 years ago.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force took a 22-year-old man into custody. He was charged with tampering with evidence.

While the overall number of crimes was down, there were more incidences in which robbers pulled out guns, mace, or rammed cars into stores.

Jack Sutton Fine Jewelry is closing its store inside the downtown shopping center after 40 years in business.

Reena Ahluwalia’s painting of the rare red diamond is the first contemporary painting to join the National Gem Collection.

The price of gold has risen, affecting the number of pieces designers make, the materials they use, and how they position themselves.

Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.

The 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.

From Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.

The partners have announced the second cycle of the program, which has expanded to include a $25,000 student scholarship.

The owners of Staats Jewelers are heading into retirement.

Jeffrey Gennette, who retired in 2024 after 41 years with Macy’s, is the newest member of the jewelry retailer’s board of directors.

May babies are lucky to have emeralds, a gemstone admired for centuries, as their birthstone, writes Amanda Gizzi.


























