Diamond Industry Must Watch Retail Trends: How Small Changes Create Big Supply Chain Waves

Diamond industry expert Pranay Narvekar explains how retail changes trigger massive supply chain effects. Learn why tracking consumer trends beats watching wholesale markets.

The diamond industry needs to focus on retail trends. This simple shift could predict market changes better than watching wholesale numbers.

Pranay Narvekar from Pharos Beam Consulting shared this insight on the Rapaport Diamond Podcast. His message is clear: retail drives everything.

Retail Predicts the Entire Pipeline

"The industry is fairly predictable," Narvekar explains. "If you know what's happening on the retail side, you can have a fair bit of an idea about what's happening on the polished and the rough side."

Most companies make a mistake. They watch polished and rough markets instead of consumer behavior.

Large companies track consumer trends. Smaller midstream companies miss this opportunity.

The Bullwhip Effect Hits Diamonds Hard

Small retail changes create massive supply chain disruptions. This is the bullwhip effect.

The diamond pipeline makes this effect worse. Retailers hold a year's worth of stock or more. Small demand shifts create huge upstream changes.

"Given that the diamond pipeline is such a large pipeline, you see that the effects are much more pronounced," Narvekar notes.

US Import Duties Impact Global Demand

When Narvekar spoke in July, US import duties on Indian goods were 10%. He predicted a 5% drop in global demand.

Why such a big impact? America represents half of all diamond demand.

President Trump has since raised duties to 50%. The impact will be even larger.

Small Diamond Market Shows Weakness

Two factors drive small diamond weakness:

• Chinese luxury demand for high-quality melee dropped
• US retailers shifted to lab-grown diamonds for fashion jewelry

Large Diamonds See Strong Demand

Retailers stock larger diamonds to meet consumer demand. This supports the entire market up to rough stones.

Synthetic Prices Drive Natural Diamond Comeback

Lab-grown diamond prices keep falling. Some bridal retailers now switch back to natural diamonds.

The price gap creates new opportunities for natural stones.

Supply Chain Reality Check

Mining companies hold inventory. This affects current supply dynamics.

Secondary factors in manufacturing and trading influence markets. But retail demand drives the core trends.

Key Takeaway for Diamond Professionals

Track what happens at jewelry stores. Consumer behavior predicts your market better than wholesale trading data.

The bullwhip effect means small retail changes create big opportunities and risks upstream.

Watch retail trends. Predict market moves. Stay ahead of supply chain disruptions.

Your business depends on understanding where consumers spend their money. Not where traders move their inventory.

This article explores how retail sector changes create amplified effects throughout the diamond supply chain. Industry analyst Pranay Narvekar reveals why companies should track consumer behavior rather than wholesale markets. The piece covers the bullwhip effect in diamonds, US import duty impacts, small diamond market weakness, and the natural vs lab-grown diamond shift.

Busting 10 Common Pearl Myths – What Every Retailer Should Know

Pearls are trending again. More buyers are asking about them. But many still believe in outdated ideas.

If you're selling pearls, you need to clear up the confusion. This podcast from The Plumb Club, featuring Cheryl Kremkow for Mastoloni, tackles the top 10 myths your customers probably believe.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

10 Pearl Myths That Still Confuse Buyers

• Myth 1: Pearls are only for older women.
  Not true. Men, young women, and even kids wear pearls today.

• Myth 2: Only white pearls are real.
  Pearls come in black, pink, gold, lavender, and more.

• Myth 3: Natural pearls are better than cultured ones.
  Most pearls sold today are cultured, and they can be stunning.

• Myth 4: All pearls come from oysters.
  Some come from freshwater mussels.

• Myth 5: Round pearls are the only good ones.
  Baroque shapes are growing in demand and are often more affordable.

• Myth 6: Pearls are too fragile to wear every day.
  With care, pearls can last generations.

• Myth 7: Price always equals quality.
  That depends on many factors, not just cost.

• Myth 8: Pearls don’t go with modern fashion.
  Designers now mix pearls with leather, metals, and bold looks.

• Myth 9: All pearls look the same.
  Luster, surface, shape, size, and color vary widely.

• Myth 10: Grading pearls is too complex.
  Not if you know the “6 S’s” – size, shape, surface, shine, shade, and style.

Want to Sell More Pearls?

Learn to spot quality pearls fast.

Ask yourself:

• Does the pearl reflect light clearly?

• Are there many visible spots or bumps?

• Is the color even and appealing?

• Is the shape round, or uniquely baroque?

Meet Mastoloni

Known for their wide selection and trusted supply, Mastoloni can help you source almost any type of cultured pearl—classic or contemporary.

Next Steps:

• Listen to the full podcast on The Plumb Club's website.

• Train your sales team to answer pearl questions with confidence.

• Keep a few non-white, non-round pieces in your display to start a conversation.

Pearls are not old news.
They’re your next big sale—if you know how to present them. Are you ready to bust these myths in your store?