News
Indian jewellers promote natural diamonds amid competition from lab-grown stones
Falling prices for lab-grown diamonds and their resulting rise in market share are transforming India’s diamond jewellery market and prompting jewellers to take proactive measures.
Today
Ethiopia opens first gold refinery to serve region
Ethiopia has inaugurated its first gold refinery, a $50 million joint venture that the government hopes will establish the country as a regional hub for precious metals processing, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced over the weekend, according to Reuters...
Today
Anglo American bets R11.2B on South African mining's future
Anglo American has reaffirmed South Africa's potential as a premier mining investment destination, even as the company commits R11.2 billion ($677 million) to an ultra-high dense media separation iron-ore project at Sishen in the Northern...
Today
Nornickel forecasts $4 billion in precious metals revenue for 2026 - report
A senior Nornickel representative noted that the company expects to generate $4 billion in revenue from precious metals sales this year.
Today
Russia to build first permanent REM magnet plant
In 2028, Russia is set to start the construction of its first plant for manufacturing permanent magnets from rare-earth metals (REM) in the city of Glazov, to be commissioned in 2029 with an initial capacity of 500 tonnes per year, said Andrey...
Today
Mmetla Masire: Okavango to resume diamond sales in January
18 november 2024
Botswana’s state-owned Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) is set to resume diamond sales in January 2025, whether the market remains depressed or not. ODC managing director Mmetla Masire told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa on the side-lines of the Dubai Diamond Conference that it is Botswana’s responsibility to influence the impact of too much stock in the inventory.
Helga Pombal: Angola's Stardiam finds solution to the threat posed by lab-grown diamonds
11 november 2024
Stardiam manager of production Helga Pombal told Rough&Polished's Mathew Nyaungwa on the sidelines of the Angola International Diamond Conference that lab-grown diamonds are creating a parallel market for more accessible stones, combined with lower production costs.
Ellah Muchemwa: ADPA to launch Africa's first diamond mining standard next year
04 november 2024
The African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA), which is based in Luanda, Angola, and represents the interests of mainly African diamond producers and those with the potential to produce diamonds, will next year launch the Sustainable Development Standard (SDS), which will be the continent's first diamond mining standard.
Dmitry Fedorov: I want our jewelry to be displayed at a museum in the future
28 october 2024
Dmitry Fedorov is the founder of the eponymous jewelry house. His main focus is the creation of Orthodox-inspired premium luxury jewelry of high artistic merit. He told Rough&Polished about his journey in the jewelry industry, about choosing the ‘Orthodox niche’, the specifics of his jewelry items and whether it’s appropriate to wear ‘luxury’ Orthodox-themed jewelry.
Responsible business practices ‘no longer optional’, says WDC President Feriel Zerouki
14 october 2024
The president of the World Diamond Council takes time out of her busy schedule to tell Rough&Polished readers about the critical work of the WDC. Zerouki, the first female present of the body, which includes all the important industry organizations among its membership, explains how and why the WDC was established. She also gives her views on the challenges facing the WDC and the diamond industry at large.
James Campbell: Botswana Diamonds optimistic as it enters uncharted territory of using AI for mineral exploration
07 october 2024
London-listed Botswana Diamonds has expressed optimism about the company’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) to scan the exploration database in Botswana to look for new mineralised deposits. Company managing director James Campbell told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that work has already started and they using data provided by the government of Botswana to complement their database.
Artur Salyakayev: For me, happiness is freedom to make my ideas happen and create valuable products
30 september 2024
Artur Salyakayev is an art entrepreneur, founder of the International Jewelry Academy (IJA) and the INCRUA jewelry company. He has initiated and developed successful projects in jewelry industry and services sector. He is also a leading expert in jewelry retail sales in Russia and the CIS countries. Artur Salyakayev told Rough&Polished about the intricacies and mysteries of the jewelry trade, about founding the Jewelry Academy, as well as about his own brand and plans for the future.
Paul Zimnisky: China key for sustained recovery in demand for natural diamonds, prices
23 september 2024
The curtailing of upstream and midstream natural diamond production in the past months is starting to have an effect on prices, according to the New-York-based independent diamond and jewellery analyst and consultant, Paul Zimnisky. He told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that these could be the first signs of a recovery.
Vladimir Pilyushin: The jewelry market is not stand-alone and moves by the same laws as other markets
16 september 2024
Vladimir Pilyushin is editor-in-chief of Russian Jeweler, a leading magazine about the jewelry industry in Russia. He told Rough&Polished about his view on the evolution of the jewelry industry in Russia and touched upon some of its problems.
Sarine’s David Block: Diamond Industry at Standstill Until Chinese Demand Returns
11 september 2024
David Block is CEO of Israel’s Sarine Technologies and has served in the position since 2012. In this exclusive interview for Rough and Polished, Block gives his opinion on the leading issues affecting today’s diamond trade.
