Diamonds on Call - Global B2B Marketplace
A large-scale B2B iOS marketplace for the diamond industry. Built with real-time video consultations, HD media inspection, and global inventory sync.
Diamonds on Call: Modernizing the Diamond Trade
Project Type: B2B iOS Application
Role: Lead iOS Developer
Tech Stack: Swift, Combine, Core Data, WebRTC, Alamofire
The Problem
The traditional diamond trade has long relied on physical inspections and fragmented inventory lists. For B2B buyers and sellers, this meant a slow, manual process that lacked transparency and real-time data.
There was a critical need for a digital platform that could handle a global inventory of over 1.2 million diamonds, providing high-definition visual inspection and instant communication between buyers and suppliers across different time zones.
Technical Architecture
I architected the Diamonds on Call iOS app using a robust MVVM-C (Model-View-ViewModel-Coordinator) pattern to manage the complex navigation flows required by a deep marketplace.
The app features a sophisticated Real-Time Inventory Sync engine that handles massive datasets from the backend via optimized REST APIs, caching critical metadata locally with Core Data to ensure a snappy user experience even on unreliable network connections.
Key Engineering Decisions
High-Definition Visual Inspection. To solve the "trust" gap in digital diamond trading, I implemented a custom media player that handles high-bitrate 360° videos and ultra-HD imagery. This required careful memory management to prevent crashes on older iOS devices while maintaining visual fidelity.
Real-Time Video Consultations. I integrated WebRTC to enable secure, low-latency video calls directly within the app. This allowed buyers to request live viewings of specific diamonds, bridging the gap between digital convenience and physical inspection.
The Filter Engine. Navigating 1.2M+ items requires an incredibly powerful filter system (shape, carat, color, clarity, cut, etc.). I built a reactive filter coordinator using Combine, ensuring that as users adjust parameters, the inventory updates instantly with zero UI lag.
Result and Impact
Diamonds on Call successfully digitized a traditional industry at scale. Key outcomes include:
- 1.2M+ Real-Time Inventory: The app seamlessly handles one of the largest diamond inventories globally, providing instant access to millions of dollars in inventory.
- Global Adoption: Used by thousands of jewelers and suppliers worldwide, facilitating high-value B2B transactions 24/7.
- Trust and Transparency: The combination of HD media and live consultations has significantly reduced the need for physical shipping for inspection, lowering costs and increasing trade velocity.
Future Improvements
I would look into integrating AR (Augmented Reality) to allow buyers to visualize diamond sizes and shapes on a virtual hand, further enhancing the remote inspection experience.