Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. The diamond industry, however, is not. It’s been a man’s world for decades - but that’s changing. Women are emerging as a force to be reckoned with. And it’s about time!
A Man’s World
Not only has the industry traditionally been run by men, they were also the target audience. Surprised? In the 1930s, diamond giant De Beers created its famous “A diamond is forever” campaign. The diamond became a symbol of undying love - well, maybe for women.
For men, it became a status symbol. If you spent a quarter of your salary on a diamond for your lady, you were a real man.
Women wore diamond jewelry. Everything else - from sourcing and selling stones to designing pieces to selling and purchasing finished products - was dominated by men.
But guess what?
Women Are Changing the Game
Empowered women are changing the face of the diamond industry. One avenue by which they are doing this is with their tremendous purchasing power. As Rachelle Bergstein so aptly puts it in her Forbes piece, “Diamond Industry Sets Its Sights On a Surprising New Demographic: Single Women”: “Women don’t need men - they can buy diamonds for themselves.”
They are also driving the “self-purchase” phenomenon. According to De Beers’ Diamond Insight Report 2017, more than 25 percent of women's diamond jewelry is self-purchased - typically by women aged 35+ with mid- to high-incomes.
While the “A diamond is forever” line of marketing emphasized the engagement ring idea (followed by anniversary rings, of course), 21st century women are celebrating something quite different: themselves.
The De Beers’ report found that women are self-purchasing diamonds to honor “non-traditional” events (e.g. new jobs, promotions) and emotions (e.g. pride, independence, optimism). If a woman wants ring a set with melee diamonds, a pair of stunning earrings, a pendant necklace or a custom designed piece of jewlery she’s more likely than ever to just purchase it herself.
Who better to clue the diamond industry in than women suppliers, designers, and manufacturers?
Women on the Rise
In recent years, there has been an increase in the prominence of women in the industry, particularly in terms of design. Vanessa Stofenmacher, founder of upscale jewelry startup Vrai & Oro, says, “For so long, what women were wearing was designed by old men who have no relation to what it feels like to wear a piece of jewelry every day… They’re not thinking about who’s wearing the jewelry, and no one told them they should be doing things differently.”
Women designers are telling them. The internet and sites like Etsy and Instagram have done much to give them a platform for their pieces - and their brands.
Women, too, are making inroads in other aspects of the business. Karen Rosengart, for example, combined her tremendous knowledge of diamonds with an acute business sense to become a trusted and sought-after diamond supplier.
The good news is that the industry is beginning to wake up; or rather, women are setting their own alarms and forging ahead on their own. It’s a new day in diamonds - and the future is dazzling.