News
Tharisa meets FY2026 guidance, Karo Platinum fully funded as net debt swings to $51m
Tharisa has reported full-year production in line with guidance for both platinum group metals (PGMs) and chrome concentrates, while confirming its Karo Platinum project in Zimbabwe is now fully funded following a $300 million bond issue.
Today
Israel’s diamond sector poised for revival following tax reforms and De Beers comeback
De Beers, one of the world's major diamond market players, has announced the resumption of its operations in Israel after a nine-year absence, which became the latest sign of revival of the diamond industry in the country.
Today
Kefi Gold and Copper restarts Tulu Kapi development after safety review
Kefi Gold and Copper has resumed development at its Tulu Kapi gold project in Ethiopia following a suspension that began on September 7 after a serious safety incident three days earlier.
Today
Nornickel implements smart melt monitoring system
Norilsk Nickel has installed a smart melt monitoring system at its metallurgical plant in Norilsk in collaboration with Reksoft. The system uses computer vision to assist the converter operator in identifying phases during the tapping process.
Today
ALROSA to help amplify Arctic agenda at UN
In preparation for the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), ALROSA experts and other stakeholders from Russia discussed a unified approach to strengthening the country’s position and the Arctic agenda at UN climate conferences.
Today
We create jewelry that will remain after us
09 january 2017
Jewelry holding Ringo, founded in 1993 in Ekaterinburg is one of the leaders in the Russian jewelry market, having an extensive customer base, a modern integrated manufacturing facility comprising all the cycles of jewelry making, from generating creative concepts and designs to their technological implementation, backed by a wide network of signature boutiques. The company has a certificate of the Russian Jewelry Trade Club awarded to the "Industry Movement Leader" for high quality and modern design and many diplomas received at large industry and international exhibitions. The Ringo brand is represented in all major cities of Russia and abroad. It is one of the ten best jewelry brands in Russia, having at its disposal some well recognizable designer-made collections, like the "Russian Princess," "Lotus," "Stars," or "Million." Nadezhda Yalunina, the holding’s Creative Director answers the questions from Rough&Polished, telling about how her company manages to keep abreast of things, about the brand’s latest collections, urgent problems and plans for the future.
Diamonds clad in tailor-made software
04 january 2017
"Many passionate people believe in the future of the diamond sector but very few companies have the perception to invest in technology... have difficulty thinking or planning for long term,” feels Stephane Dujourdy, owner of an e-business company and a software creator for the diamond industry. In an interview with Rough&Polished, Stephane talks about the service he has rendered to the industry; and his expertise in the software creation field.
ALROSA is exploring Botswana for diamond deposits
26 december 2016
Having 60 years of industrial diamond mining experience under its belt, ALROSA has long been successfully operating in several African countries, which are applying its expertise to a full extent. In 2012, the company formulated its Strategy for Developing Projects in Africa, which is being used as a guideline to explore and develop diamond deposits in Angola, Botswana and Zimbabwe considered to be priority projects by the Geological Research Unit of ALROSA. In an interview to Rough&Polished, Victor Ustinov, Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, who is also heading the company’s Department for Evaluation of New Areas (based in Saint-Petersburg), talks about the search for diamonds in the Republic of Botswana in 2016.
We are operating now in a more challenging geopolitical landscape
15 december 2016
The world’s largest diamond hub in the City of Antwerp, tracing its origin as far back as the middle of the 15th century, came to its prominence soon after the Eureka Diamond, the first stone of this kind discovered in South Africa, caused a massive inflow of rough diamonds to the cutting and polishing workshops in the city fueling consumer demand and giving diamond dealers an opportunity to accumulate incomparable experience valid up to now. This heritage is treasured by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), representing Belgium’s diamond sector and making every effort to promote diamonds in the face of challenges arising in the rapidly changing global market. Interviewed by Rough&Polished, Stéphane Fischler, President of AWDC talks about the events scheduled by the Centre for the coming new year and shares his views on the problems in the diamond industry.
The industry should stop soliloquizing – it is time to talk to consumers
12 december 2016
The global diamond industry, while discussing the situation on the market within its own circle, sometimes does not pay enough attention to the dialogue with its main counterparty - the end buyer of its goods, natural diamonds, which are embodying not so much the value attached, but most of all genuine feelings of people towards each other. Learning to communicate information about the industry and its products to consumers is now becoming an urgent task. This and many other issues were touched upon by Andrey Polyakov, President of the World Diamond Council (WDC) in his interview to Rough&Polished.
