Singapore: The World Diamond Heritage Board (WDHB) has announced the official opening of the public nomination phase for the World Diamond Heritage List (WDHL); an inaugural selection of 100 natural diamonds of outstanding historical importance.
Nominations are open from May 18 to June 18, 2026. Every person — from industry professionals to diamond lovers — is invited to nominate up to five diamonds they believe deserve a place on the List.
The World Diamond Heritage List is not a gemological ranking. Its single defining criterion is human impact: the role each diamond has played in the history, culture, spirituality, and emotional life of humanity. What matters is meaning.
Pre-Nomination List of 171 candidate diamonds — developed with the valued contribution of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) — spans 17 countries of origin, from India and South Africa to Brazil, Botswana, Russia, and Borneo, and is available as areference for nominators.
The Selection Committee, chaired by Suresh Hathiramani, former President of the Diamond
Exchange of Singapore, and with Alex Popov, Founder of the World Diamond Museum, as
Vice-Chairman, brings together historians, gemological experts, and leading representatives
of the global diamond industry.
“We aim to make the World Diamond Heritage List the most important reference compendium for our generation and future generations to learn from – conveying the lessons of our history and heritage only as a natural diamond can,” said Mr. Suresh Hathiramani, Chairman of the WDHL Committee.
The nomination process is open to all — industry professionals, collectors, historians, jewellery designers, retailers, gemologists, and anyone with a passion for natural diamonds. Public nominations are submitted through a dedicated online form, and the final list is established through a rigorous, transparent, and internationally validated process.
“For centuries, diamonds have carried stories of civilizations, royalty, love, spirituality,
craftsmanship, and memory. Yet no international framework has ever formally recognised
their cultural and historical significance to humanity. The World Diamond Heritage List
exists to change that. This is not simply an initiative. It is a responsibility. And it begins with
you,” said Mr. Nicolas Chrétien, Founding Member, World Diamond Heritage Board.
The World Diamond Heritage List is the centre piece of a broader long-term cultural vision that includes World Diamond Day – created by the WDHB and launched on April 8, 2026 – and Mission UNESCO 2028, a long-term initiative exploring the recognition of exceptional natural diamonds as part of humanity’s broader cultural and historical heritage.
How to Nominate:
Nominations open: May 18 – June 18, 2026
Nomination form: https://wdhb.typeform.com/nominations
Pre-Nomination List: linkedin.com/pulse/world-diamond-heritage-pre-list-wdhb-org-8h3cc
