Paul Zimnisky Diamond Analytics Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this 66th episode of the Paul Zimnisky Diamond Analytics Podcast, now-retired, long-time De Beers executive Charles Stanley joins the show. The episode begins with Charles recounting his earlier days at De Beers in the 1990’s, especially as it pertains to the marketing side of the business and the “A Diamond Is Forever” campaign. Next, Paul shares his view on De Beers’ execution of the company’s Lightbox lab-grown diamond strategy. The two then share thoughts on the impact that LGDs have had on the natural diamond business while envisioning what the future could look like. Finally, Paul asks Charles what his natural diamond strategy would be today if the original De Beers marketing team were still together and the two discuss future geographic regions of growth for the diamond industry.

Hosted by: Paul Zimnisky

Guest: Charles Stanley

Guest plug: Charles’s LinkedIn page

More information on PZDA’s State of the Diamond Market report: www.paulzimnisky.com/products

Show contact: [email protected] or visit www.paulzimnisky.com.

Please note that the contents of this podcast includes anecdotes, observations and opinions. The information should not be considered investment or financial advice. Consult your investment professional before making any investment decisions. Please read full disclosure at: www.paulzimnisky.com.

U.S.-based “master diamond cutter” Maarten de Witte joins Paul to discuss an array of industry topics. The episode begins with Maarten explaining what it’s like being an independent diamond manufacturer in American given that the large majority of this work is now done in India and China. Next, the two discuss the process of creating a proprietary diamond cut and Maarten tells the story of Hearts on Fire’s success. They then analyze the state of the lab-grown diamond market and share thoughts on how the larger diamond industry should approach marketing and branding. Finally, Maarten talks a little bit about living in Boise, Idaho, and his bonsai tree hobby.

Hosted by: Paul Zimnisky

Guest: Maarten de Witte

Guest plug: www.americandiamondcutter.com

More information on PZDA’s State of the Diamond Market report: www.paulzimnisky.com/products

Show contact: [email protected] or visit www.paulzimnisky.com.

Please note that the contents of this podcast includes anecdotes, observations and opinions. The information should not be considered investment or financial advice. Consult your investment professional before making any investment decisions. Please read full disclosure at: www.paulzimnisky.com.

In this episode of the Paul Zimnisky Diamond Analytics Podcast, Amish Shah of ALTR Created Diamonds and J’evar returns to the show. The conversation begins with Amish explaining how he is marketing and distributing his new lab-diamond jewelry brand. Next, Paul and Amish discuss U.S. jewelers’ relative hesitancy to stock inventory for the upcoming holiday season. Then the two discuss what declining lab-diamond prices, and thus margins, could mean for the downstream segment of the trade longer-term. Paul and Amish then have a more quantitative discussion on the economics of the mid-stream segment of the industry. Finally, Amish explains why Indian jewelry is different from what you typically find in North America.

Hosted by: Paul Zimnisky

Guest: Amish Shah

Guest plug: www.altr.nyc, www.jevar.co

More information on PZDA’s State of the Diamond Market report: www.paulzimnisky.com/products

Show contact: [email protected] or visit www.paulzimnisky.com.

Please note that the contents of this podcast includes anecdotes, observations and opinions. The information should not be considered investment or financial advice. Consult your investment professional before making any investment decisions. Please read full disclosure at: www.paulzimnisky.com.

Paul welcomes Rob Bates back to the show to discuss the release of his third book in the Diamond District Mystery Series, "Slay it With a Diamond." The conversation begins with Paul asking Rob if he gets a “serotonin boost” upon the completion of a book. Next, the two delve into the question of whether there will be a specific cataclysmic moment that changes the trajectory of the lab-diamond industry as supply feverishly grows and prices fall. Next, Paul and Rob explain why they think natural diamonds will persevere in the midst of current challenges and Paul shares why he thinks Paris-based Fred Joaillier’s approach to lab-diamonds will be successful. The two then discuss what percentage of lab-diamond consumers want people to think it’s a natural and Rob’s talks about expressing emotion with a Cracker Jack ring. Finally, Paul and Rob analyze De Beers' strategy towards lab-diamonds and the resale of natural diamonds.

Hosted by: Paul Zimnisky

Guest: Rob Bates

Guest plug: Amazon link to buy Rob’s third book

More information on PZDA’s State of the Diamond Market report: www.paulzimnisky.com/products

Show contact: [email protected] or visit www.paulzimnisky.com.

Please note that the contents of this podcast includes anecdotes, observations and opinions. The information should not be considered investment or financial advice. Consult your investment professional before making any investment decisions. Please read full disclosure at: www.paulzimnisky.com.

In this episode of the Paul Zimnisky Diamond Analytics Podcast, Hans Merket joins from Antwerp, Belgium. The conversation begins Paul and Hans discussing the Russian mercenary group Wagner and its link to diamond production, notably in the Central African Republic (CAR). The conversation then moves to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the two talk about the work that Hans has done monitoring humans rights related to gold mining in the country. Paul and Hans then discuss Marange diamonds and Zimbabwe’s position as Kimberly Process Chair. Finally, the two talk about the recent agreement between the government of Botswana and De Beers and they analyze if other diamond mining countries can use it as a framework.

Hosted by: Paul Zimnisky

Guest: Hans Merket

Guest plug: www.ipisresearch.be

More information on PZDA’s State of the Diamond Market report: www.paulzimnisky.com/products

Show contact: [email protected] or visit www.paulzimnisky.com.

Please note that the contents of this podcast includes anecdotes, observations and opinions. The information should not be considered investment or financial advice. Consult your investment professional before making any investment decisions. Please read full disclosure at: www.paulzimnisky.com.

