An abridged version of this article first appeared in the JNA May/June 2023 issue.

David Block became CEO of Sarine Technology Group in 2017. His commitment to delivering ground-breaking solutions that modernise the diamond industry however spans two decades across various roles he has held at the company.

Block has played a crucial role in the initiation, development and introduction of the many revolutionary innovations Sarine has brought to the diamond industry.

In 2009, he led the rollout of the Galaxy technology for rough diamond inclusion scanning, which enabled diamond manufacturers to accurately consider the stone’s clarity as an integral automated part of the planning process.

In recent years, he has been spearheading Sarine’s introduction of innovative technologies including the first technology-based artificial intelligence-driven polished diamond grading, the most complete and least disruptive end-to-end solution for diamond traceability, the emerging standard for light performance analysis, as well as other digital solutions to enable diamond retailers to better interact with their millennial customers.

Tangible benefits

While Sarine’s technological advances enhance the value of the diamond through production and manufacturing efficiencies, Block takes greater pride in the positive changes these have brought to people’s lives.

“Due to the introduction of advanced technologies, we have helped transform the diamond manufacturing segment from a rudimentary ‘cottage’ industry into an advanced high-tech industry,” he explained.

Technology, Block noted, has formed the basis for a dramatic improvement in the infrastructure and working conditions in factories as well as the improvement of the skillsets of tens of thousands of workers in India, Africa and other manufacturing centres around the world.

Innovation is however often met with resistance as it changes existing processes that have become industry norms. In such instances, Block uses education to ease the transition.

“The more the technology is understood and people realise how it provides value, the easier the process of adoption becomes,” he explained.

Block recalled that when the Galaxy technology was first introduced in 2009, diamond planners initially feared it would replace their jobs. The group thus immediately established the Sarine University, which trained thousands of planners on using the technology to expand their skills and capabilities. 

"Once they understood that the technology was actually to their benefit, they were the first to proudly adopt and start using it as a tool that complimented their skills,” he said.

Today, the Galaxy technology is the industry standard with over 35 million diamonds scanned yearly and tens of thousands of highly skilled diamond planners using the technology in synergy with their years of experience in manual diamond planning, Block added.
 

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