This content was first published on IGR – Italian Gemological Review no. 8 in 2019. The information provided here is therefore current as of the original publication date.
“Synthetic Diamonds are disrupting the fundamentals of the diamond industry”: with these words, Martin Rapaport summed up one of the topics discussed at AFG’s (Association Française de Gemmologie) 18th Paris gems symposium, held with the participation of authoritative guests, including NCDIA (Natural Color Diamond Association), WDC (World Diamond Council), Laboratoire Français de Gemmologie, De Beers, Alrosa, Dominion Diamond Mines and Petra Diamonds.
The conference covered central issues such as the consequences of the growing synthetic diamond trade and subsequent concerns about price stability, the necessity to maintain the perceived value of natural diamonds, the extension of the Kimberley Process scheme from rough to cut diamonds, challenging unstable geopolitical circumstances. In this perspective, The Gemfair project presented by De Beers’ Feriel Zerouki focuses precisely on one of the most complicated ethical issues, that is artisanal and small-scale mining. In Sierra Leone, a new system was implemented that requires small miners to create a digital record of each diamond found in the area, allowing their identification through a dedicated application and ensuring diamond traceability throughout the supply chain, as well as ensuring fair compensation for workers.
Other topics covered during the symposium include advanced identification, diamond mining in Canada, fancy diamonds and the scientific, gemmological and historical aspects of diamonds. Eddy Vleeschdrager, a senior Antwerp-based expert, shared an update on the latest advances in diamond cutting. The “Fenix” system makes it possible to plan diamond cutting and shapes, improve angle prediction while reducing the time required to complete the job by three times: the 53 facets of a 0.88-carat marquise from a 2.67-carat rough gem are created in just 63 minutes.
Gem News published on IGR – Italian Gemological Review #8, Winter 2019
