Holiday sales growth is expected to slow as consumers grapple with inflation and tariff-related uncertainty.
GIA, De Beers to talk lab-grown diamonds in Basel
Leading research scientists from these two organizations will discuss the latest research on synthetic diamonds as well as the challenges brought on by potential non-disclosure.

Carlsbad, Calif.--Three leading research scientists from the Gemological Institute of America and De Beers Technologies UK will speak about lab-grown (synthetic) diamonds during GIA GemFest Basel in Switzerland later this month.
Scheduled for Sunday, March 22, the panel will be moderated by the GIA’s Tom Moses and feature Simon Lawson, head of Technologies UK for De Beers, and GIA’s Director of Research and Development Wuyi Wang.
The event will begin at 5 p.m. in the Montreal Auditorium at the Congress Center Basel, followed by a reception at 6.
The panel will cover the latest research on synthetic diamonds and their identification as well as how GIA and De Beers are facing the challenges brought on by potential non-disclosure. A question-and-answer session will immediately follow.
Lawson has 20 years of experience at De Beers, researching the growth and characterization of synthetic diamonds, and also has played a key part developing the company’s verification instruments that are used to identity synthetic diamonds.
Before joining the company, he was awarded a Royal Society Fellowship and spent four years at the National Institute for Research in Inorganic Materials in Japan. He also has a doctorate in optical spectroscopy of diamonds from King’s College in London and a bachelor’s in physics.
Wang joined the GIA in 2000, and now has more than 20 years of experience in diamond geochemistry and the treatments of diamonds and other gems.
He has been published in many gemological and geological journals and has been recognized with a number of honors, including the Richard T. Liddicoat Journalism Award from the American Gem Society, and the Dr. Edward J. Gübelin Most Valuable Article Award for a piece in GIA’s Gems & Gemology scientific journal.
He also holds a doctorate in geology from the University of Tsukuba in Japan and a bachelor’s in geology from Beijing University in China.
Free registration for GemFest Basel 2015 is now open here.
The Latest

Jamie Turner Designs is among the winners of the local “Austin Shines” contest, hosted by Eliza Page, a jewelry store in Austin, Texas.

The red and azure colorway is one of many fun enamel pairings offered, bringing whimsy to the classic style of a monogramed signet ring.

With their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.

A trade deal with Switzerland seems probable, but reaching an agreement with India remains a challenge, David Bonaparte said.


Botswana’s president said his country wants a controlling share, while Angola envisions multiple countries holding minority stakes.

The manufacturer is adding 1,400 chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactors to its growing facility in India.

Jewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.

The jeweler to the stars has worked with Drake, A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, and other celebrities.

The Scarsdale, New York-based jeweler donated a professional-grade watch cleaning machine.

The 50 percent tariffs on diamonds shipped from India to the U.S. have pushed midstream manufacturers to the edge.

De Beers’ refreshed, multipronged approach, which includes generic promotions and retail partnerships, is delivering positive dividends.
They are trying to balance the need to sustain well-established relationships with the pressure higher tariffs have put on margins.

Jewelry manufacturer Jewelex has partnered with JOSH, an industry training center, on a program for people with disabilities.

The collection includes pieces dating back to the Victorian and Art Deco periods as well as mid-century and late 20th-century designs.

He previously served as co-chair of the nonprofit’s beneficiary committee.

Its second collaboration with the conservationist features jewelry with dove and olive branch motifs.

The diamond manufacturer’s new company will provide accessible and affordable high-quality medicines across India.

Emmanuel Raheb shares tips on how a jeweler’s showcases, marketing, and social media presence can whisper, instead of shout.

The private equity firm has a plan to revive the mall staple.

The “Super Book of Gems” dives into the Mohs Hardness Scale, the Four C’s, and designs from jewelers like Cartier and Bulgari.

Claudio Pasta will take the lead at the Italian fine jewelry brand, succeeding company founder Licia Mattioli.

The new lab-grown diamond jewelry offering is the latest expansion of the designer’s “Bliss” collection.

The miner is honoring the end of an era with an offering of 52 lots from the now-closed Argyle and the soon-to-close Diavik mines.

The California-based fine jewelry brand will retain its identity post-acquisition, with new collections launching next year.

The “Untamed” collection centers on carved gemstone jewelry depicting a range of animals embodying one of the four elemental forces.

Founded in 2004, the organization is now called the Community for Ethical Jewelry.