💎 US/India Tariff Update: Who Wins (and how to play it)

We’re watching a meaningful shift in how the U.S. is treating India-linked stones vs. finished goods - and it’s going to reshape sourcing decisions fast.

✅ Likely winners

1) India (Natural Stones Ecosystem) India strengthens its position as the global “value-add bridge” for natural diamonds + colored gemstones—and for many buyers, that also reinforces the hard-asset / store-of-value narrative around natural stones. Strategically: as global trade blocs evolve (including BRICS discussions), India sits in a unique position between USD-based trade and emerging settlement frameworks—with natural gemstones remaining a portable, globally recognized value category.

2) U.S.-based Lab-Grown Diamond (LGD) manufacturers If imported LGD carries higher friction (tariffs/fees), domestic LGD producers gain a price umbrella and a competitiveness boost.

3) Smart U.S. retailers + wholesalers (operators win) Those who redesign their workflow to minimize tariff exposure and protect margin will come out ahead.

💎Winning strategy for U.S. retailers & wholesalers (simple + effective)

1) Do partial assembly after casting

- Cast domestically (or import castings/components where viable)

- Keep final setting + finishing + QC in the U.S.

- This improves control, reduces rework risk, and can keep more value-add onshore (and often helps with lead times + consistency).

2) Source stones strategically (max cost effectiveness)

LGD (best-cost play):

- Prioritize U.S.-based LGD supply (or non-India sources with cleaner landed cost) for your “value-forward” programs and fast-turn eComm pieces.- Lock pricing with a primary supplier + a backup to avoid volatility.

💎Natural Diamonds / Colored Gemstones (best-position play):

- If the tariff pathway favors natural loose stones, India becomes even more compelling for cut/polished natural + colored gems (especially calibrated parcels and commercial-to-fine quality ranges).

- Use natural stones for hero pieces, bridal, and “legacy” narratives where long-term value perception matters most.

✨Make sure you are using AI for Market Analysis. Things are changing so fast and with such magnitude that the Jewelers who can compile information fast, will have a much better read than those who still act as though it's 1984 on 47th St NYC.

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