The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) outlined a series of strategic priorities for the natural diamond industry during Jewellery & Gem World (JGW) Hong Kong 2026.
WFDB President Mehul Shah presented the organisation’s priorities during the Natural Diamond Council (NDC) panel, “Reshaping Value across the Natural Diamond Supply Chain”, held in collaboration with the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong.
Shah highlighted the need for the industry to strengthen value creation, transparency, consumer communication and standards across the diamond supply chain.
He called for greater emphasis on branding, jewellery design, craftsmanship and storytelling to increase the perceived value of natural diamonds. He also stressed the importance of improving mine-to-market transparency through technologies including blockchain and traceability systems.
Consumer communication was another key focus. Shah called for stronger collaboration between industry organisations, retailers and other stakeholders to communicate the characteristics and value of natural diamonds directly to consumers.
Addressing laboratory-grown diamonds, Shah said natural and synthetic diamonds should be clearly differentiated, with transparent disclosure and distinct positioning for each category.
He also called for stronger consumer protection measures, including clear identification of diamond categories on invoices, certificates, branding and marketing materials. He proposed greater cooperation between industry bodies and governments to establish consistent standards.
Another priority was standardisation of diamond grading. Shah urged greater collaboration between trade organisations, gemmological laboratories and governments to develop a more consistent global grading framework.
Shah also proposed the creation of a globally recognised mark of authenticity for natural diamonds, similar to established identification systems used in other industries. The proposed mark could provide consumers with a clear indication of authenticity and reinforce the identity of natural diamonds.
He described the industry as an interconnected “Happy Pipeline”, encompassing miners, manufacturers, artisans, laboratories, retailers and other stakeholders. Collaboration across this pipeline, he said, would be important to strengthening the natural diamond sector.
Shah also invited Hong Kong jewellery industry members to participate in the upcoming India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) in Mumbai.