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
Zim mines minister speaks on the streamlining of operations in Marange
24 november 2014
Zimbabwe said recently that it had started merging diamond mining firms in Marange to streamline their operations and ensure accountability of proceeds.
Rough&Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa caught up with the country’s Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa on the sidelines of a diamond conference held early this month in Harare and asked him about the latest on this development.
Chidhakwa revealed that Harare would set up a company called Zimbabwe Diamond Mining Company that would house Marange Resources, as a strategic business unit. He also noted that government was still negotiating with other mining companies currently operating in Marange over the rationalisation of their operations.
“Fancy colours remain a niche category for which awareness and demand is yet to be strongly created”, says Suraj Shantakumar
17 november 2014
Suraj Shantakumar is the Director, Business Strategy, of Kirtilal Kalidas Jewellers Pvt Ltd and a key shareholder and director of various family businesses. He graduated in Business Management (Finance) from the California Polytechnic State University. This versatile 27 year old is involved in the management of the family’s many businesses starting with Kirtilal Kalidas Jewellers Pvt Ltd, Vispark Jewellery Manufacturers Pvt Ltd, Suraj Agro Infrastructure Pvt Ltd and Benchmark Softec India Pvt Ltd. Bringing ideas that are fresh and out of the box, Suraj Shantakumar has a strong desire to constantly incorporate the best from across the globe into the operations he is overseeing.
Pyotr Fyodorov: "The entire world is familiar with Yakut diamonds"
10 november 2014
EPL Diamond, Yakutia’s diamond manufacturing flagship, has reached its 20th anniversary. It is largely due to this company the notion of "Yakut diamonds" (as it happened before to the Russian Cut) traveled around the world turning into a brand. Pyotr Fyodorov, the founder and CEO of EPL Diamond, answered the questions from Rough&Polished telling about the factors behind this success story and about the company’s further goals.
I am particularly inspired by the works of the great Carl Faberge - Pierre Roth, Brussels jeweler
05 november 2014
Rough&Polished asked Pierre Roth, a Brussels-based jeweler with 30 years in the trade under his belt, to share the secrets of jewelry making and he kindly agreed to answer our questions.
ALROSA geologists exploring Africa for diamonds
27 october 2014
Viktor Ustinov is Doctor of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences and Deputy Director of the Geological Research and Exploration Unit at ALROSA in charge of the New Areas Evaluation Department (Saint Petersburg). In his interview to Rough&Polished he told about his recent business trip to Africa.
AWDC regrets seizure of Zim diamonds, but says not involved in the matter
20 october 2014
About 500 000 carats of Zimbabwean diamonds worth about $45 million that were on sale last month at the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) were first attached by Amari Platinum before the Belgian court reversed the seizure, pending a court ruling, which is expected anytime soon.
A group of white former commercial farmers also attached the same diamonds on the basis of an International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes arbitration award against the Zimbabwean government to compensate the ex-farmers.
As the legal battle rages on, the voice of AWDC had been silent and Rough&Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa sought a comment from the centre’s spokesperson Margaux Donckier, who said they regret the seizure.
However, AWDC was quick to point out that they were not involved in the matter.
Donckier also commented on the recent closure of the Antwerp Diamond Bank.
Interaction with clients is a key to understanding what they want and what they need
13 october 2014
Varuna D Jani, an award-winning jeweler ahead of her time, understands that it’s not only about investing but there is also a need of styling and personalization of jewellery. She is known more as an ‘adornologist’ than a ‘jewellery designer’. Belonging to a jeweller family, Varuna imparts knowledge and gives her recommendations on jewelry that suit individual personality. In an interview with Rough&Polished, Varuna revealed her passion for jewellery designing even as a child and her initiation into the business eventually.
Maxim Shkadov: "We need to create our own sales channel providing maximum penetration to the market"
06 october 2014
Taking into account the ongoing discussion about the future of the Russian diamond industry, Rough&Polished asked Maxim Shkadov, CEO of Kristall (Smolensk), the largest diamond manufacturer in Russia and Europe to answer our questions. In his interview, he expressed his views on the problems currently facing the industry.
Surat Diamond Bourse Project will be Successful - Dineshbhai Navadiya, President of Surat Diamond Association
29 september 2014
Working closely with the Surat Diamond Association (SDA) for almost 18 odd years, Dineshbhai Navadiya, President of SDA has held different positions as an office bearer, as well as an active member of the organization. In the year 2010, he was elected President of SDA and has remained its President ever since. Though the tenure of a SDA President is only for two years, Dineshbhai has been re-elected President every year due to his diligence and dedication towards the Indian diamond industry. Speaking to Rough&Polished, Dineshbhai explains in detail the activities of SDA and its achievements, worker exodus, defaults in the market, etc., and the current challenges faced by the cutting and polishing sector.
The future of Zim diamond mining hinges on political developments
22 september 2014
One of Zimbabwe’s most vocal critics of the state of diamond mining in Marange, Farai Maguwu, who is also the executive director of the Centre for Natural Resource Governance, said that while he is not armed with a “crystal ball” to foretell the future of diamond mining in Marange, he is of the view that this hinges on political developments in the country. He told Rough &Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that it was a fact that alluvial diamond deposits had depleted on claims given to the current miners digging for stones in partnership with the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), but there were some claims yet to be touched.
