InterviewEmployee interview
"I want to excel in my work as a diamond dealer, seeking out that brilliance that only Kashikey diamonds possess."
Merchandise Division Diamond Department Yuichi Iwamoto (joined Kashikey in 2008)
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Story.1Inheriting Kashikey's tradition of uncompromising quality.
Since entering the company, I've been dealing in loose diamonds and doing wholesale work all along. Specifically, I buy loose diamonds from both overseas and within Japan and I also sell the diamonds and offer suggestions to jewelry-makers and retail shops. Currently, Mumbai, India does more business in loose diamonds than anywhere else in the world and before the Coronavirus pandemic, I traveled to Mumbai for purchasing once every three or four months. My work also involves procuring loose diamonds that meet Kashikey's original standards for quality, which will be used for the production of Kashikey jewelry.
Kashikey has engaged in the purchasing of materials of particularly high quality for generations. Diamonds are evaluated according to the international standard of the 4Cs, but Kashikey also has its own original standards, and we are more particular about quality than anyone else. It's often said that "Kashikey diamonds have a brilliance unlike any other." It's also said that "diamonds possess power." This speaks of the beauty of light being elegantly emitted from the diamonds, and their powerful brilliance. It's difficult to express in words... -
Story.2The pressure of doing transactions with large sums of money overseas and the sense of accomplishment that comes from having made good purchases.
When I entered the company, more than having an interest in jewelry, I thought that it would be fascinating to go overseas by myself and decide on things using my own discretion, as well as have the responsibility of buying and selling. At first I learned by accompanying my senior colleagues and picked up the English necessary for handling negotiations while on the job. After about three years with the company, I went to India for purchasing by myself for the first time. Though I did go about it while listening to the opinions of my seniors, when I was allowed to freely do purchasing to a certain extent, I felt a sense of accomplishment at being able to take my first steps as a buyer. From then on, I have lived for my work.
The pressure I feel from representing the company, traveling overseas, and making purchases for large sums of money is huge. On the other hand, the sense of accomplishment and fulfillment I get is not necessarily in proportion to the amount of money I have brought in through sales. Because the diamond market fluctuates readily due to circumstances worldwide, such as fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and emergency events, when I feel confident that I made good purchases in those particular circumstances, it's connected to my sense of accomplishment. What makes it a good purchase are things like being a valuable item, good quality and finishing, or acquiring a diamond with scarcity value that is usually hard to find. -
Story.3Aiming to thoroughly master my work in diamond dealing.
During the pandemic, there was a decrease in the number of people who handle the polishing of loose stones at the diamond polishing workshops overseas, while the number of polishing workshops that could no longer operate as they always had increased. Even if the pandemic is coming to an end, things might never get back to the way they used to be. Nevertheless, regular purchasing has resumed overseas, and from now on, I feel that I want to keep dealing in "powerful diamonds." It's my goal to keep doing this work until I thoroughly master it!