MajorsNov 21, 2025
Natural Diamond Council Names New CEOAmber Pepper’s main focus will be on digital innovation and engaging younger consumers.
SourcingOct 07, 2016
What the New Campaign Promoting Diamonds Looks Like
The Diamond Producers Association has unveiled the first two commercials for “Real is Rare,” the campaign designed to fuel millennial interest in diamonds.
A screen shot taken from YouTube of the “Wild & Kind” commercial. The Diamond Producers Association screened both short (30-second) and long (60-second) versions of “Wild & Kind” and its second spot, “Runaways.”
New York--The Diamond Producers Association has unveiled the first two commercials in “Real is Rare,” its new campaign designed to fuel millennial interest in diamonds in the face of slipping sales.
Screened before an industry crowd Wednesday night in New York, the spots were a definite departure from traditional jewelry advertising.
There were no on-bended-knee proposals, no promises of forever and, in fact, not even any traditional engagement rings.
What there was, though, was a message intended to resonate with a new generation of consumers who, as the research that went into the campaign asserts, like diamonds but relate less to established rituals, like the tradition of giving a diamond ring upon getting engaged.
Or, for that matter, even getting married; as the stigma of co-habitation has faded, many young people today are delaying marriage--the average marriage age in the U.S. is now around 25 for women and 28 for men--or skipping it entirely.
DPA CEO Jean-Marc Lieberherr, along with Stephen Lussier and Paul Malmstrom, creative director of Mother New York, the agency that put together the campaign, spoke prior to the screening of the spots Wednesday night.
But perhaps the most powerful statements came after, from the last speaker of the evening, Helzberg Diamonds Chairwoman and CEO Beryl Raff.
Her message was, as the millennials would say, on fleek.
“The most important thing that happened tonight is--it happened. This industry needs this so badly,” she said. “The tailwind that we’ve all experienced in our retail businesses from all of the ‘Diamond is Forever’ days, it’s long gone. It’s long, long gone. And nobody is out there telling this younger generation that they need a diamond, that they want a diamond, and what a diamond means.”
{youtube}g_whjfNkvGw{/youtube}
Real is Rare began rolling out across digital platforms Wednesday night. The videos are on YouTube, there’s a fledgling Facebook page that uses the handle Real is a Diamond, and a promoted tweet was spotted on Twitter.
Deborah Marquardt, the DPA’s new chief marketing officer, said following the digital rollout will be waves of public relations, social media, native media and digital radio promotions, on platforms including fashion and lifestyle website Refinery29, magazines Glamour and Vogue, streaming service Hulu and Pandora radio.
“There will be a surround sound of messages that continue to pulse out as we take our campaign through Q4,” she said.
More on Sourcing
The Latest
CollectionsNov 21, 2025
Piece of the Week: Melissa Kaye’s ‘Rocky Infinity’ NecklaceThe lariat necklace features a 4.88-carat oval-cut Zambian emerald in 18-karat yellow gold.
AuctionsNov 20, 2025
Vanderbilt Jewels Shine at Phillips Sale, Pink Diamond WithdrawnA 43-carat sapphire brooch from the Vanderbilt collection was the top lot of the Geneva sale.
Brought to you by
Impacting Tomorrow TodayHow Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
CollectionsNov 20, 2025
Rebecca Rau Jewels Debuts With ‘Then & Now’ CollectionRau is a fourth-generation art and antique dealer from M.S. Rau gallery whose first jewelry collection merges artifacts with modern design.
Weekly QuizNov 20, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Policies & IssuesNov 20, 2025
RJC Names New Executive DirectorFormer De Beers sustainability leader Purvi Shah will take over the role in February 2026.
WatchesNov 20, 2025
LVMH Takes Minority Stake in Citizen Group-Owned Movement Maker La Joux-Perret is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, and makes solar quartz as well as mechanical watch movements.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
GradingNov 20, 2025
Julia Griffith Joins SSEF as Head of EducationShe previously taught at Gem-A and is the founder of The Gem Academy.
