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The future of diamonds

We examine the impact of synthetic diamonds on the market for traditional gems.

We examine the impact of synthetic diamonds on the market for traditional gems. Olly Williams, professor of experimental physics at Cardiff University, tells us lab-grown diamonds are now virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. David Prager is an executive at diamond mining firm DeBeers, and says he thinks there will always be a strong market for authentic stones. And we get a sense of how consumers are responding to the newer diamonds from Patrick Wyatt, who has been selling diamond jewellery for 30 years in Hatton Garden, London, and Roseanna Croft, who designs jewellery in Derbyshire in the north of England. Also in the programme, the European Central Bank has cut interest rates further into negative territory. Christel Aranda-Hassel of Japanese bank Mizuho International explains the thinking behind the move. Plus our reporter finds out about the lucrative industry of drag acts, where male performers dress in women's clothing.

(Picture: Diamonds. Picture credit: Getty Images.)

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27 minutes

Last on

Thu 12 Sep 2019 21:32GMT

Broadcast

  • Thu 12 Sep 2019 21:32GMT