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
The task set before industry is to provide consumer with maximum information about diamonds we sell
08 august 2016
(Interfax.ru) - After “conflict diamonds” have been virtually excluded from the market by the Kimberley Process (KP), the latter, as well as the World Diamond Council (WDC) found they were facing new emerging problems, this time related to polished diamonds, which - not being living essentials - must comply with moral and ethical standards in the first place and have no connection with violence or blood. There are as well other recipes to win consumer confidence in diamonds, including the upcoming generic marketing campaign to be launched by the Diamond Producers Association (DPA). This and other issues are highlighted by Andrey Polyakov, President of the World Diamond Council and Vice-President of ALROSA in his interview to Interfax.
"I believe that honesty, integrity, and impeccable customer service are the key points to maintaining a long-lasting company” - Leibish Polnauer
08 august 2016
More than 35 years ago, Leibish Polnauer entered the industry, trading in fancy cut diamonds but soon the love for color drew him into the fancy colored diamond sector. The mid 90s saw him develop his first online website and he eventually became one of the leading online dealers of fancy colored diamonds and jewelry. A visionary leader, Leibish now steers the company in his inimitable way with his children responsible for key sections of the business. Always striving to increase the business, the Polnauer family also began expanding into gemstones in order to be able to offer more color to their wide range of customers. In an interview with Rough&Polished, Leibish Polnauer reminisces about his early days in the industry; remains ‘hands on’ about the current issues related to the diamond industry.
Diamond Centre as Part of Olonkholand
01 august 2016
Lena Fyodorova, Director of Olonkholand Complex Design Company told Rough&Polished about the possibilities arising with the creation of the Diamond and Jewellery Centre in Yakutsk within the framework of the Olonkholand Complex.
We expect more consolidation happening and certain companies go out of business - it's a healthy development, where only strong and modern companies can survive - Erik A. Jens, AMRO BANK N.V.
25 july 2016
Erik Jens comes with professional experience in banking, financing and investments. He has specialised in private wealth management solutions, investments in hedge funds, private equity and real estate industry. Erik Jens has also held various senior executive positions at Fortis Meespierson in banking and investment services in the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands Antilles, Ireland, United Kingdom, USA and Asia. And also served as director/advisor to various hedge funds and private equity funds at Fortis, which later became ABN AMRO. Erik Jens is currently the Global Head - Diamond & Jewellery Clients - AMRO BANK N.V. In an interview with Rough&Polished, Erik Jens speaks about ABN AMRO’s operation pattern; and also suggests few changes that the gem and jewellery industry could make to strengthen its bankability.
On Optimism, Idiocy and Generic Diamond Promotion
18 july 2016
Alex Popov is the Chairman of the World Diamond Mark Foundation (WDMF), which was established over two years ago in Hong Kong. WDMF has rolled out several generic marketing programs for jewelry retailers worldwide and three exclusive marketing programs for Authorized Diamond Dealers. Mr. Popov told Rough&Polished how this project is being implemented and discussed the prospects for the diamond industry.
Eden Rachminov speaks about how to price and how to buy fancy color diamonds
11 july 2016
Eden Rachminov, who is the founder and managing partner of Rachminov Diamonds, is considered as one of the world’s leading experts in fancy color diamonds, as well as the most ardent supporter of these gems. Rachminov published ‘The Fancy Color Diamond Book’ in 2010 and launched his second book, ‘Fancy Color Diamonds - The Pricing Architecture’ in June 2016. He is the founder of Fancy Color Research Foundation (FCRF) and currently serves on the board of the organization. Here, in an interview with Rough&Polished, Eden Rachminov talks about the industry; his books; the FCRF and comes forth with his opinions regarding various aspects of color diamond trade.
Tanzanian women break new ground with gemstones value-addition
04 july 2016
Having found small-scale mining demanding due to its highly physical nature and use of rudimentary tools, a group of women in Tanzania decided to join hands and start an association that add value to the country’s abundant gemstones. It’s just over a year since this idea was birthed and the gods seem to be smiling at this grouping known as Mineral Value Addition Association, as it exhibited for the first time at the country’s premier gem show in Arusha late April. Thanks to their ingenuity, the group was producing, among other things, unique gemstone trees that some Indians have developed a strong appetite for. Association leader Shamsa Diwani told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa that they still need to grow their export markets. She also said that the association was looking for working capital and machinery to boost their fledgling operations.
You can’t fake that ‘magic’ of the real thing…
27 june 2016
Armed with a degree in ‘Jewellery Designing’ from Central Saint Martins and a Diploma in Diamond Grading from the Gemological Institute of America, young Rachel Boston is a London-based jeweller and designer with a mind of her own and adequate talent to match. Here, in an Interview with Rough&Polished, Rachel Boston, Director, Rachel Boston Jewellery and a ‘millennial’ herself, reflects on the global jewellery scene showing a pre-view of the future, in more ways than one.
Lucara eyes future expansion as it boasts of strong cash position
20 june 2016
With a net cash position of $144.3 million at the end of the first quarter of 2016, Lucara Diamond, which operates the Karowe Mine in Botswana, says it intends to invest the cash and increase the size of the company either through a merger, acquisitions or develop a mine through exploration activities. Company chief operational officer Paul Day told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa in an interview on the sidelines of the Botswana Resource Sector Conference in Gaborone that they had also earmarked between $15 million and $18 million for project capital expenditure this year. This, he said, was largely driven towards equipping the plant at Karowe to take the top size of diamonds recoverable up from 60 mm to 80 mm and then on to 100 mm that will give the mine an opportunity to recover undamaged stones.
Ban on rough tanzanite export chocking outside industries
14 june 2016
Tanzania said that its ban of rough tanzanite over 5 carats has helped frustrate foreign companies that were relying on supplies from the country. The country’s acting commissioner for minerals Ally Samaje told Rough & Polished on the sidelines of the Arusha Gem Fair late last month that it was not true, as alleged by dealers, that the ban on rough exports had promoted smuggling. He also said that the ban was helping the country boost its value-addition activities, which in turn should see tax revenue going north. Samaje also spoke about diamond mining in the country and the challenges of illegal mining that forced Richland Resources to leave the country.
