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 will definitely need time to fix damages and rebuild foundations
18 january 2016
Andre Messika was already an established diamantaire in Paris, known as a topnotch distributor of polished diamonds, when he migrated to Israel in 2003. In Israel, he opened the company’s - Andre Messika Diamonds Ltd - main office in The Israel Diamond Exchange in Ramat Gan and has not looked back since. Today, the company has grown into one of the largest manufacturer and distributor of rough and polished diamonds. In an interview with Rough&Polished, Andre Messika talks about his company; and in a different note, cautions that it’s safer not to go to war with lab grown diamonds, as they are here to stay.
‘Brokers, dealers involved in Tanzania illegal mining, smuggling of gemstones, not small-scale miners’
11 january 2016
Before Richland Resources exited Tanzania to focus on tsavorite mining in Australia, it constantly bemoaned the unabated illegal tanzanite mining that seriously disrupted operations on its Block C at Merelani. Although a joint venture agreement with the state-owned company, Stamico raised Richland’s hopes that the Tanzanian army would help eject the illegal miners from the block, this wasn’t the case as profits also plummeted. Some of these illegal mining activities were blamed on artisanal miners. However, the Federation of Miners Associations of Tanzania’s gemstone committee chairperson, Gregory Kibusi told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa that the small-scale miners were not to blame.
Sri Lanka: Immense Opportunities for Investments into Jewelry Industry
05 january 2016
A multi-faceted businessman and consultant, Anura Dharmaratne not only comes armed with the requisite education and a wide range of experiences in the diamond trade, he has also garnered accolades from all he associated with globally, including the Achiever’s Award 2003 from the National Gem and Jewellery Authority of Sri Lanka. Here, in an interview with Rough & Polished, Anura takes us through his long journey in the industry; and also gives an insight into the relatively small but emerging Sri Lankan gem and jewellery industry, which promises numerous opportunities for global investors.
De Beers disagrees with Rapaport’s claims
28 december 2015
De Beers said it disagrees with the Rapaport group chairperson, Martin Rapaport, who late last month lashed out at the diamond group for destroying long-term client trust while bankrupting the diamond trade for the sake of short-term balance sheet profits. However, De Beers spokesperson Lynette Gould told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa that they had made price adjustments this year in addition to “decisive action” taken to “address the inventory indigestion issue in the midstream and to support demand pull-through”. De Beers was said to have lowered prices by about 10 percent last August. Meanwhile, the group noted that it was hopeful that a good Christmas and Chinese New Year would improve current market conditions.
Sarine Technologies and its ‘time machines’
21 december 2015
Uzi Levami is one of the original founders of Sarine and has a long history of founding high-tech companies. A former major in the Israel Defense Forces, Uzi was personally awarded the prestigious Israel Defense Award in 1992 by then President Chaim Herzog for his endeavors on a development project for the IDF. Armed with a Master's degree in Computer Sciences from the Weizmann Institute of Science; and a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (Cum Laude) from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Uzi has been the CEO of the Sarine Group since February 2009 and an Executive Director since December 2008. In an interview with Rough&Polished, Uzi talks about Sarine’s growth over the years; its products - existing and new launches; and the company’s endeavor to continue technological upgrading as an ongoing process.
Russian industry will play a critical role in the expansion of the diamond and jewelry industry in Latin America - Ali Pastorini
14 december 2015
Ali Pastorini, the newly appointed Vice-President of the World Jewelry Hub and senior vice-president of the Panama Diamond Exchange, answered questions from Rough & Polished concerning the prospects for the development of the diamond and jewelry markets in Latin America, as well as the key issues of the global diamond industry.
The real battle is for the hearts and minds of consumers
07 december 2015
Jignesh Mehta, Founder & Managing Director of Divine Solitaires, comes with diverse exposure across various functions that include successful Line Management, Product & Portfolio Management, Marketing, and Strategic Alliances apart from Sales and Distribution in his career span of 20 years in the diamond industry. In an interview with Rough&Polished, Jignesh, who also heads the company’s marketing and branding initiatives, expresses immense confidence in the diamond industry; but feels that companies should focus more on consumer preferences and concerns, besides manufacturing, wholesale sales and trading.
Peter Macken: Undisclosed synthetic diamonds do remain a challenge for traders and consumers alike
30 november 2015
The HRD Antwerp diamond lab is the largest diamond lab in the world issuing diamond certificates, grading and jewellery reports fully compliant with the rules for grading polished diamonds set by the International Diamond Council (IDC). Its primary shareholder is the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), which represents the Belgian diamond industry since 1973. Having over 30 years of grading experience under its belt in Antwerp, the world’s oldest diamond hub, the lab is making continuous contribution to diamond market transparence and fair trade based on the rules established by the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA). Peter Macken, HRD Antwerp’s CEO, describes the company’s business to Rough&Polished.
India’s First Online Gems and Jewellery Industry Portal Catering to B2B Segment
23 november 2015
Belonging to a jewellery family and being a certified diamond grader as well, Puja Bansal has been actively involved in manufacturing, retailing, and designing; and has showcased her expertise in several events and fashion shows in India and international fashion arena. Launching herself in the year 1998 as a brand under Khandelwal Jewellers Ltd (KJL), Delhi, Puja’s keen interest in jewellery and her passion for designing led her to conceptualize MYHEERA.COM, a unique online platform, presenting itself as a virtual world of a globally connected business to business stage for the gems and jewelry industry. In this interview with Rough & Polished, Puja talks about her ‘one-of-a-kind’ online B2B portal dedicated to the gem and jewellery industry, serving all the options in a single platform.
The downturn should stop by the middle of next year - Maxim Shkadov
16 november 2015
The Production Corporation of Kristall operating in Smolensk is the major diamond cutting enterprise in Russia established in 1963. It was here that a diamond cutting technique now known worldwide under the brand of Russian Cut was born, when this country introduced a processing standard for cutting and polishing diamonds in 1977 with extremely stringent requirements. The aim of the Russian Cut is the icy mathematical ideal setting fire and brilliance free in a diamond. This kind of experience accumulated over half a century makes Smolensk’s Kristall feel confident in the top segment of the global diamond market in spite of the difficulties currently experienced by the industry. In his interview to Rough&Polished Maxim Shkadov, CEO of Kristall tells about his company’s performance and comments on the situation in the diamond market.
