08 Jun 2025

The advent of lab-grown diamonds, portrayed as a juggernaut that has been gathering pace within the diamond industry, needs to be watched closely to protect the long cherished and profound legacy of natural diamonds, which are true and powerful symbol of love, says President Advocate  Duma Boko.

He made the remarks at the De Beers JCK diamond show before a packed House of Botswana  booth in Las Vegas, United States of America, on Friday.

“I am here to reignite a long-running romance and emotional legacy of diamonds. Reigniting romance that seems to be fading," he said, calling on genuine lovers of natural diamonds to stand and be counted, so that  natural diamonds  could reclaim their deserved status.

Accordingly, President Boko, who went at length to narrate the role played by natural diamonds in transforming Botswana, which was amongst the poorest nations before the discovery of diamonds, said synthetics should not be given a place to thrive alongside organic diamonds. ‘’There is a human story behind every diamond. 

Every natural diamond carries brilliance, it carries purpose. In Botswana and other parts of Africa, these natural stones have not only funded developments but have transformed lives, they have brought clean water, power and infrastructure to the community and promise a better tomorrow,’’ he further said.

President Boko, therefore, made a clarion call to consumers, brands and markets alike to champion the essence of the natural stones and reminded all and sundry of the remarkable work funds accrued through sales of natural gems could do to better the lives of the people, especially the downtrodden.

The diamonds, he stated, were a tapestry that continued to knit the Southern African nation of Botswana together, thanks to funds accrued from their sales. Turning away from natural diamonds and rallying behind synthetics, he was akin to a people losing their way.

‘’Lab diamonds are not in the same category as natural diamonds. Synthetics are by their nature fake,’’ he said, adding that authentic diamonds symbolised what was real, they represented what was eternal, and they symbolised real love, which could not be grown in a lab.

Diamond industry players, President Boko said, had a duty to correct misconceptions and instil proper education to consumers about the actual value of natural diamonds as opposed to lab-grown diamonds. ENDS