Rare Natural Diamond Era: Vietnam Gradually Positions New Status on the Global Map

In an era of global supply scarcity, Vietnam is making strong strides to position itself anew on the world's diamond map.

The global luxury market is undergoing a profound restructuring under the dual pressure of geopolitics and the finiteness of natural resources. Natural diamonds are transitioning from the status of an iconic piece of jewelry to a strategic asset, thanks to their scarcity and resilience against macroeconomic variables.

Depleted Supply Redefines the Value of Natural Diamonds

According to a report from the Kimberley Process, global rough diamond production in 2023 reached only about 119 million carats, a sharp decrease from previous periods. By 2025, this figure is projected to further decline to 110-115 million carats, a decrease of over 20% from its peak in 2017. In reality, supplies from major supermines like Argyle (Australia) and Diavik (Canada) are nearing depletion and are successively closing down.

At the remaining operational mines in Botswana and Russia, the shift from open-pit to underground mining has led to a 30-50% decrease in production. This natural scarcity, combined with increasing extraction costs, is driving a wave of re-evaluation of gemstone value. International investors no longer view diamonds solely as luxury jewelry but are beginning to consider them a "strategic asset" due to their enduring value retention and legacy transmission capabilities.

At the Global Heritage Diamond Conference 2026, hosted by Jemmia Diamond at the Hilton Saigon hotel on May 23rd, Mr. Fabio Cascapera, President of the Diamond Exchange of Singapore, stated that the industry is entering a new "era of scarcity." Amidst tightening global supply, the demand for assets with sustainable value is surging.

According to Mr. Fabio, geopolitical fluctuations, particularly sanctions related to Russian supply, have profoundly shifted the trade map's focus. Additionally, the rise of new producers and mining nations in Africa has weakened centralized supply chain control, causing price disruptions. This fragmented landscape inadvertently increases pressure on the transparency and traceability of each diamond.

"The fragmentation of the global supply chain makes the market need stronger transparent standards than ever before to protect the true value of natural diamonds," emphasized the President of the Diamond Exchange of Singapore.

Notably, market screening is also evident in the redefinition of diamond segments. In practice, lab-grown diamonds are gradually being relegated to the affordable fashion segment due to increasingly low production costs and almost no resale value. This status creates a clear gap in asset accumulation and retention capabilities compared to natural diamonds.

The decline in value of industrial products further solidifies the position of natural diamonds in the eyes of global investors and elites. This segment is now viewed as a safe haven asset with strong resilience against macroeconomic fluctuations.

When Transparency Becomes the New "Power Standard" of the Diamond Industry

Despite the booming demand for natural diamonds as a store of value, the actual market still has many dark corners regarding legal and technical compliance. This includes the lack of a standardized grading system, the circulation of unofficial hand-carried diamonds with unclear origins, or the sophisticated manipulation of GIA laser inscriptions for legal gain. More concerningly, structural flaws deep within the stone are often intentionally hidden, posing significant risks to long-term asset value preservation.

Given this reality, international institutions are compelled to establish stricter technical barriers. The basic 4Cs standard is no longer sufficient and must be coupled with origin transparency and rigorous traceability processes.

Ms. Claudia D'Andrea, Director of Education and Lab Services at GIA Thailand, stated that the institution has implemented a new descriptive grading system since late 2025 to completely distinguish natural diamonds from synthetic ones. Accordingly, stones with top-tier clarity (VVS to Flawless), near D color grades, and perfect cuts always offer the best capital preservation against macroeconomic fluctuations. This enhanced standard system acts as a technical filter, enabling consumers to proactively eliminate risks from unofficial markets.

In Vietnam, Jemmia Diamond is a pioneer brand operating uniformly according to these stringent standards. The strict application of the GIA independent grading system protects consumers with true value and transparency. This is a pivotal step in positioning natural diamonds as a safe, generational asset.

Vietnam's Journey from a Consuming Market to a Destination for International Diamond Standards

The rise of a new elite class in Vietnam is opening a golden opportunity for the nation to shift its position on the world's diamond map. The educated younger generation is increasingly demanding authenticity, official origin, and ethical business practices from brands.

At the conference, Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, noted that as Asia emerges as a new consumption hub, Vietnam needs to link its domestic supply chain with the highest international standards to build a trust-based trading system. In this context, diamonds will be a sophisticated language expressing the nation's integration capabilities and economic strength.

In line with this strategic vision, Jemmia Diamond has proactively integrated the domestic market deeply into the global official supply chain by establishing strategic partnerships with major trading hubs, notably the Middle East. As a leading global hub for rough and polished diamond trading, the Middle East, especially Dubai (UAE), is becoming a gateway for new luxury flows.

This rise is further fueled by the growing bilateral economic relationship between Vietnam and the UAE, evidenced by non-oil bilateral trade exceeding $16 billion in 2025 (according to Prema Consulting). With the Vietnam-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in effect, Jemmia Diamond acts as a "bridge of prosperity," expanding trade opportunities and fostering deep connections between business communities in both regions. The brand has continuously promoted bilateral trade connection seminars with representatives from the UAE Embassy, realizing opportunities for macroeconomic cooperation.

Visit of H.E. Dr. Bader Abdulla Saeed Bin Saayed Almatrooshi - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Jemmia Diamond.

A landmark step confirming the integration capabilities of Jemmia Diamond, a Vietnamese diamond brand, is its official membership in the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) and the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) from June 2025. Joining these supreme institutions allows Vietnamese enterprises direct access to high-quality, origin-transparent rough supplies without intermediaries, while also mandating adherence to the strictest commercial ethics regulations.

Commenting on these integration efforts, Mr. Saadi Salama, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Vietnam, said: "The efforts to create a transparent, professional, and sustainable diamond ecosystem by Vietnamese brands like Jemmia Diamond are the driving force for building solid 'bridges' connecting Vietnam with leading global diamond centers like Dubai."

The success of the Global Heritage Diamond Conference 2026, organized by Jemmia Diamond for the first time in Vietnam, is a strong testament to the new position of the domestic market. Here, an international reference system for standards and knowledge was officially announced. This reference system not only provides a foundation for transparency but also equips customers with a sharp intellectual lens to see through any ambiguity or concept-distorting tricks that exist. When absolute transparency is established, diamond masterpieces meeting the world's strictest standards can be fully valued, honored, and passed down in Vietnam. The proactivity of businesses combined with the understanding of the elite class is a strong affirmation of national pride, working together to leave Vietnam's mark on the world's diamond map.

Source: Dau Tu Investment Bridge Newspaper