Namibian Diamonds Socially Responsible Diamonds from Republic of Namibia

A new brand of sustainable jewelry is set to launch on Feb 1st 2009.  The brand, called Precious Earth, is the first to officially combine beneficiated diamonds with 100% recycled gold and silver jewelry. The diamonds that are featured in Precious Earth Jewelry come from the Namibian Diamond factory which is endorsed by Team Namibia. Team Namibia is a governing body that helps promote Namibian companies that operate in a socially responsible manner. Hopefully this is the start of many good things to come as beneficiation gains momentum in the diamond and jewelry industry.

Posted under Beneficiation, Namibian Diamonds, Sustainable jewelry

2008 is coming to a close and it has been a less than stellar year in the diamond industry.  The year started off with a bang with large diamond prices rising and we all had customers that were willing to buy them.  About midway through demand for large diamonds started to wane.  Most will place the blame on  the economy and and the stock market but I feel that there is something else laying just beneath the surface that is also hurting the demand for diamonds (excluding diamond engagement rings).  People are feeling guilty about anything that resembles conspicuous consumption.  People are buying things that make them feel good rather than simply for adornment.

My question is “Why aren’t we doing more to make people feel good about diamonds?” All you hear is the negatives and very few people know about the positives. Why aren’t we telling people about beneficiation. Imagine the positive effect on diamond demand if customers knew their purchase was giving back to those who live in countries like Namibia where diamonds are a natural resource. The story needs to be told of the transferable skills that are being taught and the jobs that are being created. This could help get diamonds more in step with the times and connect with next generation.  It is time to start making some noise and get this freight train headed in the right direction before it flies off the tracks. Diamonds can still be magical but beneficiation is the key.

Posted under Beneficiation, Namibian Diamonds

Yes, we know “Proudly South African” diamonds are not manufactured in Namibia but we thought it was appropriate to give them mention here on the Diamonds from Namibia blog.  The parent company of the Proudly South African Diamond brand  is not other than Schachter & Namdar Asia.  They are the same company who is bringing Team Namibia diamonds to the U.S.  Proudly  South African is a South African goverment initiative  to promote national companies that create jobs and stimulate economic growth.  The PSA diamond brand focuses on providing consumers country of origin certification and a guarantee that Proudly South African diamonds are 100% natural. The brand was launched in March of 2005 and has been very well received, particularly in Asia.  Our sources tell us that the Proudly South African brand of diamonds will soon be reintroduced to the the U.S. market. The enviroment seems much better now for this type of product launch. Originally, U.S. jewelry retailers shied away from it for fear that diamonds from South Africa would possibly cause confusion at the retail level.  Hopefully all confusion like this will be avoided if the concept of beneficiation becomes more widely known.

Posted under Beneficiation

A few days ago I read an interesting article by Ken Gassman on IDEX about the green movement having a negative effect on jewelry sales. The main reason cited was the way that the way the precious metals and stones are mined but I think it goes much deeper than that. Yes, people care a great deal about the environment but people also care about people. Our industry needs to continue to address both. Check out what Hoover and Strong is doing on the environmental part with it’s Harmony metals.

Read More…

Posted under Beneficiation, Namibian Diamonds

Team Namibia Diamonds - There have been a lot of exciting things happening in the diamond industry in Botswana and Namibia as of late. We just have received news that Team Namibia has endorsed diamonds coming from the Namibian Diamond factory. Team Namibia is a monitoring body that ensures products that bear it’s mark are of the highest standards! Each Team Namibia Diamond will be laser inscribed on the girdle and will come with a official document stating that the diamond is natural, conflict free and has been polished in the country of Namibia. Right now the factory where these diamonds are cut employ a little over 100 local people. According to our sources, the goal is to have 5,000 local people employed over the next several years and that is great news! Team Namibia diamonds will be making their debut very soon in a store near you. I just happen to love their motto “Invest in Quality. Invest in people”.

Posted under Beneficiation, Namibian Diamonds

Namibian Diamonds - Over the past few weeks there has been a great deal of coverage, including a great New York Times, article on the diamond industry in Botswana.  The collaboration between the government of Botswana and DeBeer’s has contributed to making Botswana one of the most prosperous countries in Africa today. Bostwana truly is a role model of what can be done if a country’s natural resources are handled responsibly. The success of the Debswana (DeBeers and Botswana) project has inspired other collaborations in countries like Namibia where diamonds are also a natural resource. The hope is that income from diamonds will make it possible for Namibia to meet the goals of Vision 2030. Vision 2030 is Namibia’s plan to become a fully industrialized nation by the year 2030.

Read More…

Posted under Namibian Diamonds