Policies & IssuesApr 28, 2026
Tariff Refunds: How to File, What to Expect Importers can submit claims now to receive money back for the IEEPA tariffs they’ve paid, with refunds expected to take up to 90 days.
EditorsMay 16, 2008
'Gentleman's mining'
When I first heard that my trip to Africa would include a visit to one of De Beers' mines, my first thought was that it was sure to be a dark, dirty and claustrophobic, albeit interesting, experience. I was right...
When I first heard that my trip to Africa would include a visit to one of De Beers' mines, my first thought was that it was sure to be a dark, dirty and claustrophobic, albeit interesting, experience. I was right about everything but the claustrophobia.
Finsch Mine was dark and, in parts, dusty. The experience was interesting. But the underground shafts of the mines themselves were huge. We were not crawling around in a tunnel like we were filming the fifth Indiana Jones movie. I was relieved but, at the same time, a touch disappointed. I didn't get to live out any fantasies of pulling a Harrison Ford-like stunt deep in the bowels of an underground mine.
But I digress.
The No. 1 rule of the mine that was stressed to us, and illustrated on signs posted around mine property, was safety first. A sign on mine grounds illustrated how high a priority De Beers makes mine safety (shown left). It read that as of February 2008, there had not been a lost-time injury at the mine since Oct. 16, 2007. Non-lost-time injuries for the first two months of the year numbered 48, according to the sign.
After donning what felt like a ton of gear and descending into the mine (shown right), we were taken on a tour of Block 4 of the Finsch Mine, located in South Africa's Northern Cape province. The tunnels were much wider, and the ceilings much higher, than I had envisioned. It was its own little underground world, with offices that had computers and telephones. As a child of the 1980s, I dare say it reminded me of the HBO show Fraggle Rock. But there were no Fraggles, Doozers, and none of the workers were eating the infrastructure, at least that I saw. (If you didn't grow up in the 1980s watching Fraggle Rock, you won't get this reference.)
And, to everybody's disappointment, diamonds weren't embedded in the walls. Instead, there were just piles of what looked like a light gray, powdery rock: kimberlite. Huge trucks were used to haul the kimberlite out of the mine. After that, this seemingly innocuous rock has a long journey of being shifted, sorted and sifted to extract the rough diamonds.
I never realized how much went into actually getting the diamonds out of the ground until I visited Finsch.
During our visit, one
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
Finsch employee who accompanied us underground told our group that diamond mining is "gentleman's mining," meaning it is cleaner and safer than other kinds of mining, such as gold mining.
Though I can't speak first-hand about the experience of visiting a gold or platinum mine, I can say I was impressed with the operation at Finsch.
I now see how diamond mining has earned itself this nickname.
More on Editors
The Latest
IndependentsApr 28, 2026
This North Carolina Jeweler Is Passing the TorchThe owners of Gregory Jewelers in Morganton, North Carolina, are heading into retirement.
SourcingApr 28, 2026
Doug Hucker Retires From ICAThe colored gemstone industry leader is heading into retirement after four years as the association’s CEO.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
SourcingApr 28, 2026
NDC Hires Tapestry Exec to Head Global Marketing Susie Dewey joins the Natural Diamond Council as its new chief marketing officer.
Weekly QuizApr 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsApr 27, 2026
12 Years Later, the ‘Ocean Dream’ Diamond Resurfaces at Christie’sThe largest known fancy vivid blue-green diamond could fetch more than $12 million at its second auction appearance.
ColumnistsApr 27, 2026
Stop Treating Mother’s Day Like an AfterthoughtEmmanuel Raheb says jewelers need to start marketing early and make it easy for customers to pick a gift for mom.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
IndependentsApr 27, 2026
Longnecker Jewelry Celebrates 30 YearsIn honor of the milestone, the Nebraska jeweler has debuted Leslie & Co., its new in-house jewelry brand.
MajorsApr 27, 2026
JBT Re-Elects Jeff Corey as Board ChairThe trade organization, which held its annual elections earlier this year, also added five new board members.
SurveysApr 24, 2026
Mother’s Day 2026 Jewelry Spending to Top $7B, NRF SaysNRF’s annual survey found that 45 percent of consumers plan to purchase jewelry for a loved one this Mother’s Day.
TechnologyApr 24, 2026
TwentyFour’s Digital-Age Locket Is a Virtual VaultThe “Vault” charm, our Piece of the Week, expands on the memories that can be stored in a locket by connecting to your phone.
Events & AwardsApr 24, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in JulyThe open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Meet the Real Moms of Day’s JewelersThe jeweler’s Mother’s Day campaign highlights the women who work there—mothers, grandmothers, women who want to be mothers, and dog moms.
Supplier BulletinApr 23, 2026
JM® Shipping Solution: Smarter Shipping for High-Value GoodsSponsored by Jewelers Mutual
Lab-GrownApr 23, 2026
Charles & Colvard May Sell Assets for $1.5MThe proposed agreement follows the moissanite maker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing last month.
AuctionsApr 23, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Fetches $1MThe Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece Astor brought aboard the ill-fated ship sold for double its estimate at a Freeman’s auction.
CollectionsApr 23, 2026
Adam Neeley’s High Jewelry Collection Steps Into Salvador Dalí’s GardenThe “Dalí’s Garden” collection was inspired by a surreal dream Neeley had after cooking a recipe from Salvador Dalí’s 1973 cookbook.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Windsor Jewelers Names New Buying DirectorNatalie Feanny has been appointed to the role.
CrimeApr 22, 2026
New Mexico Couple Pleads Guilty to Selling Fake Native American JewelryThe pair falsely claimed their jewelry was made by Navajo artists, but it was imported from Vietnam.
AuctionsApr 22, 2026
Roberta Flack’s Jewelry Is Going Up for AuctionJulien’s Auctions is selling the musician’s fine and fashion jewelry alongside her clothing, gold records, and other memorabilia.
CollectionsApr 22, 2026
British Museum Curator Pens Book on ‘The Tudor Heart’Rachel King’s book dives into the history of the pendant believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
Events & AwardsApr 22, 2026
Here’s What Sy Kessler Has on Tap for Las Vegas The company will have deals on precious metals testers as well as the latest in lab-grown diamond detection technology and security.
WatchesApr 21, 2026
Coco Chanel Enters the Game with New Watch CollectionGabrielle “Coco” Chanel is a character in the “Coco Game” collection of watches and the queen in its first haute horlogerie chessboard.
IndependentsApr 21, 2026
Meet Jewelers of America’s 2026 ‘20 Under 40’ ClassThe annual list honors rising professionals on the retail and supply sides of the jewelry industry.
CrimeApr 21, 2026
Customs Nabs 1,500 Pieces of Counterfeit Jewelry Bound for NYCSeized in Kentucky, the packages include fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, and Fendi jewelry.
CrimeApr 20, 2026
Queens Man Convicted in Bludgeoning Death of Pawn Shop OwnerRodolfo Lopez-Portillo faces 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty in the March 2022 beating death of Arasb Shoughi.
