‘Lies, Damn Lies... and Statistics’

Heart of the economy: Diamond mining remains the core of the country’s economic wellbeing PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Heart of the economy: Diamond mining remains the core of the country’s economic wellbeing PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Last year, the ‘Knot’, the highly rated American wedding magazine asked 12,000 newly wed couples whether they chose a natural or a lab-grown diamond for their engagement ring? This year they published the result… 36% chose the latter.

In context, that’s by weight, not value, and engagement rings make up only 25% of the diamond jewellery market, but even so..., that’s a worryingly big number.

In fact, the natural diamond industry is under threat as never before. The Natural Diamond Council does a fantastic job of promoting the “Diamond Dream” but it’s massively underfunded. Russia is (for obvious reasons) persona non grata, and the Kimberley Process is unsuited and unable to bring in the necessary changes. So yet again the industry falls back on the partnership which has given stability to the industry for the last half century – De Beers and the Government of Botswana... except you may not have noticed; their relationship may be about to go up in smoke.

Editor's Comment
Congratulations Anicia Gaothuse!

The contest had 10 beautiful young girls as finalists and unfortunately only one could wear the crown.The judges picked Anicia Gaothuse. To all those who feel their contestant should have won ahead of Anicia for whatever reason, hardly; the judges found Anicia to be the best among the best, so desist from disrespecting our newly crowned queen on social media or anywhere else, for that matter! Each of the 10 beautiful young women had supporters...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up