Nosiphiwo Mzamo: South Africa’s State Diamond Trader to buy diamonds from other African countries

South Africa’s State Diamond Trader (SDT) is set to buy diamonds from other African countries starting with Botswana. SDT’s chief executive Nosiphiwo Mzamo told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa at the country’s inaugural diamond show, which...

10 february 2025

Edahn Golan: Halo effect from lab-grown diamonds driving high demand for large, 2-carat natural stones in the U.S.

Edahn Golan, owner of the eponymous Edahn Golan Diamond Research and Data, told Rough & Polished's Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that their research found a halo effect from lab-grown diamonds. He said the trend among lab-grown diamond...

27 january 2025

Paul Zimnisky: We will see a modest recovery in natural diamond demand and prices in 2025

According to Paul Zimnisky, an independent diamond and jewellery analyst and consultant based in the New York metro area, the natural diamond industry will see a modest recovery in demand and prices this year. Zimnisky said a moderate recovery would...

13 january 2025

African Diamond Council makes traceability its top priority, wants KP to embrace Authentia.io

The African Diamond Council (ADC) has made traceability its foremost priority and has been contributing to a traceability solution called Authentia.io for the last three and a half years, which is now ready to globally satisfy the traceability...

16 december 2024

Gaetano Cavalieri: CIBJO leading the jewelry industry on critical issues

One of the gem and jewellery industry’s most well-known and respected personalities, Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, has been the president of the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO), for the past 23 years. CIBJO is the oldest international organisation...

09 december 2024

Karen Rentmeesters named interim CEO of AWDC

16 april 2024

The board of directors of the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) appointed Karen Rentmeesters an interim CEO of the organization after Ari Epstein stepped down from the position today.

Rentmeesters, who is currently the Chief Officer PR & Industry Relations at AWDC, has been working at the organization for 15 years and has a profound knowledge of it. In the coming period, Karen will focus on carrying out ongoing business and appointing a new, permanent CEO for AWDC.

"To fill the position of ad interim CEO, we deliberately chose someone with extensive experience in and knowledge of the diamond industry, a large network, and the necessary expertise," said AWDC president Isidor Mörsel.

"We are confident that Karen will take on this role with great enthusiasm and that, while waiting for a permanent CEO, she will flawlessly guide AWDC through its ongoing dossiers."

"In the coming period, together with the entire management team, I will do everything in my power to continue Ari Epstein's good work while providing the necessary peace of mind. This is in anticipation of the arrival of a new, permanent CEO. The entire diamond industry is in the midst of a period of transformation towards greater transparency and faces challenging times. As a sector federation representing the interests of the Antwerp diamond companies, it is important that we guide them through this period and offer them stability," Rentmeesters said.

Theodor Lisovoy, Editor in Chief of the European bureau, Rough&Polished