Although an aggressive virus prevented me from attending Nicky’s annual Cocktail Party this Sight week, copies of Nicky’s, Gareth’s and Varda’s speeches were made available through the internet providing a very interesting and relevant ‘tour d’horizon’ of the current situation in our industry from a DTC, Sightholder and trade perspective.
However I was intrigued by a passing comment Gareth made in his speech when referring to overcoming the extraordinary difficulties of 2009 he said ‘when they write the history of this period...’ Undoubtedly no history of the diamond business in the last 100 or so years could be even contemplated unless the central role of the Diamond Trading Company is acknowledged and explored. Like it or not, no one can deny that the DTC has provided the structure and vision that has created the modern diamond industry. The problem is that although corporate histories are necessarily rather self-congratulatory, unofficial histories have tended to be generally ill-informed or ill-intentioned or often both. So a genuinely balanced history has yet to be written.
Sightholder status still remains the most sought after recognition of diamond industry excellence and the DTC has defended the interests and reputation of the diamond community as a whole very effectively. What other producers have both projected and protected the image and reputation of diamonds? And on those rare occasions when they have, invariably they have been following in the footsteps of a DTC initiative.
The Sightholder system evolved to meet the needs of producer and manufacturer based on the simple recognition that sustainable pricing in our industry is impossible without sustainable relationships.
The fact that DTC gatherings such as this Cocktail Party are still so eagerly attended in the depths of a grim winter and reported upon demonstrates not only that the communal cohesion of the industry is still the industry’s greatest strength but also without a compelling narrative the industry would lose its way completely and the verdict of history would surely be ‘how could they possibly have let that happen?’
My own experience in trying to publish a history of the Indian diamond industry has clearly shown me that the diamond story is so obscured by legend, romance and intrigue that sadly whoever writes a history of this period is never likely to do it justice. However, this should not be used as an excuse because it is sad to think that a comprehensive history of this extraordinarily successful industry and its importance to the Indian economy now looks likely to be lost in the mist of time and legend but perhaps that’s how we prefer it, or is it?
However I was intrigued by a passing comment Gareth made in his speech when referring to overcoming the extraordinary difficulties of 2009 he said ‘when they write the history of this period...’ Undoubtedly no history of the diamond business in the last 100 or so years could be even contemplated unless the central role of the Diamond Trading Company is acknowledged and explored. Like it or not, no one can deny that the DTC has provided the structure and vision that has created the modern diamond industry. The problem is that although corporate histories are necessarily rather self-congratulatory, unofficial histories have tended to be generally ill-informed or ill-intentioned or often both. So a genuinely balanced history has yet to be written.
Sightholder status still remains the most sought after recognition of diamond industry excellence and the DTC has defended the interests and reputation of the diamond community as a whole very effectively. What other producers have both projected and protected the image and reputation of diamonds? And on those rare occasions when they have, invariably they have been following in the footsteps of a DTC initiative.
The Sightholder system evolved to meet the needs of producer and manufacturer based on the simple recognition that sustainable pricing in our industry is impossible without sustainable relationships.
The fact that DTC gatherings such as this Cocktail Party are still so eagerly attended in the depths of a grim winter and reported upon demonstrates not only that the communal cohesion of the industry is still the industry’s greatest strength but also without a compelling narrative the industry would lose its way completely and the verdict of history would surely be ‘how could they possibly have let that happen?’
My own experience in trying to publish a history of the Indian diamond industry has clearly shown me that the diamond story is so obscured by legend, romance and intrigue that sadly whoever writes a history of this period is never likely to do it justice. However, this should not be used as an excuse because it is sad to think that a comprehensive history of this extraordinarily successful industry and its importance to the Indian economy now looks likely to be lost in the mist of time and legend but perhaps that’s how we prefer it, or is it?
2 comments:
Diaries are probably the main source of ‘histories’ so we have to imagine whose diaries might record a comprehensive history of the Diamond Industry. Generally a politician makes a good diarist because normally having no specific skills they tend to offer a broad coverage whereas others such as directors, accountants, valuators, security persons, and the like can be expected to provide a narrow perspective. So who would pen a balanced perspective of the last 50-years of the Diamond Industry? An anonymous broker is surely an obvious choice!
Come thnk of it, jacel, I am rather reasonable and balanced, if not necessarily anonymous?!
Post a Comment