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...
Yesterday
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
Do the Chinese Need Brands and Luxury?
09 june 2014
Despite the government measures taken last year in China against excessive spending on luxury and high-end brands, consumption of goods from this category nevertheless grew by 11% and set a new record - $ 217 billion in 2013. However, it is much slower than the 18-percent annual growth until 2015 predicted earlier by experts.
Black Hole in Sparkling Chain
02 june 2014
The main thing in working with statistics is not the accuracy of calculations, but a correctly chosen base for comparison. These words, once told by my teacher, came back vividly to my memory when I saw the Tacy diagram of the global diamond pipeline for 2013. I am sure that the authors of this report have invested in it a lot of time and effort and know their subject well. But if you try to look a little wider and compare figures not only for the year 2012, you will be able to distinguish quite a different problem in the diamond industry – the essentially growing role of dealers, who may now be starting to have a real impact on the overall market.
Is Tanzania losing the fight against illegal tanzanite mining?
26 may 2014
Richland Resources reported last month that it will not put any more money into TanzaniteOne Mining, its joint venture with state-owned mining group Stamico, until it completes a strategic review of its operations as well as boost Block C security at Merelani, in Tanzania. Illegal tanzanite mining had been affecting TanzaniteOne’s bottom line.
Italian Jewellers Looking Abroad
19 may 2014
Think about what you really like about Italian jewels: creativity, exclusivity, uniqueness? Italian jewellery is renowned for its high quality and attention to detail. But this relevant and historically important slice of national culture and craftsmanship is under threat.
India’s ‘rough’ journey to the future...
12 may 2014
What you see as the final product, be it a polished stone or a finished piece of jewellery maybe captivating and make your heart soar. But it is not always glamour and gaiety for the ever-growing gems and jewellery industry in India. Behind the overall extravaganza and beauty of the industry’s events like shows, fairs, jewellery weeks etc., endless work and unbelievable struggle has gone into the business, which is not usually in the forefront. The most difficult challenges faced by the industry members could well be stretched to the ‘initial days’ of the business - that is sourcing raw materials.
Zim’s Antwerp tenders sabotaged?
05 may 2014
Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG), which advocates for good governance in Zimbabwe’s extractive sector, said that the sudden rise in value of Zimbabwean diamonds in Dubai calls into question the previous prices realised by the country’s diamonds on the same Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE).
The industry needs a change of pace in diamond advertising
28 april 2014
If it is true that diamonds find their raison d’être in emotions, rather than necessity, then one can see why good marketing is twice as important as in other goods. Today advertising campaigns have to fulfil two separate objectives: convincing consumers into purchasing diamonds over different luxury products, and convincing them into choosing a specific brand. Things were much simpler in the old days, when De Beers used to allocate large sums of money for generic diamond advertising.
Rough diamonds, polished diamonds and a few homely reflections...
21 april 2014
In mid-March, Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Government and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District visited the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) and gave instructions aimed at establishing a diamond bourse and developing the diamond cutting industry in its territory. This kind of instruction was also given to ALROSA, OAO. Simultaneously, it was mentioned that a high added value should be left in the territory of Russia and that certain preferences are to be given to companies taking part in this project.
Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair 2014 - Heading to become the world’s jewelry hub
14 april 2014
Bangkok hosted the 53d Annual Gems & Jewelry Fair 2014 held on February 25 to March 1 at the Impact Exhibition Center, whose work was covered by the correspondent of Rough&Polished. This February show is considered the first major jewelry exhibition kicking off the yearly activities in the international industry calendar. It is a world-class event attended by more than 1,500 suppliers of precious stones and jewelry.
Is gold still India's best friend?
07 april 2014
Without getting into shares, stocks and other paraphernalia, here we shall try to see how gold, art works, diamonds, and precious stones have behaved in this ‘interesting times’ in India. While gold sector stands strong with analysts vouching for the metal’s reliability as an investment vehicle for small investors, diamonds and the others are not lying low either.
