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 jewelry retailer is zeroing in on Zales, Jared, Kay Jewelers, and Blue Nile as it looks to create unique brand identities for each.

Sotheby’s has appointed the former Phillips executive as its global head of private sales and retail in its watches division.

A private collection of five Paraíba tourmalines also will be up for sale at Sotheby’s High Jewelry auction in New York, scheduled for June 16.

As gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.

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


The show started by honoring Mildred Marcano, ended with a tearful Beth Anne Bonanno, and recognized a dozen-plus designers in between.

The miner said demand for higher-quality emeralds is stable, but there is notable caution in the market.

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

The “River of Heaven” necklace, our Piece of the Week debuting at Couture, combines 26 salt and pepper diamonds spaced by Tahitian pearls.

This year’s inductees include second-, third-, and fourth-generation jewelers.

The author, speaker, and entrepreneur will give his presentation, “Spiritual Billionaire,” on Saturday morning.

Three-time Grammy award-winning artist Nelly is set to perform at the annual event at Tao Beach on Sunday night.

Signet will integrate the online-only, natural diamond-focused jeweler into Blue Nile, which it wants to position as a higher-end retailer.

These up-and-coming jewelry brands are bringing their distinct aesthetic and unique point-of-view to the Design Atelier for the first time.

The lab’s proprietary diamond cut grade has been expanded to include the popular fancy shape.

This year, it’s what could happen outside of show hours that worries JSA Executive Vice President Scott Guginsky.

High-end fashion houses know how to emotionally connect with customers online. Retail jewelers should take note, Emmanuel Raheb writes.

The designers are the third cohort of mentees from the show’s Belonging @ Couture mentorship program.

Buying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.

The trade show’s education series returns, with sessions on retail trends, AI, watches, marketing, corporate responsibility, and more.

The Curated Designer Project has expanded to highlight eight independent jewelry designers during CBG’s Las Vegas show.

Bring a cool tone to your summer jewelry with these white metal pieces.

The deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.

The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.

The “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.

The updated catalog has a newly dedicated section for gift wrapping.

Everett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.




