Investment community wants and needs more transparency
05 december 2016
Yaniv Marcus, Managing Partner, YAD Global Advisors Ltd & Founder, Diamond Investment & Intelligence Centre (DICE) began his career in the investment community as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) as well as a Portfolio Investment Manager (CIM). He was also certified as a Derivative Trading Supervisor (Options & Futures). Yaniv also explored other global investment and trading avenues and opportunities, before landing on his real passion - diamonds and precious gems. He joined the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) becoming a Graduate Diamonds (GD) certificate holder and a Graduate Colored Stones (GCS) certificate holder. Yanic's next venture was 'DICE', which was born out of his need to inform and assist investors and offer clarity and vision so that they can get the most out of their diamond investments. Here, in an Interview with Rough&Polished, Yaniv Marcus throws light on various nuances concerning 'Investments', with special focus on investment opportunities in diamonds, both whites and fancy coloured ones.
Lucara in no rush to sell 1,109 ct diamond after London setback – Lamb
28 november 2016
Lucara Diamond said it is not in a hurry to sell the 1, 109 carat Lesedi La Rona recovered in Botswana after bidders failed to reach the reserve price at a public auction in London mid this year. The company said at the time that the failure of the diamond to sell in London was not influenced by the economic uncertainty caused by Britain’s decision to leave the European Union or the state of the global economy. Lucara also said at the time that the size of the diamond meant it could not be properly analysed by equipment the industry uses to establish the optimal cut and the polished diamonds that could be extracted. However, company chief executive William Lamb told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa that the tennis ball-sized gem was sent for advanced analysis to fully understand the potential yield for the stone. He said Lucara would only assess the market and potentially put the stone on the market again once the advanced analysis was complete in the first quarter of 2017. Below are excerpts of the interview.
Angola‘s geological survey nears completion
21 november 2016
Angola had for the past few years been conducting a geological survey as part of the National Geology Plan (Planageo). The programme was initially slated to complete by the end of 2015, but the geological institute of Angola general director Mankenda Ambroise told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that the gathering of data was now due end of the year. He, however, said the interpretation of the gathered data would be done next year. Core work on Planageo includes geophysical, geochemical and geological surveys, geological mapping at a 1: 250,000 scale and metallic minerals at a 1: 100,000 scale as well as mineral studies to support construction on the scale of 1: 50,000. Angola, through Planageo, would have a better knowledge of the country’s geology and mineral resources. Ambroise said that this would strengthen their position when negotiating contracts with mining companies. Angola was of the view that the data collected would allow public and private companies to select the most promising targets for implementation of mining projects as well as make it easier to locate deposits. Apart from diamonds, Angola had iron, manganese, titanium, chromium, copper, lead, zinc, tungsten, tin, nickel and cobalt deposits. It also has lithium, niobium, tantalum, gold, silver and platinum. Below are excerpts of the interview.
Normalcy has returned to Indian jewellery industry, despite remaining tax issues
14 november 2016
G.V. Sreedhar, Chairman of the All India Gems & Jewellery Trade Federation (GJF) since 2015, was associated with the organization since its inception. He is also the Past President of the Jewellers Association, Bangalore [JAB]. Under his guidance, GJF successfully launched the unique Jewellers Identification Card (JID). In parallel with this, G.V. Sreedhar is an honorary Board Member of the Gem & Jewellery Skill Council of India (GJSCI); President of The Avenue Road Commercial Association (TARCA) in Bengaluru; and an Approved Valuer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). In an interview with Rough & Polished, G.V. Sreedhar gives his opinion on a gamut of issues in the gems and jewellery industry in India, including the recent Goods and Services Tax (GST) proposed by the Indian government.
Export, export and once again export
31 october 2016
Eduard Utkin, General Manager of the Russian Jewelers Guild sat with Rough&Polished for a talk about the IV International Economic Forum titled "Jewellery Russia. Tomorrow begins today,” which was held in late September at the All-Russia Exhibition Centre in Moscow. He also spoke about the changes taking place in the domestic jewelry market, about the urgent problems facing the industry and its immediate prospects.
