NOW:

After the last “Now and Next” article on Diamond Matching, Collectors Universe, Inc. formally issued a press release stating that they “decided to discontinue the further development of its Gemprint business”. They reported an annual loss of $15.9 million for discontinued operations primarily from their Jewelry Grading and Gemprint business.

To say the least, that press release created quite a stir with dozens of firms contacting “Now and Next” wanting to know, what’s next?

Gemprint decidedly lost an opportunity to be a viable identification system. No viable suitor has emerged. Most likely, there no longer any viable Gemprint database being maintained by Collector’s Universe. In my opinion, without a database open to law enforcement and insurance companies open on a global level, the value of Gemprint to a suitor would greatly diminish, particularly if insurance carriers no longer officially participate supporting Gemprint.

Due to the fact that so many readers have contacted “Now and Next” about alternative comparison diamond matching formats,

I have delayed a follow up article in order to allow for a more exhaustive research study. The next generation of Diamond Matching systems will need to be open architecture as it appears the industry would prefer a product that can be utilized by multiple grading laboratories of choice. As so many know the story of Sony brand Beta video tape, exclusivity of that format to Sony only, lost out to a global platform that could be used by all industry sources. The downfall of Gemprint by Collectors Universe is most likely linked to their requirement for the industry to use a relatively unknown grading laboratory (which Collectors Universe also exited) unknown to the industry at the time of the Gemprint acquisition.

Manufacturers of various Diamond Identification systems are encouraged to contribute to that upcoming “Now and Next” article in Diamond World.

First consideration will be given to products with an open platform to the industry at large. Contact us for consideration of your identification platform at: NowandNext@PremierDiamondGroup.com

Next:

For the past month I have been living in China on a diamond research assignment. There is no doubt that the Asia diamond market is resilient during this global diamond crisis. For now, the Asian market will continue to outperform the industry at large. Next year, North America, followed by Europe will again become strong in diamond consumption. This will excite diamond prices at an unparalleled sustained level. Asia’s own sustained surge will be the major contributor to the continuing price increase that will be seen in early 2010 for several years to come.

Until last year, Asia was often only 5% of a manufactures’ market share. Today, a little more than a year after the major drop in global consumption, it is common Asia to now represent 25% of the sales from any given diamond manufacture. An interesting fact to ponder if you are still in the 5% range.

China’s economy shows aggressive growth changes due to the 4-trillion Yuan (US $585 billion) economic stimulus package. This package emphasizes domestic consumption instead of export production. Lin Qiang, President, Shanghai Diamond Exchange agrees stating that the Diamond exchange has enjoyed a 9.4% increase in imported carat weight this year. The Diamond Administration of China (DAC) reported sales of $692 million of imports, up 6.9% in value through June.

One trend noticed in Singapore by Suresh Hathiramani, Vice-president of the Diamond Exchange of Singapore, is that the online sourcing of diamonds is happening more often in order to bypass the traditional jeweller for a substantial savings. This is a trend that will continue to spread in Asia now that the internet and the credit card industry in Asia have converged as western economies have. Within the jewelry industry in Singapore, diamonds remain the first choice by consumers who recognize the retained value of diamonds. Our industry would gain quite a bit of growth if we began to use retained value to our advantage. Diamonds are an asset value for the consumer long understood in India and other parts of Asia.

Even with the economic conditions in Japan being similar to many western countries, Japan will see an appreciable 800,000 diamond engagement rings sold this year according to Michio Iwasaki, President of the Tokyo Diamond Exchange.

In a conversation that I had with Lawrence Ma, President, Hong Kong Diamond Bourse (HKDB), although Hong Kong has felt the impact as western countries, he expressed that the local consumer moods are good and that foreign companies continue to invest in Hong Kong and that they will see strong growth after a little longer recovery period.

Because Asia is growing, Avi Paz, President, World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), recognizes that “tomorrow’s market is Asia”. Paz is showing leadership by enhancing the frequency of diamond meetings and the exchange of information within in Asia and throughout the WFDB membership. Paz supports additional WFDB services for its members, particularly after recognizing that China is now fully open for commercial diamond markets.

Next, Asia will remain as the world’s strongest diamond growth market.

Pomerantz is President of Premier Diamond Group, Inc. advisors to multinational corporations on Diamond Market “Change Strategies”

He is past Executive Director of GIA Instruments where he designed and patented the GIA Gemmological Digital Microscope. Pomerantz is also the appointed current Global Ambassador for the WFDB. You may view Mr. Pomerantz”s last “Now and Next” column at: http://www.diamondworld.net/contentView.aspx?item=4021 )

Howard Pomerantz may be reached at +1-949-720-7455 or NowandNext@PremierDiamondGroup.com