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
Results of 2024. What does the year 2025 hold for the Russian diamond industry?
23 december 2024
Five years ago, we pointed out that ALROSA’s ignoring the problem of LGD expansion and unwarranted expectations for an ‘automatic’ subdividing of the markets into the ‘precious’ natural diamonds and synthetic ‘fashion jewelry’ is a strategic mistake. Indeed, there was no subdivision in the market, because over the past five years, LGDs captured about 50 percent of the engagement jewelry market in the USA, and engagement rings are not fashion jewelry.
Europe on the verge of a new copper age
21 december 2024
In May 2024, the European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) came into force that provides for increasing the production of critical raw materials in EU countries. The CRMA contains two lists, namely, lists of strategic and critical raw materials with copper included in both of them. Copper is widely used in the electric power generation industry, including renewable energy sources, as well as in the manufacturing of electric vehicles and in other ‘green’ technologies. Copper is currently mined in a number of countries in the EU and in Europe as a whole, for example, in Poland, Sweden, Finland, Spain, Portugal, Serbia, North Macedonia, etc., but for most countries, this industry became history. The new law is designed to promote the revival of the mining industry and the expansion of existing mining capacities, but is it realistic to achieve this in European countries? Let’s consider specific examples of the implementation of copper exploration and development projects in European countries.
Platinum market may be playing a long game
20 december 2024
All eyes are on the gold market in 2024: impressive yearly gains and bullish forecasts for next year amid favorable fundamentals have left many other precious metals in the dust. Platinum is no exception with its modest 5% price fall so far this year despite a persistent market deficit which is expected to continue in 2025 for the third consecutive year. Despite this supply deficit, prices have fluctuated within a $850-$1100 range for a while.
De Beers’ collaboration with the Third Reich. Proof.
16 december 2024
The history of the Third Reich has been studied by experts representing a wide range of disciplines - from political science to rocket and missile engineering - for almost eighty years. The bibliography of the studies of the Hitler regime in all its manifestations comprises thousands of publications. But against the background of this scientific literature ‘abundance’, two simple questions still remain unanswered. How many industrial diamonds did the Axis powers import during World War II? And what companies supplied rough diamonds to them?
The target for retail jewelers? Creating tomorrow’s salespeople
25 november 2024
For most people involved in the diamond and jewelry trade, there is probably one area that is not often thought about – jewelry stores and their staff. Members of the trade tend to look at what’s happening to rough and polished diamond figures and not be too concerned about the retail end.
Thailand’s precious gemstone industry - Rich history and bright prospects
18 november 2024
While most people do not associate Thailand primarily with precious gemstones and jewelry, these industries have a fairly strong position in the country’s economy. According to the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, Thailand’s industrial production index in the precious gemstone and jewelry sector was 15 percent higher in 2023, than a year ago. Let’s take a closer look at the development of the precious gemstone mining and processing, diamond cutting and polishing, as well as the trade in these industries’ products in Thailand.
Sanctions on diamonds and smuggling of strategic materials: historical aspect
04 november 2024
After imposing sanctions on the Russian Federation, including the sanctions against its diamond sector, the impact of these measures and the threats of overcoming the sanctions have become topics of discussion in business and political publications. Making no pretense of being experts, we will nevertheless risk sharing an interesting historical analogy that may serve as useful food for thought on this complex issue.
Transparency, traceability and origin: keys to creating customer success
28 october 2024
Do consumers know and – more importantly – are they being told about the true value of a lab-grown diamond (LGD)? Do they understand that when they come back to upgrade to a natural diamond several years in the future their LGD will have little value?
Anglo's love and hate relationship with diamonds
14 october 2024
Anglo American announced in November 2011 that it had agreed with CHL and Centhold International Limited, together representing the Oppenheimer family interests, to acquire their 40% interest in De Beers for $5.1 billion.
Why is there a need to study diamond industry’s history?
30 september 2024
In 2024, Russia’s diamond industry celebrates two milestone anniversaries in its history - 70 years since the discovery of the first kimberlite pipe, Zarnitsa (Summer Lightning), and 75 years from the discovery of the first placer Kosa Sokolinaya (Falcon Spit) in the Vilyui diamond province. Of course, the media did not ignore these anniversaries.
