NCDIA draws attention in Basel

The Natural Color Diamond Association, a new trade organization, launched earlier this year to promote natural colored diamonds (See “Diamond Notes,” April JCK, page 42), held a press conference during the BaselWorld fair, in the hopes of raising awareness of its members and goals.

The NCDIA draws members from around the world, from rough diamond producers to diamond and jewelry manufacturers and retailers. Dilip Mehta, CEO and president of Rosy Blue and vice president of the NCDIA, told JCK the group’s key objective is to educate consumers about colored diamonds and change their perception of them as prohibitively expensive and out of reach. While natural color diamonds are indeed exotic and dream-like products, they are also real and authentic, and it is possible for consumers to own and appreciate them.

Furthermore, in response to the growing HPHT and synthetic diamond supply, the NCDIA seeks to emphasize the beauty and value of natural diamonds.

NCDIA members have been working on a variety of promotional and educational programs, the most notable of which were three diamond-studded dresses designed by Randi Rahm and unveiled to the public during Oscar week in Los Angeles. The dresses, which utilized champagne, pink, and chocolate diamonds, were valued at close to six million dollars. The champagne diamond dress, which was on display in Basel, featured more than 2,000 stones totaling more than 3,000 cts. of natural color diamonds from Michael Werdiger Inc. Worth $2.5 million, it was worn to the Oscars by E! reporter and Entertainment Tonight host Maria Menounos. Prior to being displayed in Basel, the dress was also modeled on the runway during the Supplier Fashion Show luncheon held April 1 at the American Gem Society Conclave in Atlanta.

The other two diamond dresses about town during Oscar week included a pink diamond dress, valued at $1.5 million and featuring 500 cts. of rare natural color pink diamonds from Argyle, worn by actress Vivica A. Fox (Kill Bill, Independence Day); and a chocolate diamond dress, featuring more than 500 cts. of chocolate, wheat, and white natural color diamonds from Rosy Blue and Michael Werdiger. It was featured during the pre-Oscars coverage on Good Morning America. In addition, NCDIA members’ stones were worn by a dozen other celebrities during the Oscar festivities.

For more information about NCDIA or to obtain a membership application, contact Sandra Arsianian in Antwerp, (+32 3) 206 16 84, email sandra.arsianian@rosyblue.be, or Jennifer Merksamer in New York, (212) 869-5160, email: jen@sjmworldwide.com.

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