Balancing AI with Human Craftsmanship, and This Week’s Other News 

The Lab-Grown Diamond Boom Is Over (Business Insider) 

“‘The lab crisis will come, and it will have a lingering effect on the natural-diamond industry,’ said Hertz Hasenfeld, president of De Beers sightholder Hasenfeld Stein, in our last Rapaport Diamond Podcast episode. In this in-depth article, jewelry experts explain the crisis and the consumer trends that led to it, but the views contrast with Hasenfeld’s assessment of the consequences. The situation they describe at the end of the article made me think of a good strategy for attracting young lab-grown consumers to natural. If I had a diamond business, I would start offering deals for couples who want to replace their synthetic diamond with a natural one.”  

 
Does Anything Truly Last Forever? (Jeweller Magazine)

“In this in-depth market analysis, diamond industry veteran Robert Bouquet looks at the impact of Anglo American’s ongoing efforts to sell De Beers, examining it in the wider context of uncertainty and instability. He also delves into the ban on importing Russian diamonds and how it has affected the Indian and Belgian trades. Particularly interesting is his take on lab-grown diamonds and how the natural champions can fight back.” 

Three of Jon Batiste’s Rocking Luxury Watches (South China Morning Post) 

“Much of the world (myself included) originally knew Jon Batiste as ‘Stephen Colbert’s bandleader,’ per the sub-header of this article. However, Batiste has distinguished himself as a musical prodigy and a talented performer, and he’s made a fan out of me. Beyond his music, his sense of style has continued to snag my attention, including the classy timepieces featured here — diamond-studded or otherwise. His colorful outfits and the jewelry he’s paired with them are a delight to see as well.” 

Ex Machina: How High-Jewelry Houses Are Balancing Cutting-Edge Technology and AI with Traditional Craftsmanship (Prestige) 

As the abilities of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology increase, many people fear what lies ahead. Will the new innovations take the place of humans in the job market? Will new products lack the human touch that makes them special? This article speaks about the symbiotic relationship that can form when the two work together. These diamond manufacturers and jewelers are using tech and AI to help ease mundane tasks and to fine-tune more difficult ones. The end result: Beautiful, handcrafted, human-created designs with more precise cutting, edging and polishing — the best of both worlds.