The Rapaport Diamond Podcast zoomed in on Europe’s diamond market in the latest episode, which featured German jewelry designer Katharina Junkert.
Junkert explained the history of Pforzheim, Germany’s jewelry-manufacturing city, where she is based.
She outlined how Pforzheim had dwindled as a mass production center because of competition from cheaper Asian locations. However, she noted, the city has managed to hold on to some prestigious brands that continue to manufacture there.
The episode also focused on the European consumer market and why Germans like high colors and clarities — perhaps because of the gloomy weather.
She went on to address the positive and negative implications of US tariffs on imports and how celebrities Selena Gomez and Hailey Bieber were driving demand for niche diamond shapes.
The bilingual guest recounted how social media had boosted her namesake brand’s success — and she helped Rapaport’s Joshua Freedman brush up on his rusty German.
Listen to the episode here:
This podcast is brought to you by GIA — the Gemological Institute of America — protecting consumers and supporting the global gem and jewelry trade since 1931 through research, education, and laboratory services.
