The Good, The Bad and the Synthetic: 2024’s Headline Buzzwords 

Photo gallery containing featured images from top diamond industry stories of 2024

While we write about a variety of topics, from mining and manufacturing to gemstones and jewelry, certain themes create more buzz than others. 

So, what were the terms that consistently made headlines and kept the industry talking this year? Apart from De Beers dominating the diamond scenes and synthetic stones causing a stir of their own, the following were the most-mentioned, most-discussed and most headline-making words of 2024. 

De Beers  

Leading the list with nearly 50 headline mentions was De Beers. Corporate developments and market shifts kept the spotlight on the diamond-industry giant throughout 2024. Its initiatives, challenges and strategies made it a consistent subject of conversation. 

Highlighted stories included: 

Lab-Grown/Synthetics 

The heated debate over lab-grown and natural diamonds persisted this year. As synthetic diamonds continued to disrupt the natural-diamond market, they became a polarizing topic for industry insiders. Some see man-made diamonds as the future, while others worry about their long-term impact on value and symbolism. 

Even as major players like De Beers and Signet doubled down with their natural-diamond marketing, lab-grown diamonds still managed to secure nearly 40 headline mentions. 

Key stories included: 

GIA (Gemological Institute of America)  

The GIA remained an influential force, safeguarding trust in the diamond industry. This year, it introduced new board members, scholarships, lab openings and closures, and enhancements to its jewelry reports. These activities cemented its status as a vital authority in the gemstone world. 

Notable GIA headlines included: 

Sanctions  

The year saw sweeping changes in global trade with the enforcement of Russian sanctions across Group of Seven (G7) countries. These restrictions, effective from March 1, had a significant impact on diamond imports and exports, reshaping market dynamics and sparking industry-wide change. 

Prominent sanction-related headlines included: 

Alrosa

Russian diamond producer Alrosa featured prominently in news coverage, primarily due to its entanglement with sanctions and broader geopolitical implications. 

Major headlines included: 

Main image: GIA reports, De Beers’ Global Sightholder Sales offices in Gaborone, Botswana, lab-grown diamonds, Alrosa sorting center. (GIA/De Beers/Shutterstock/Alrosa)

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The Good, The Bad and the Synthetic: 2024’s Headline Buzzwords 

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