​PRESSING MATTERS

It may not feel like it, but this could be a consequential week for the diamond industry. The Kimberley Process (KP) plenary is taking place in Dubai, with several long-running issues on the agenda, having reached a stage where they demand resolution.   The sense of urgency comes partly from the UAE’s two-year chairmanship drawing to a close. Its term brought rare stability, structure, and focus to a role that usually rotates annually and too often lacks those elements. The U

US tariffs are back in focus following last week’s Supreme Court hearing on whether the Trump administration’s implementation of the trade policy was lawful. The justices voiced skepticism about the president’s use of powers to impose the levies, but the higher tariffs are expected to stay in place at least through early next year.   For now, it falls to individual trading centers to ensure diamonds are part of their own governments’ negotiations with Washington.   Looking ba

Why do I always feel the need to start each new month by saying to myself (and anyone within earshot), “Can you believe it’s already [insert month here]?”   Well, here we are — it’s November! Can you believe it? That means the holiday season has somehow crept up on us again. While Thanksgiving weekend is often seen as the cultural kickoff, retailers officially count their holiday sales from November 1 through December 31.   So, by my calendar, it’s officially begun, and I’m w

I’ve been on the move these past few days, attending the CIBJO Congress in Paris, and despite my best efforts, I missed my self-imposed Monday deadline — so, happy Tuesday.   CIBJO — the World Jewellery Confederation — kicked off its centenary year in the city of its birth, with celebrations set to continue at next year’s congress in Vicenza. If you’re not familiar, CIBJO is essentially an association of associations spanning the full jewelry spectrum. It plays many roles, bu

So they hit the Louvre and made off with historic gems. I don’t know why I get so sentimental about these things. And it’s not just jewelry; I get similarly peeved when activists throw ketchup on great works of art.   This time, with royal tiaras, necklaces, and brooches once worn by Empress Eugénie and other Napoleonic-era figures among the stolen items, one can’t help but feel a sense of tragedy at the thought of such important pieces being dismantled and lost forever. Then