De Beers Mulls Job Cuts, and This Week’s Other News

“The headline caught my eye. It’s a bombshell. De Beers is the world’s largest diamond miner by value, so a massive shake-up is big news. If the company dramatically reduces its workforce, slashes costs by $100 million a year, and cancels projects, the ramifications for the industry will be enormous.”

“Google tells me divorce rings were a thing before this, but celebrity Emily Ratajkowski has just given them a publicity boost.”

“Cartier’s new Libre Polymorph collection may look like just another bunch of pretty jewels, but what makes this offering different is the new concept behind it. The line consists of cool, interesting and unusual shapes that are meant to be worn in not-so-obvious ways. A diamond- and gem-encrusted carabiner is styled as a belt-loop adornment, while a claw-shaped brooch, meant to look like it’s grabbing a lapel, doubles as a secret watch. Pair those with sunglasses dripping gems from behind the ear that look like earrings, and you have a new, fresh take on jewelry.”

“Diamond might not be the hardest material on Earth forever. This article explains how a supercomputer is predicting, through a series of simulations, that a super-diamond — named eight-atom body-centered cubic (BC8) — could be grown in a laboratory soon. This material is expected to be 30% more resistant to compression than regular diamonds.”

“This article dives into China’s current luxury market. It gives insights into the state of the Chinese diamond industry, comparing past and present (Subscription Required).”