Exclusive
Dr. M’zée Fula Ngenge: How De Beers’ Lightbox undermined natural diamonds
De Beers’ venture into the lab-grown diamond (LGD) market through its subsidiary Lightbox backfired, undermining its century-old luxury positioning around natural diamonds, according to the African Diamond Council (ADC) Chairperson Dr...
19 may 2025
LDB’s David Troostwyk: London still has major role to play in global diamond trade
London Diamond Bourse (LDB) President David Troostwyk has had a varied career in the diamond business. David sat down with Rough&Polished to discuss how his love of diamonds started, his career, the state of the diamond trade in the UK and globally...
12 may 2025
David Johnson: De Beers balancing lab-grown and natural diamonds rarity while pioneering ethical transparency
De Beers has been differentiating its lab-grown diamond brand, Lightbox, by positioning it as an affordable, fashion-focused product. Group spokesperson David Johnson told Rough & Polished that this is in contrast to how De Beers promotes natural diamonds...
28 april 2025
Who will bear the cost? Paul Zimnisky weighs in on U.S. jewellery tariff impact
The United States jewellery industry is facing a complex balancing act as new tariffs on diamonds force wholesalers and retailers to decide whether to absorb costs, negotiate with overseas suppliers (particularly India), or pass them on to consumers...
14 april 2025
Thataitsile Moremedi: South Africa's State Diamond Trader providing market access, exposure for nascent manufacturers
Although it is challenging for previously disadvantaged individuals to enter the diamond industry due to the financial barriers, South Africa's State Diamond Trader is providing nascent entrepreneurs with exposure, market access, and other support...
31 march 2025
De Beers Lightbox Experiment Ends as Suddenly as It Began
19 may 2025
When De Beers announced the launch of the Lightbox colored lab-grown diamond jewelry line in 2018 to disrupt the synthetics sector by offering fixed and clear per-carat pricing the shock in the global diamond trade was resounding. Despite the diamond mining giant presenting the stones as simply a venture into the sector that would offer a fun and colorful product which, if lost, would be no big deal since their cost was relatively low, the diamond trade remained stunned.
REMs as strategic raw materials of the 21st century
12 may 2025
Rare earth metals (REMs), also called rare earth elements (REEs) or rare earths, are currently at the peak of popularity. This is explained by a wide range of their applications, especially in high-tech industries, as well as the restricted supply of REMs to the world market, where China is essentially a monopolist.
Trump tariffs may undermine diamond market’s early attempts at evading stagnation
05 may 2025
This spring, a number of key indicators of the diamond market began to show a steady revival of trade activity, but the whole picture is yet to become fully positive. The U.S. consumers are sensitive to economic uncertainty and are cautious in purchasing luxury items, which was confirmed by the LVMH’s unexpectedly low performance in the first quarter and the emerging downward trend of jewelry sales for items priced under $2,500 in the USA.
Signet Jeweler’ New CEO Brings in New Approach to Raise Sales
28 april 2025
It seems like an obvious step to take for a jewelry retailer to promote its brands to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. And that’s what North America’s biggest jewelry selling company Signet Jewelers plans to do as one of the first steps by its new CEO.
The coveted brownfield: How big miners promise to mitigate the copper shortage
14 april 2025
The number of significant copper deposit discoveries is steadily declining, according to a study by S&P that takes into account all 239 deposits explored since 1990, with total reserves of at least 500,000 tons. Only four discoveries were registered between 2019 and 2023, with total reserves of 4.2 mn tons, which highlights the trend of decreasing pace and size of large-scale copper deposit discoveries over the past decade.
'Lightbox' gave De Beers a foothold in LGDs while managing the decline of natural diamonds
07 april 2025
I recently read an article written by James Allan, which argued that listing De Beers is the only way for Anglo American. What caught my attention was his assertion that De Beers implemented a “wrong strategy” when it launched its ‘Lightbox’ lab-grown diamond brand in 2018.
Deep-sea mining: untapped potential, but at what cost?
31 march 2025
As international trade tensions rise and nations across the globe scramble for critical mineral resources to protect national security and ensure a steady supply of strategic materials, miners are getting ready to venture into an uncharted territory. World oceans hold enormous amounts of untapped mineral wealth.
Big miners in 2024: Declining profits and focus on copper
05 march 2025
The largest mining corporations’ profits for 2024 declined amid falling prices for iron ore and thermal coal. The performance of gold, aluminium and especially copper businesses contributed to the financial results, as their role in miners’ portfolios continues to grow, although Glencore experienced a number of specific problems due to its diversification into smelting capacities.
“Produced in a microwave in China”: Is it enough for the natural diamond industry to show disdain for synthetics?
24 february 2025
This year's Investment in African Mining Indaba, which took place in Cape Town, South Africa, in early February, featured a panel discussion titled "Diamonds—critical for Africa's socio-economic development." The panel, chaired by De Beers’ Senior Vice President Government Relations Emma Wade-Smith, comprised of De Beers chief executive Al Cook, Botswana minerals and energy minister Bogolo Kenewendo, Endiama director of mining operations and joint venture management Miguel Vemba and Angola national director for mineral resources Paulo Tanganha.
Palladium to continue looking for growth drivers
18 february 2025
Palladium has traded in a range between $900 and $1,100 per ounce for most of 2024, with the exception of a short-duration spike in palladium prices in October when the USA was reported to be going to tighten sanctions on Russia’s precious metals. The consensus is not optimistic for 2025 either, as most experts agree that the demand from automotive industry that is crucial for palladium will decline in 2025 as the market share of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles is inferior to that of battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
