Exclusive
Diamond market crash is Africa’s opportunity, not its crisis – M'zée Fula Ngenge
Global natural diamond supply is forecast to fall below 95 million carats this year, the lowest since 1987. For Dr. M'zée Fula Ngenge, chairperson of the African Diamond Council (ADC), this is not a death knell but a clarion call. In an exclusive...
Today
Tracr passes 5 million rough diamonds milestone as De Beers expands provenance push
De Beers Group's blockchain-enabled traceability platform Tracr reached a significant milestone in 2025, with more than 5 million rough diamonds individually scanned and registered, up from 2.8 million cumulative registrations reported in 2024. The...
28 september 2026
South African diamonds head to Hong Kong: SDT partners with BRINKS for JGW 2026
South Africa’s State Diamond Trader (SDT) has confirmed the country's participation in Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong (JGW) 2026 through a partnership with BRINKS. SDT marketing and communication manager Tsholofelo Gopolang Tselapedi...
14 september 2026
David Benderly: PermaScribe seeks to put trust mark on diamond table, not just girdle
In this interview with Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa, PhotoScribe Technologies president and chief executive David Benderly explains how PermaScribe differs technically from conventional laser inscription, its potential to strengthen security, and...
31 august 2026
The great reset: Paul Zimnisky on supply catharsis, De Beers' bargain and the case for natural diamonds
The natural diamond industry is in the throes of its most profound reset in a generation. Supply is plunging to its lowest level since 1987 and De Beers—once valued at over $9 billion—is reportedly being sold for as little as $1 billion.
Lab-grown...
10 august 2026
No market enthusiasm for rising palladium price, as fundamentals remain unchanged
06 april 2026
The 90-percent surge in palladium prices over the past 12 months has been driven by trade barriers that forced to hold local stockpiles as a defensive measure, as well as by a general rise in prices for precious metals, with gold and silver as leading ones. Fundamental factors affecting the palladium market remain mixed. The demand in the automotive industry - the prevailing sector in the end-use of palladium - continues to experience structural pressure due to the accelerated adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), although stringent emission standards and reverse substitution in gasoline autocatalysts give a partial support. Primary palladium supply shows a slight decline, but secondary palladium supply has the potential for a significant growth due to increased recycling volumes.
Silver rally faces challenges, but the slowdown seems less likely than continued gains
16 march 2026
The underlying factors behind the rapid rise in silver prices have been in place for several years. However, it wasn't until 2025 that a turning point in investor buying occurred. This renewed interest faded amid uncertainty over US tariffs and the inclusion of silver on the US Critical Minerals List. These factors triggered significant inventory buildup on COMEX and led to tighter market conditions, which resulted in regional shortages and pushed the price up 147% year-over-year.
Who will actually be, and who will just pretend to be well-off?
06 february 2026
Synthetic diamonds are currently approximately 50 times cheaper than natural diamonds. However, such a difference between natural and synthetic diamonds is rarely found in jewelry today. This is because buyers worldwide have become accustomed to diamond jewelry being expensive. Therefore, it makes sense to avoid "disappointing" the buyers, and to continue offering synthetic diamond jewelry at a higher price. Even if these diamonds are not natural, but synthetic, and are much cheaper.
Gold royalty overhaul volte-face: Zimbabwe should learn to consult before making key decisions
21 january 2026
Zimbabwe's ambitious plan to capture more revenue from its booming gold sector through a reformed royalty regime faced immediate scrutiny from a major investor, highlighting the balancing act between increasing state income and maintaining a competitive investment climate. In a significant policy shift outlined in the 2026 National Budget, the government proposed harmonising and increasing royalties on gold producers.
Mine disruptions bring forward the copper supply vulnerability as recycling falls behind demand
12 january 2026
The year 2025 has proven to be fraught with accidents and disruptions at major copper mines. The Kamoa-Kakula complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world’s top five copper projects, owned by China's Zijin and Canada's Ivanhoe, has encountered a series of technical difficulties, which began with seismic activity and escalated into complex infrastructure problems.
Who will benefit from DRC’s tough measures to save the cobalt market?
29 december 2025
The global cobalt market is currently undergoing a transformation due to the actions of the main cobalt producer, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is transitioning to strict government export control due to a market glut and prices bottoming out in early 2025. These measures have since resulted in higher prices, but could negatively impact the demand for cobalt in the long term and make the DRC’s position worse.
Will the platinum shortage become elusive in 2026?
23 december 2025
Platinum price has risen by more than 65% since the beginning of the year as it was trading around $1,560 per ounce by early December. Despite the structural shortage, the market was very conservative in its outlook for platinum price growth, with the LBMA consensus forecast seeing an average price of $1,022 per ounce this year.
Once again Kimberley Process fails to expand conflict diamond definition
15 december 2025
The Kimberley Process (KP), the international body tasked with certifying rough diamonds, has once again ended its annual Plenary meeting without reaching a consensus on broadening the definition of conflict diamonds. The failure, announced after the meeting in Dubai in November, extends a long-standing deadlock that has plagued the industry for nearly a decade.
UK jewelers embrace salt and pepper diamonds for a touch of individuality
08 december 2025
A new wave of designers and consumers is rediscovering the beauty of imperfection, as salt and pepper diamonds return to the spotlight in the UK and beyond. Once overlooked for their inclusions and cloudy appearance, these distinctive stones – nicknamed “dusty” or even “Dalmatian” diamonds for their speckled patterns–are now celebrated for their unique character and understated charm.
Jewelers increasingly using AI and other digital solutions to promote sales
01 december 2025
Jewelry retailers are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital tools to enhance their marketing strategies, offer personalized customer experiences, and educate consumers about the stories behind their products. These moves aim to deepen customer engagement by providing them with background information about the diamonds and gemstones they purchase – and the good they do on a personal level for the communities that depend on diamond mining and polishing.