In this episode of the Paul Zimnisky Diamond Analytics Podcast, De Beers’ Sightholder Molefi Letsiki joins from Johannesburg. The conversation begins with Molefi briefly sharing his story of being a second generation diamantaire in South Africa. Paul and Molefi then discuss the current state of the rough and polished diamond market and speculate on how the remainder of the year will play out. The two then delve a little bit deeper and discuss price performance of rough diamonds by size category. They then discuss the various impacts of the move towards more supply chain transparency in the industry and Molefi provides anecdotes of client demand for South African-origin goods. Finally, Paul and Molefi share their thoughts on man-made diamonds and the recent news of Lightbox offering engagement rings for the first time.

Hosted by: Paul Zimnisky

Guest: Molefi Letsiki

Guest plug: www.mldiamonds.com

More information on PZDA’s State of the Diamond Market report: www.paulzimnisky.com/products

Show contact: [email protected] or visit www.paulzimnisky.com.

Please note that the contents of this podcast includes anecdotes, observations and opinions. The information should not be considered investment or financial advice. Consult your investment professional before making any investment decisions. Please read full disclosure at: www.paulzimnisky.com.

In this more technical episode of the Paul Zimnisky Diamond Analytics Podcast, globally respected gemologist Branko Deljanin joins the show to discuss the detection of lab-diamonds and the chemical traceability of natural diamonds. The conversation begins with Branko telling the story of the first time he saw a gem-quality CVD lab-diamond. Paul and Branko then discuss whether man-made diamond producers will ever get good enough that labs will not be able to distinguish them from natural diamonds. Next, the two discuss the technical ability to trace a diamond back to its source based on the chemical makeup. Finally, Branko shares his thoughts on the notion of using a lab-based approach to screen sanctioned Russian diamonds.

Hosted by: Paul Zimnisky

Guest: Branko Deljanin

Guest plug: www.brankogems.com

More information on PZDA’s State of the Diamond Market report: www.paulzimnisky.com/products

Show contact: [email protected] or visit www.paulzimnisky.com.

Please note that the contents of this podcast includes anecdotes, observations and opinions. The information should not be considered investment or financial advice. Consult your investment professional before making any investment decisions. Please read full disclosure at: www.paulzimnisky.com.

In this 51st episode of the Paul Zimnisky Diamond Analytics Podcast, Rob Bates, a favorite guest of the show, returns. The episode begins with Paul explaining why he is bullish on the Mexican economy. The conversation then moves to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence as Paul and Rob share thoughts on what AI means for the diamond and jewelry industry –and on a more existential level. The two then discuss how the technological progression of humanity could be supportive of natural diamond demand. Next, Rob passionately shares his view on greenwashing by some participants in the lab-diamond industry. The episode closes out with Paul and Rob discussing the positioning of Signet Jewelers’ banners, the turn-around story at Pandora and the latest on the sanctioning of Russian diamonds.

Hosted by: Paul Zimnisky

Guest: Rob Bates

Guest plug: Amazon link to pre-order Rob’s third book

More information on PZDA’s State of the Diamond Market report: www.paulzimnisky.com/products

Show contact: [email protected] or visit www.paulzimnisky.com.

Please note that the contents of this podcast includes anecdotes, observations and opinions. The information should not be considered investment or financial advice. Consult your investment professional before making any investment decisions. Please read full disclosure at: www.paulzimnisky.com.

Israeli-Belgian diamond industry consultant Erez Rivlin joins Paul to candidly discuss an array of topics including sanctions on Russian diamonds, rough diamond prices and the impact that lab-diamonds will have on the natural diamond industry. The episode begins will Erez giving his first-hand account of the evolution of the rough diamond trade over the last three-plus decades including what it was like in Russia before and during the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the 1990’s. Next, Erez tells a story of when he was in a sorting room with 500,000 carats of exceptional Russian stones worth over $3 billion. Paul and Erez then discuss the current Western (and pending further) sanctions on Russian diamonds and what it means for the larger industry and rough diamond prices. Finally, Erez predicts the future of the man-made diamond market and what it means for natural diamonds.

Hosted by: Paul Zimnisky

Guest: Erez Rivlin

More information on PZDA’s State of the Diamond Market report: www.paulzimnisky.com/products

Show contact: [email protected] or visit www.paulzimnisky.com.

Please note that the contents of this podcast includes anecdotes, observations and opinions. The information should not be considered investment or financial advice. Consult your investment professional before making any investment decisions. Please read full disclosure at: www.paulzimnisky.com.

In this episode of the Paul Zimnisky Diamond Analytics Podcast, Paul welcomes Chinese diamond influencer and consultant Michael Zhu, aka “Diamond Spectator,” to the show. The two begin by discussing the history of diamonds in China and Michael explains why a diamond engagement ring remains a “solid need” for a marriage in China. Paul and Michael then talk about the emergence of lab-grown diamonds in China and what it means for natural diamond demand. They then discuss China’s contribution to global man-made diamond supply and speculate as to whether China will remain the world’s production leader. Next, they talk about the rapid growth of the corporate jewelers in China and whether the momentum will continue –especially as the industry emerges from the pandemic. Lastly, as the Western world presses sanctions on Russian diamonds, the two discuss whether Chinese consumers care about the source of a diamond.

Hosted by: Paul Zimnisky

Guest: Michael Zhu

Guest plug: www.diamondspectator.com

More information on PZDA’s State of the Diamond Market report: www.paulzimnisky.com/products

Show contact: [email protected] or visit www.paulzimnisky.com.

Please note that the contents of this podcast includes anecdotes, observations and opinions. The information should not be considered investment or financial advice. Consult your investment professional before making any investment decisions. Please read full disclosure at: www.paulzimnisky.com.