The biggest news to come out of the recent Dubai Diamond Conference is The Swiss Parallel, a report from the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre and OriginalLuxury that wonders whether natural diamonds can recover like Swiss watches did after the quartz crisis.
Since its release, the report has been discussed, debated, and dished upon across multiple platforms. There are many hot takes to consider, including interesting ones from Marc Bridge, Rapaport reporter Joshua Freedman, Nicolas Chrétien, and Rapaport CEO Dan Mano. Along with the actual report, they’re all worth reading and digesting.
This isn’t rocket science, and anyone who looks at the big picture of this industry sees it for what it is. Lab-grown diamonds aren’t going away, and they’re well accepted by the consumer. It’s time to decide how the industry is going to play—and it should play nice.
Here is a look at what else made JCK’s collective brain click this week.
News Worth Reading
China crackdown is making its richest residents look to gold, ultimately boosting Hong Kong jewelry sales. (subscription needed)
The Met Gala theme is…meh. Welcome to “extraOrdinary: Fashion and the Poetics of the Everyday.” (subscription needed)
Qatar Diamond Exchange signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Diamond, Gem & Jewellery Association of Southern Africa.
Birks Group Inc. announces the appointment of a new president and chief executive officer.
Congratulations to jeweler Ana Khouri, who won the American Accessory Designer of the Year award at the 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards.
And kudos to Hearts on Fire, Jane Win, Lagos, and others on their Accessories Council design awards.
Guess watches brings back its 1990s icons and they’re as good as you remember.
The holiday campaigns are emerging. Up first: Kendra Scott unveils “Long Live Joy,” a holiday celebration of wearable wonder.
Gold fell in October, likely on asset rotation, de-grossing, and Fed rate-path repricing.
Edahn Golan’s 2025 Lab-Grown Diamond Value Chain covers another breakout year for the lab-grown diamond industry.
More American shoppers say they’ll use Gemini this holiday season over other AI tools. (subscription needed)
The Watches of Switzerland Group is named a Great Place To Work for a second year in a row.
Mining company Petra got some stability through a $20 million lifeline.
Massena LAB founder William Massena and former La Fabrique du Temps executive Louis Westphalen-Lemaitre join forces on an incubator that aims to help fledgling watchmakers.
The World Gold Council said gold jewelry consumption fell 17% year over year, the weakest third quarter in its data series.
Diamond Do Good releases its latest Impact Report.
India’s gold demand falls 29% in Q3 as high prices restrain buying.
U.S. and Canadian importers and exporters “decidedly glum” over future prospects for North American trade. (subscription needed)
De Beers reaches 6 million Indian households through Samsung ads campaign.
IGJ and InCent LGD debut a global certificate in Lab Grown Diamond Technology.
Obsessions
Reed Krakoff is having a stellar 2026—Gap bags included. (subscription needed)
David Webb bejeweled strawberries are our new favorite thing.
A Diamond Is Forever ranks the best tennis jewelry.
The Diamond Collective analyzes the jewels in HBO’s The Gilded Age.
Podcast Queue
Carol Woolton gets into precious rocks with Nickelback’s Mike Kroeger.
The Business of Watches gets together with WatchCharts top executives to talk Morgan Stanley’s secondary watch market report.
The Business of Fashion asks what makes a million-dollar luxury salesperson?
The Luxury Society podcast shows how the NFL is using Breitling to tackle new markets.
Video Yaya
AI, diamond grading, and the future of jewelry with GIA chief executive officer Pritesh Patel.
Step inside Audemars Piguet’s manufacturing works.
(Photo: Getty Images)
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