DIAMONDS DECODED

While in Vicenza, Italy for Vicenzaoro and the CIBJO Centenary Congress, Feriel and Bebe had the chance to speak with Elodie Daguzan, Executive Director of the World Diamond Council.We spoke about what first drew her to the diamond industry, the work behind her role at WDC, how it supports the natural diamond industry, and the responsibilities that come with it. And, of course, we had to finish with the important questions: her favorite diamond shape and color.A thoughtful conversation about the industry, the people shaping it and, naturally, diamonds.

Recorded on the final day of JCK Las Vegas, Episode 3 of Diamonds Decoded reflects on our experience across four jewellery shows taking place concurrently. We discuss natural diamond pricing, the complexities that shape the market, and why natural diamonds cannot be treated as commodities. We also briefly examine the continued decline in lab-grown diamond prices and what it reveals about the fundamental differences between the two markets.

Filmed during our trip to Mumbai, India, while attending the Kimberley Process Intersessional, this episode marks the beginning of our deep dive into ESG, Environmental, Social, and Governance, as well as sustainability within the natural diamond industry.As we spent the week learning, listening, and engaging with industry stakeholders from around the world, it became clear that ESG deserves a dedicated conversation. So, while in Mumbai, we sat down to unpack some of the most important topics shaping the future of our industry. And it felt only fitting to film this episode at the newly opened Forevermark boutique in Mumbai, with Bebe draped in Forevermark diamonds.

Celebrating World Diamond Day with the launch of Diamonds Decoded, a new podcast by Bebe Bakhshi, Founder of Champagne Gem, and Feriel Zerouki, President of the World Diamond Council.In this series, we decode the diamond industry, bringing clarity, transparency, and context to the world of natural diamonds for the end consumer. Through open and honest conversations, we explore the positive impact of natural diamonds on their countries of origin and the communities they support. As Feriel beautifully explains, diamonds are nation building.This episode explores one of the most pivotal moments in the history of the natural diamond industry: the creation of the Kimberley Process. Governments, mining companies, and NGOs came together to establish a system that would ensure natural diamonds were not linked to conflict or violence.Initiated in 2000 and formally implemented in 2003, the Kimberley Process was designed to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds across borders, making it illegal and significantly more difficult for diamonds from non-participating countries to enter the global market.We also discuss how the natural diamond industry became a blueprint for responsible practices across the wider mining sector. Recent global conflicts have highlighted that wars today are more commonly funded by other natural resources, including oil, gas, cobalt, and copper. What sets the natural diamond industry apart is how early it acted. Through the establishment of the Kimberley Process, the industry took decisive steps to prevent diamonds from funding conflict, violence, and rebel activity, creating a framework of accountability and governance that many other sectors are only now beginning to adopt.A conversation about natural diamonds, their impact, their challenges, and the people working to shape a more transparent future.