SHAlINI SAKSENA travels to Pune and speaks to diamond experts on what makes the stone beautiful
We have been under the impression that diamonds would be forever. But one is told that it is not true.
According to the De Beers Group, the sparkling rock may vanish by 2050, if not before. Speaking at The Forevermark Forum that was organised in Pune from July 19-21, Stephen lussier, Forevermark CEO & De Beers marketing EVP tells you that there is some truth that diamonds are not forever. “It takes diamonds billions of years to be created. The raw diamond has been getting mined for centuries now. There has to be a limit to how much diamond there is. We have been looking for more and more mines and places where we can find the stone. But there will come a time when the source will dry up. I am hoping that I will outlive that time. In the meantime, we will continue to dazzle the consumers with the latest designs made with the most beautiful diamonds that the mines have to offer,” lussier says.
But aren’t diamonds beautiful any which wayIJ Not according to Sachin Jain, president, Forevermark. “People are aware of the four Cs — cut, clarity, carat and colour. But what most don’t always see is whether the diamond that they are buying is beautiful or not. A diamond has many facets and not all are evenly cut. What makes your stone unique and beautiful is if all the facets are cut in the same proportion,” Jain explains.
He also tells you that today, people are well-informed and know what they want to buy. They go to a shop with a lot of clarity. “They have a budget, are looking for a modern design and are looking for a story that their stone has to tell. Also, it is important to note that we are looking at replacing the ageold traditional jeweller. But we are looking at a market where we can have a space and leave our mark,” Jain says.
Some of the manufacturers and leading jewellers who were present tell you that buyers have become smart. “It is not possible for the retailer to cheat him, provided that the consumer knows what she is looking for. There are several labs that issue the authenticity certificate. You should know the name of the lab from where the retailer is getting your piece of jewellery tested. For example, if the retailer tells you that he is selling you a VS1, then you must ensure that the lab that has certified is competent enough. GII is one of the best,” Rohan Jain of KGK Diamonds in Mumbai tells you.
There are several testing machines now in India that can accurately sort the diamond. Rajiv Sahasrabudhe, technical specialist, International Institute of Diamond Grading & Research (IIDGR)-De Beers Group, says that there are many labs that have the technology to sort the stone into various categories, not just to separate the real from the fake. “The machines that we sell are expensive. One, used by the retailers costs Rs 12 lakh. We have sold over 100 of these in the last two years. So there is a lot of authenticity in the market today. We have also sold machines to the labs which cost Rs 40 lakh. This machine will sort on the basis of carat, clarity and colour,” Sahasrabudhe says.
One is also told a story of how termites found the Jwaneng Mine in Bostwana. The story says that the termite that never sleeps and works 24x7, digs up to 70 metres and brings the soil up. The soil sample revealed the presence of kerberlite. The geologists just followed the termites to the mine.
One is also told that there is need to be able to differentiate between a fake and a real diamond and to ensure that they are not conflict diamonds. “When the problem was at its peak, there was little awareness. Now that it is on the decline, everyone is talking about it. But there is no harm in wanting to know where your stone came from. You wear a diamond next to the skin. You don’t want blood on your hands,” lussier says, adding that their target client is the young married professional who wants to be associated with a brand.
