Diamond miners meet to discuss fake gems threat

London

THE world's biggest diamond producers, increasingly threatened by cheaper manmade stones being passed off as the real thing, has held a private meeting to create their first-ever industry association.

Representative from eight companies, led by industry giants Anglo American Plc's De Beers unit and Russia's Alrosa, got together at fellow diamond miner Rio Tinto Group's London headquarters on Tuesday to discuss setting up the group, according to people familiar with the talks who declined to be identified as the discussions weren't public.