In 2024, the global economy continues to navigate a myriad of ongoing changes that have extended from the previous year. Various factors are poised to significantly impact diverse industries, including the gem and jewelry sector. Notably, the pivotal roles played by China and India serve as crucial variables influencing both demand and supply, thereby shaping the trajectory of the market.

Since January 2024, the G7 nations-Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, and the United States and the European Union have enforced bans on direct and indirect imports of diamonds from Russia to curb funding for its invasion of Ukraine. Starting March 1, 2024, the ban will extend to Russian diamonds cut and polished in third countries. A comprehensive traceability system will be implemented by September 2024. These sanctions, imposed by the G7 and their allies on Russia, the world's largest diamond producer, will pose ongoing challenges to the global diamond industry.

In February 2022, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) during the India-UAE Virtual Summit. With the agreement now in force, customs duties on imports between the two countries have been reduced and exempted since May 2022, providing India's gem and jewelry with an even greater advantage in the UAE.

The Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT) has been conducting extensive study on "Colored Stone Quality Standards," especially on gem corundum, for over two decades. To better serve the global ruby market, a new trade color known as "Rabbit's Eye Red" for ruby has been developed and implemented to fill a gap in the fine color of ruby.

The recent covid-19 outbreak has altered people's behavior all around the world. People are beginning to favor products and services from firms that emphasize sustainability, social responsibility, and environmental friendliness as a result. This tendency drives producers in various industries, including gem and jewelry, to develop more responsible supply chains in order to contribute to the problem's resolution.

Changes are inevitable, especially in this era when it is believed that everyone must have at least heard of or known about ‘Disruption’. The word refers to significant changes in the environment that bring more attention to such conversions, particularly those driven by technology, which are the key mechanism of change in many fields. Similarly, changes have been observed in the gem and jewelry business. Changes caused by technology might be minor, major, quick, gradual, low-profile, high-profile, imminent, or stagnant. Let us examine the changes and their intriguing elements.

The Middle East is one of the world’s largest markets with high purchasing power.specifically those in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which consists of six members: the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. With no or limited capacity to manufacture most products for domestic consumption, these countries depend on the import, not only of consumer products but also luxury, including gem and jewelry. Therefore, this market offers a promising opportunity for Thai gem and jewelry.