As we write this article, we deeply sense the chill in the overseas jewelry market. Various geopolitical, political, and economic factors are causing Chinese lab-grown diamond producers to rethink their strategies for breaking through. Setting aside these factors, today we’ll take a simple look at the challenges and strategies for building a cross-border trade supply chain for lab-grown diamonds.
1.
Promote the Lab-Grown Diamond Industry Concept as a Global Market Entry Flagship
To successfully enter the global jewelry market, the concept of lab-grown diamonds must be widely recognized across the entire industry chain, particularly at the consumer end. This requires aligning with global consumer trends that emphasize environmental protection, ethics, and sustainable development. Lab-grown diamonds naturally fit these trends and can be integrated into the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) frameworks that are increasingly favored by capital markets. By collaborating with organizations like the AIDI International Intelligent Diamond Association and joining global ESG alliances, lab-grown diamond producers can navigate market entry with minimal friction. Traceability is becoming increasingly important in every mature jewelry market, and it’s a key factor for acceptance.
2.
Focus on Product Information Flow and High-End Market Branding
For Chinese lab-grown diamond and gemstone producers aiming at high-end jewelry markets, it’s crucial to focus on the commercialization of their products and brands. This involves paying close attention to the quality of images, videos, and visual identity (VI) design. Partnering with professional marketing agencies and e-commerce platforms is essential for building an effective omnichannel marketing system. It’s important to approach this with a long-term investment mindset—quick profits are not a sustainable strategy.
3.
Collaborate with Professional Logistics Companies
Cross-border logistics requires a professional approach, with a well-integrated sea, land, and air transportation system and extensive experience with customs procedures in the destination countries. Lab-grown diamonds currently face inconsistent tariff regulations in many countries, so compliant imports are critical. Mature markets like those in Europe and the United States place a high value on credit systems, making reliable and transparent logistics essential.
4.
Establish an Efficient CRM System Based on Consumer Demand
Developing a robust Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system is essential, particularly one that is driven by consumer demand data (C-end). This system should also integrate with production and inventory management systems. During discussions with many Chinese lab-grown diamond manufacturers, it became apparent that most operate with a B2B mindset—producing only when there are orders, or focusing solely on production without market analysis. Relying on historical data from media sources can be misleading since these data points are often outdated and only provide a reference. To accurately predict market demand, companies need to enhance their learning capabilities and, where necessary, collaborate with specialized agencies—after all, expertise matters.
Conclusion
Currently, the primary markets for lab-grown diamonds and gemstones remain in the United States and other mature jewelry markets. While these markets offer significant potential, Chinese lab-grown diamond and gemstone producers must adopt a long-term mindset to achieve sustainable growth. Abandoning the pursuit of quick profits is critical—once this shift occurs, challenges will become manageable, and anxieties will dissipate.
We welcome dialogue with peers and stakeholders at the AIDI International Intelligent Diamond Association. If you’re interested in further discussions, feel free to contact us at info@aidi.org or visit our website at www.aidi.org.