Meet Tiffany’s Master Diamond Artisans

The Innovator

At Tiffany’s diamond headquarters in Antwerp—a hub known as the Square Mile of Diamonds—Marcel Struyfs balances an appreciation of beauty with a love of innovation. “In our team, we use high-tech things to create beautiful things,” he says.

A master of invention who’s dedicated over four decades to his craft, Struyfs helped pioneer the use of technology for a more exacting diamond cut. “We developed a laser beam that’s guided by water to cut expertly, maximizing the beauty of a diamond,” he explains. He loves his work because it’s a meaningful part of people’s lives. “A diamond symbolizes the commitment of a relationship. It’s about forever,” he says.

The Rising Star

“When I was young, I never dreamt of my future,” says Kunthea Theng. Since starting at Tiffany’s Phnom Penh workshop as a diamond cutter in 2014, Theng’s career has grown alongside her dreams. “In total, there are now more than 100 workers under my supervision,” says Theng, who’s responsible for ensuring that even melee diamonds (the smallest stones) meet Tiffany’s high standards.

Based on a living wage methodology that Tiffany helped pioneer, Theng’s salary is substantially above Cambodia’s minimum wage. Through her job at Tiffany, Theng was able to support her brother through college, buy a house with her husband and another for her parents. “I was born in a farming family and I transformed myself,” Theng says. “I want my children to have a better life and the special things that I have.”

The Leaders

Each year, over 16 million diamonds pass through the Tiffany Jewelry Workshop and Gemological Laboratory in Pelham, New York. Of the facility’s nine leaders, seven are women—an unusual statistic in the historically male-dominated jewelry industry. “What Tiffany does is hire the best candidates for the job, regardless of gender,” says Elsa Alberto, who leads 66 craftspeople. “And that’s why women are climbing the ladder, because there’s a lot of smart women out there. The times are changing.”