Tracr passes 5 million rough diamonds milestone as De Beers expands provenance push

De Beers Group's blockchain-enabled traceability platform Tracr reached a significant milestone in 2025, with more than 5 million rough diamonds individually scanned and registered, up from 2.8 million cumulative registrations reported in 2024. The...

28 september 2026

South African diamonds head to Hong Kong: SDT partners with BRINKS for JGW 2026

South Africa’s State Diamond Trader (SDT) has confirmed the country's participation in Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong (JGW) 2026 through a partnership with BRINKS. SDT marketing and communication manager Tsholofelo Gopolang Tselapedi...

14 september 2026

David Benderly: PermaScribe seeks to put trust mark on diamond table, not just girdle

In this interview with Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa, PhotoScribe Technologies president and chief executive David Benderly explains how PermaScribe differs technically from conventional laser inscription, its potential to strengthen security, and...

31 august 2026

The great reset: Paul Zimnisky on supply catharsis, De Beers' bargain and the case for natural diamonds

The natural diamond industry is in the throes of its most profound reset in a generation. Supply is plunging to its lowest level since 1987 and De Beers—once valued at over $9 billion—is reportedly being sold for as little as $1 billion.
Lab-grown...

10 august 2026

Roman Karakurkchi: Maintaining the highest standards of jewelry craftsmanship

Roman Karakurkchi is the founder of the Roman Karakurkchi jewelry brand and the International Jewellery School that brings together instructors from Russia, the USA, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Italy, and Germany, as well as students from 65 countries...

03 august 2026

Sam Broekema appointed editor in chief of Only Natural Diamonds

25 february 2022
news_24022022_sam_broekema.pngOnly Natural Diamonds (naturaldiamonds.com), the consumer-facing, multi-channel digital platform powered by Natural Diamond Council has announced the appointment of Sam Broekema to Editor in Chief. 
Only Natural Diamonds’ brand ambassador is Hollywood actress, Ana de Armas. 
Broekema will lead the orchestration of OND’s annual Trend Report by composing a yearly Style Collective of esteemed jewelry editors, influencers, retailers, and stylists.
Broekema has in-depth experience in the fashion, accessories, and jewelry spaces and has been a diamond jewelry devotee and expert throughout his editorial career.
Broekema will begin on February 28th, 2022.

Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished