Episode 1: Introduction

Meet Charles Rabbi, a diamond manufacturer with 40 years of experience specializing in making high-quality white diamonds in Antwerp. Charles shares how he got into the diamond industry in 1980, following his father's footsteps. He talks about the history of the diamond industry in Antwerp after World War II, highlighting the efforts to rebuild and restart the business. Charlie explains the concept of "sites" in the diamond industry, which are allocations for receiving and trading goods.  They discussed women entering the industry in 1980 and how the internet changed things. He talks about how the grading system for diamonds changed over time, with color grading starting from D due to an American company's patent on ABC colors. Technology advancements such as certificates have brought organization to trading practices. Charlie also shares a cool story about a valuable diamond's history affecting its $37 million value.  Tune in now to "On Becoming a Diamond" for a dazzling journey through the world of diamonds with Charles Rabbi! 

Tracing Diamonds. Join us as we unravel the world of diamonds. Explore Antwerp's ethical commitment to the diamond world, the global diamond stage, and the impending ban on Russian diamonds. Host Ilana Brandwain introduces Frederik Degryse from ITraceIt, delving into not just the industry but also Frederik's personal journey into the diamond world. Uncover the ethical side of diamonds and the impact of your choices in this episode.

Diamonds and jewellery  have long been a symbol of love and luxury, but their symbolic significance goes beyond that. In this episode we explore the evolving role of diamonds in promoting gender equality and female empowerment. This episode of the On Becoming a Diamond podcast explored the evolving role of diamonds in promoting gender equality and female empowerment. The podcast discusses how diamonds became associated with love and marriage, and the role of marketing in promoting this idea. It also delves into the cultural significance of diamonds in different parts of the world, their representation in literature and film, and the steps being taken by the diamond industry to address ethical concerns and promote gender equality. The industry is changing to become more sustainable and equitable, and how there are now more women taking on prominent positions in the diamond industry.

"Are lab-grown diamonds the ethical and eco-friendly alternative to natural diamonds they claim to be, or are they just another product of our consumerist culture? Join us in this episode of 'On Becoming a Diamond' as we explore the truth behind lab-grown diamonds and reveal why natural diamonds still hold the true value for social, economical, romantic and environmental reasons."

In this episode, we polish your work with diamonds. We give you tips and tricks to get the best polished diamonds. By going over all the technical details we hope to make the process of buying diamonds easier for you..

Have you ever wondered what goes into the estimation, planning and decision-making process of buying rough diamonds? In this episode you'll come to know, how Mahak Gandhi and her family have been buying, polishing and estimating rough diamonds for a few generations. Also, how Ilana Brandwain had the chance to be on the ground in Sierra Leone to look at rough diamonds and learn from her brother and the locals.  

Morgane Willems a 5th generation female Belgian diamond Polisher tells us all about how she came into the business and diamond polishing. If you have ever wondered what it takes to cut a rough diamond into a beautiful sparkly polished stone this is where you can learn all about it.

Exploring the different types of diamond mining.   Why does diamond mining get the most slack compared to other mining. Talking about alluvial diamond mining in particular in Sierra Leone from Ilana Brandwain' perspective who has been on site.  Talking about the pros and cons and what we can do to continue improving our industry.

Let us take you back in time so you can discover the rich history of diamonds and the magnificent stones that were discovered. They played a crucial role in different cultures, wealth, myths and royalty. With time it changed from a symbol of power to a symbol of love. 

Come and get to know the hosts of this podcast, Mahak Gandhi and Ilana Brandwain, where they share their family & business background in the diamond industry.