Avi Krawitz

Solitaire International: Higher prices are supporting revenue growth among retail jewelers, but that value growth is masking a decline in unit sales. Inflation is part of the story. So is the resilience of the high end of the market, where consumers are trading up to better-quality, higher-value goods. Still, the drop in unit sales points to the underlying challenge facing the diamond and jewelry industry: getting more people to buy jewelry, rather than relying on existing buyers to spend...

Geopolitics is having a significant impact on the diamond trade, from US tariffs and sanctions on Russia-origin goods to tighter rules governing traceability and sustainability claims. In the latest episode of Pressing Matters, Avi chats with Karen Rentmeesters, CEO of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, discussing the changing role of trading centers as the diamond market adjusts to new regulatory demand, Russian sanctions and a smaller rough supply base. While sentiment has improved and...

Once again, our attention turns to the diamond mining segment, which has arguably been hardest hit by the decline in demand. This past week, two mid-tier miners effectively announced their intention to exit their operations. Petra Diamonds, owner of the legendary Cullinan and Finsch mines in South Africa, launched a strategic review to address its liquidity concerns, including a possible sale of its assets. The company has already unsuccessfully sought to sell Finsch and now, it seems, is...