Vicenzaoro Highlights, January 2026: Fewer Diamonds on the Market, but Better Quality

Less is more. How many times have we heard this phrase applied to countless concepts? Many, perhaps too many—but certainly never in reference to the diamond world. Until yesterday, when during his speech at Vicenzaoro, Martin Rapaport threw down this very provocation. And when the founder of the global diamond price list says it, it’s worth paying attention. His first publication dates back to 1978, the year Mr. Rapaport also defined the famous 4 Cs used to classify diamonds (carat, color, cut, clarity). Since then, no industry professional has gone without consulting his weekly Diamond Report, to the point that his surname has become synonymous with the list itself. But let’s get back to the core idea of “less is more.” «Thirty or forty years ago, everything was different. Giving a woman an engagement ring was a must, whereas today women themselves no longer desire it with the same passion. The way diamonds are sold has changed too: online shops and auctions have stripped away much of the magic of visiting a boutique to carefully choose a stone. You relied on an expert, whereas now you buy with a quick click without truly knowing what you’re getting. Flooding the market with lower-quality stones has created the illusion that everyone can own a diamond—but that’s not the case. Giving a low-quality diamond is like giving your fiancée a bouquet of plastic flowers. We’ve killed the idea of exclusivity, the dream behind a stone that symbolizes uniqueness. That’s why I strongly believe we need to take a step back and reduce the number of stones on the market in favor of better quality. We need to reposition the natural diamond so that those who truly appreciate it can be sure of what they’re buying. It’s a kind of “emotional security” that we, as professionals, must guarantee. For this reason, gold has overtaken diamonds as a safe-haven asset, but in reality, anyone wearing a fine diamond should know that tomorrow they can resell it and recover all their money—without losing a cent, in fact.»