TONY DINIZ

An acclaimed gemstone expert, slicer, and colorful raconteur, Tony Diniz’s life has been quite literally shaped by gems. With over 27 years of hands-on experience in the gemstone industry, Tony has built an extraordinary career from the ground up. Hailing from Governador Valadares—the gem capital of Brazil renowned for its vibrant trade in mining, cutting, and gemstones—Tony is the eldest of five brothers. He was thrust into adulthood early, becoming head of his household at a young age, an experience he credits as the foundation of his relentless drive to succeed.

Tony learned English while living in America, later returning to Brazil to work as an English teacher. Many of his early students were involved in the gemstone trade, and through these connections, Tony’s reputation in the local industry began to grow. But in Brazil, a country where breaking into the gem trade without deep family ties or significant capital is notoriously difficult, Tony had to forge his own path.

One day, Tony learned that an American gemstone company was planning to open an office in Governador Valadares and that one of its founding partners would be visiting. Determined to seize the opportunity, Tony waited outside their hotel into the early hours of the morning just to introduce himself. The risk paid off. The executive had already heard of Tony through his students and was immediately impressed by his ambition and tenacity.

Tony was hired to slice gemstones, and with a natural aptitude for the work, he advanced rapidly. Within just two years, he was promoted to senior gemstone buyer for Latin America and Africa. Over the following decades, Tony’s knowledge, intuition, and global perspective only deepened.

He went on to open his own buying office and cutting facility in Brazil, and later expanded operations to Thailand. With nearly three decades of experience under his belt, Tony has become a familiar face to jewelry lovers through his many appearances on shopping networks in Germany, Italy, and the UK. His expertise takes him around the globe, from bustling gem markets to remote mining regions in Africa, Asia, North America, and South America.

Tony is also a proud member of the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA), an elite group of top gemstone miners, cutters, and dealers from around the world. In 2014, he appeared on the internationally broadcast Discovery Channel series Game of Stones, sharing his adventures and insight with a global audience.

Married with a son and daughter, Tony splits his time between Brazil and Thailand when not on the road. His journey through the world of gemstones has been anything but conventional—but as Tony often says, “The gemstone industry is where ordinary people can do extraordinary things.”