CollectionsNov 19, 2025
Larkspur & Hawk Celebrates 25 Years With Helena Bonham Carter CampaignThe British actress and her daughter modeled pieces from the brand’s new “Palette” capsule for its “Once Upon a Time” holiday campaign.
TechnologyNov 19, 2025
Google Has a New Form for Reporting ‘Review Bombing’ Attacks Plus, the tech giant shares the steps retailers should take if they believe they’re a victim of a review extortion scam.
IndependentsNov 19, 2025
Houston Jeweler Keith Shaftel Retires, Next Generation Steps In Danny and Gaby Shaftel are now Shaftel Diamonds’ CEO and chief operating officer, respectively.
TrendsNov 19, 2025
Midas Chain Releases 2025 Holiday Style GuideThe jewelry manufacturer’s seasonal offering features its new “Melodie” bangles, as well as mini stud earrings and layering pieces.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2025
NYC Jewelry Week 2025: 12 Must-See EventsWith more than 140 activations taking place in New York City now through Nov. 23, these 12 events are can’t-miss moments.
MajorsNov 18, 2025
Lugano Diamonds Files for Bankruptcy, Looking for BuyerThe Chapter 11 filing follows the resignation of CEO Moti Ferder, who stepped down after an investigation into the company’s finances.
Events & AwardsNov 18, 2025
A Giant, Bejeweled Moldy Berry Is on Display in LAThe artwork is part of an exhibition featuring works by Kathleen Ryan, an artist known for her gemstone-studded rotting fruit sculptures.
CrimeNov 17, 2025
Police Searching for 2 Suspects in Murder of Father, Son Jewelers Faustino Alamo Dominguez and his son, 25-year-old Luis Angel Alamo, were gunned down following an armed robbery at their jewelry store.
GradingNov 17, 2025
IGI Announces New President of North AmericaTiffany & Co. veteran Jeffrey Bennett has stepped into the role.
MajorsNov 17, 2025
Look Inside Robbins Brothers Fine Jewelers’ New Pasadena FlagshipThe showroom is located in a historic 1920s building in the Playhouse District.
Policies & IssuesNov 14, 2025
U.S., Switzerland Reach Deal That Drops Tariff to 15%The Swiss government announced the deal, which cuts the tax on Swiss imports by more than half, on social media Friday morning.
AuctionsNov 14, 2025
Napoleon’s Diamond Brooch Blows Away Auction Estimates A buyer paid $4.4 million for the piece, which Napoleon wore on his hat for special occasions and left behind when he fled Waterloo.
FinancialsNov 14, 2025
Richemont’s Q2 Jewelry Sales Up 12%Plus, how tariffs and the rising price of gold are affecting its watch and jewelry brands.
CollectionsNov 14, 2025
Piece of the Week: Silvia Furmanovich’s ‘Butterflies in Flight’ Jewelry BoxFurmanovich designed the box to hold Mellerio’s “Color Queen,” a high jewelry collection consisting of 10 rings.
Events & AwardsNov 14, 2025
JCK Names New Event DirectorJennifer Hopf, who has been with JCK since 2022, will lead the execution of the long-running jewelry trade show.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
127-Year-Old New Orleans Jeweler to CloseAdler’s Jewelry is set to close its two stores as 82-year-old owner Coleman E. Adler II retires.
IndependentsNov 13, 2025
Green Lake Jewelry Works to Move to New Seattle StudioFounder Jim Tuttle shared how a dedication to craftsmanship and meaningful custom jewelry fueled the retailer’s double-digit growth.
MajorsNov 13, 2025
Vahan Jewelry Founder Leon ‘Sacha’ Der Calousdian Dies at 85The third-generation jeweler is remembered as a passionate creative with a love of art, traveling and sailboat racing.
