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...
12 october 2026
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
September market report: Anglo American – “carpet bombing”?
10 october 2012
The Hong Kong Jewelry Fair held in late September could not completely reverse the mood reigning in the diamond market. Various experts describe it in similar words: "dull market," "meager interest" and "bleak optimism." In September, trading continued to be low and diamonds were bought only for current needs, evading stocks. But October has brought unexpected news.
Does the industry need generic advertising?
08 october 2012
Generic (or industry-wide) advertising is one of the effective ways to increase the demand for and consumption of certain goods. The role of chief promoter in the diamond industry was played by De Beers Group whose slogan “A diamond is forever” can be called one of the most successful in history. Does the industry need generic advertising today?
Hong Kong's indicator - moderate light intensity
01 october 2012
The September edition of Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair 2012, which had been so much looked forward to and which many people pinned their hopes on while planning their trips to the Chinese mainland, was finally brought to its close. It would be unfair to consider the results of this show better or worse in comparison with 2011, for in any case they point to sustainable movement in the market.
Why Diamdel Will Not Change the Market (at least for now)
24 september 2012
After having been almost scrapped in 2007, De Beers’ secondary market seller Diamdel underwent profound renovation when the company decided to transform it in an online auction sale program. While Diamdel’s online sale system brought a wind of innovation in the rough diamond market, it also threatened to destabilize a well-oiled mechanism based on a selection of trusted buyer, the Supplier of Choice program.
For a real cowboy stirrups are needless
17 september 2012
In case of his victory, U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney, from the Republicans, promised to abrogate the Dodd - Frank Act, which has really changed the operating rules for the market of precious metals. The law requires companies to provide complete information on the operations with these minerals to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. According to the law drafters, such transparency should facilitate the purge of the global turnover from minerals used in operations, which may be a source of financing armed conflicts in Africa. Why is then Mitt Romney so adamant against the Dodd-Frank Act?
August market report: A step to meet halfway
10 september 2012
While waiting for traditional revival of diamond trading in September, the world’s major diamond miners acting in concert have reduced prices for their goods and allowed their customers to defer purchases of up to half of their rough diamond lots for the following year. These steps have already brought some results: market participants note some recovery, particularly in the low-cost rough segment. The measures taken by diamond producers will add optimism to dealers and manufacturers in the short term, but there is no confidence that the effect will be long-lasting.
India as a world diamond centre
03 september 2012
Since ancient times, India has been a historical center of diamonds. Several thousand years ago people there were able to mine diamonds and used them to make jewelry. Merchants from many countries exchanged goods and gold for Indian diamonds.
Checkmate: Latest KP data shows weak Zim diamond revenue albeit high output
27 august 2012
The sooner most people in Zimbabwe know about the real value of their diamonds - rather than phony figures constantly parroted in the media - the better.
Why Botswana chose not to raise stake in De Beers?
20 august 2012
Anglo American agreed last year to buyout the Oppenheimer family's 40 percent stake for $5.1 billion in cash. The Botswana government, under the terms of the agreement, had pre-emptive rights to lift its interest in De Beers to 25 percent from 15 percent. However, Botswana decided not to exercise its rights late July, ending months of speculation.
China - a new world diamond center
13 august 2012
The rapid socio-economic development of China in recent decades has allowed this country to become one of the world’s industry leaders and production centers. Currently, China is setting the pace in global production and consumption of the most important minerals. In this context, the market of rough and polished diamonds is no exception since China happens to be its unmistakable second-largest player after the United States, having squeezed out Japan. Taking into account the growing well-being of China’s population and its huge potential in consumption of luxury goods in the long term this country is going to turn into a major consumer of diamonds and diamond jewelry.
