DiamondBuzz
JA, key industry persons met Washington officials on concerns about Russian sanctions
Jewelers of America (JA) and key industry figures met with lawmakers in Washington, DC, last week to express their concerns about plans for sanctions on Russian diamonds.
Jewelers of America (JA) and key industry figures met with lawmakers in Washington, DC, last week to express their concerns about plans for sanctions on Russian diamonds.
“JA has been working tirelessly behind the scenes, and this visit to Washington, DC, was a critical step to ensure we minimize unnecessary disruptions to the US diamond industry,” JA president and CEO David Bonaparte said in a statement Tuesday. “We are very concerned about the additional requirements that could take effect on September 1.”
These would include adopting a European Union proposal forcing all 0.50-carat and larger diamonds destined for Group of Seven (G7) markets to pass through a single import channel in Belgium, Bonaparte noted.
JA supports efforts to keep diamonds of Russian origin out of the supply chain, including the more stringent rules that went into effect on March 1, it said. These require importers to self-certify that diamonds of 1 carat or larger are not Russian, notwithstanding their having been manufactured in a third country.
However, mandating physical verification and certification in Belgium for all rough diamonds “would cause maximum damage to the global diamond and jewelry supply chain, while having minimal effect on Russia’s diamond revenues,” JA argued in the statement.
Joining Bonaparte on the visit were Jon Bridge, chairman and counsel emeritus at Ben Bridge Jeweler; Dave Meleski, president and CEO of Richline Group; Matthew Swibel, vice president for sustainability and social impact at Signet Jewelers; and Ronnie VanderLinden, immediate past president of the Diamond Manufacturers Importers Association of America (DMIA) and president of the International Diamond
DiamondBuzz
Divine Solitaires Named ‘Best Diamond Jewellery Brand’ At JewelZ South India 2026
The Recognition Acknowledges The Brand’s Approach To Quality Assurance, Standardised Pricing and Transparency In The Natural Diamond Solitaire Category.
Hyderabad, 25 September 2026: Divine Solitaires, India’s natural diamond solitaire brand, has been honoured with the ‘Best Diamond Jewellery Brand’ award at JewelZ South India 2026, recognising its efforts to bring greater consistency, transparency and quality assurance to the natural diamond solitaire buying experience. The award was presented on 22 September at Novotel, HICC, Hyderabad.
The recognition comes as the natural diamond solitaire category evolves, with consumers increasingly seeking greater clarity around certification, quality and pricing when making high-value jewellery purchases. Divine Solitaires has built its proposition around addressing these expectations through its 123-parameter Quality Guarantee and Nationwide Standard & Transparent Pricing, which are applied uniformly across its retail network.
With a presence through 200+ partner jewellers across 100+ cities in India, the brand offers a portfolio of 3,000+ designs, alongside consumer-focused initiatives and long-term value programmes, including buyback and upgrade options.
Commenting on the recognition, Jignesh Mehta, Founder and Managing Director, Divine Solitaires, said:

“The way consumers buy diamonds is evolving. A solitaire is a significant purchase, and today’s buyer wants greater clarity on what they are buying, how quality is evaluated and how the price is determined. At Divine Solitaires, our endeavour has been to bring greater structure and consistency to this journey through clearly defined quality parameters and transparent pricing. This recognition at JewelZ South India is encouraging because it reflects the industry’s growing focus on building trust through greater accountability and standardisation.”
Adding to the brand’s presence at the event, Jignesh Mehta participated in the panel discussion “How the Jewellery Moguls are Crafting the New Jewellery Era”, moderated by Ritu Marya, Editor-in-Chief, Retailer Media. The session brought together senior industry leaders to discuss evolving consumer expectations, trust-building and changing retail models.
Mehta’s participation focused on the evolving natural diamond solitaire category, particularly the importance of consistent quality assurance, transparency and standardisation in building consumer confidence around high-value jewellery purchases.
The recognition reinforces Divine Solitaires’ focus on creating a more structured and transparent solitaire-buying ecosystem, as the category continues to evolve alongside changing consumer expectations.
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