In this engaging debate, Avi is joined by David Block, CEO of Sarine Technologies, to examine where the diamond industry stands and where it is headed. They unpack the contraction of the natural diamond market, the rise of lab-grown alternatives, and the growing responsibility of retailers to actively stimulate demand. The discussion moves through manufacturing realities, the shift from volume to value, and the industry’s renewed emphasis on profitability over scale. The conversation closes on a measured but confident view that natural diamonds can reestablish equilibrium as the foundation for sustainable growth.

Diamond Debates is supported by Sarine Technologies.

2026 could prove pivotal for the diamond industry. In this episode of Diamond Debates, Avi Krawitz is joined by Rob Bates, news editor of JCK Online and author, to examine the market scenarios taking shape. They assess how major players such as De Beers and Alrosa may influence direction, the evolving impact of lab-grown diamonds, mounting retail challenges, shifting marketing strategies, while also weighing consumer behavior and investment dynamics. The discussion underscores why stability and disciplined inventory management are becoming critical in an increasingly volatile market.

Diamond Debates is supported by Sarine Technologies.

2025 was a critical year for the diamond industry, shaped by five developments that placed sustained pressure across the market.

In this video, Avi Krawitz breaks down how shifts at De Beers, the continued rise of synthetics, evolving approaches to traceability, aggressive US trade policy, and mounting strain across the diamond pipeline combined to redefine the industry’s trajectory.

From geopolitical tensions and tariffs to retail behavior and value erosion in the midstream and mining sectors, the analysis connects the dots behind a third consecutive year of contraction and explains where the real battle for diamonds is being fought.