News
Nornickel and Reksoft Implement "smart vision" to protect production
Nornickel has deployed a neural network-based video analytics system across its facilities, designed to prevent equipment breakdowns and production stoppages, the company’s press service reported.
Today
Lundin achieves record quarterly gold output at its flagship Ecuador mine
Vancouver-based Lundin Gold has reported that in the third quarter of 2026, gold production at its Fruta del Norte mine in southeast Ecuador hit a new quarterly record.
Today
Richemont, Signet in talks to join De Beers consortium – report
Luxury group Richemont and US retailer Signet Jewelers are in advanced talks to join the Global Diamond Consortium (GDC) bidding for De Beers, according to five people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reports.
16 october 2026
Rio Tinto begins Q4 of 2026 with strong operational performance
The Anglo-Australian mining group Rio Tinto has reported its third-quarter 2026 results, highlighting strong operational performance.
16 october 2026
Silver market deficit to widen in 2026 - report
In the latest World Silver Survey prepared by the Silver Institute and Metals Focus, the global silver market deficit is forecast to widen for the sixth consecutive year to 46.3 million ounces.
16 october 2026
Why Is the US Government Getting Involved in Diamond Financing?
15 august 2016
(jckonline.com) - With banks leaving the industry, last week journalist Chaim Even-Zohar broke the news that a rather odd party—the U.S. government—had agreed to finance Botswana diamond factories. The Overseas Private Investment Corp. (OPIC), a financial institution that is part of the U.S. government, is now guarantying $125 million in loans to Botswana’s cutters and polishers. OPIC is assuming 75 percent of the risk associated with the first tranche; the other 25 percent will be held by Barclay’s Bank of Botswana. OPIC has also committed to guarantying another $125 million in loans and hopes to get other local banks involved. If all goes to plan, $333 million will be available for cutters and polishers in Botswana over the agreement’s 13-year horizon.
Reach for the Stars: Diamond hunting in space? Dream on
12 august 2016
(masslive.com) - While here on Earth raindrops lit by sunlight may sparkle like diamonds, it seems likely that on Saturn and Jupiter it really does rain diamonds. After analyzing data on these planets this was the conclusion of Mona Delitsky, of California Specialty Engineering, and Kevin Baines, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Wisconsin at Madison. On Earth diamonds form naturally about 100 miles below the planet's surface when carbon is heated to about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit under pressure of about 725 pounds per square inch. Volcanic magma then brings the molten diamond quickly to the surface, allowing it to cool down and form the precious stone used to make fine jewelry the world over. However, on Saturn and Jupiter the process is somewhat different.
Pirouettes and Parking?
11 august 2016
(polishedprices.com) - There is a bit of crash, bang and wallop zinging around at the moment, as the Brexit vote, however inanely, is being blamed for everything going topsy turvy. Less surprising than Brexit, which even if it was surprising everyone knew that it was going to be very close, is that a major De Beers sightholder should have gone bust for some $450 million. Shrenuj has been a sightholder for as long as I can recall, it was a company that followed the De Beers creed, for instance opening a factory in Botswana. Since Supply of Choice (SoC) was brought in by De Beers some 15 years ago, sightholders have had to give tomes of information to the company, they were even I believe stress tested. So what does De Beers do with this information it demands from its clients? Is any of the information independently verified? Why should companies have to go through this costly charade if it is manifestly a waste of time?
Gray diamonds
10 august 2016
(ehudlaniado.com) - When I discussed fancy brown diamonds, I stated that unlike other fancy color shades that are extremely rare in nature, brown diamonds are plentiful and therefore command much lower prices. However, there is another shade of fancy color diamonds that bucks this trend by commanding relatively low prices despite actually being quite rare. I am speaking about fancy gray diamonds, which have the potential to serve as an interesting purchase for investors and consumers alike. Fancy gray diamonds might even serve as an alternative to white diamonds, simply based on their attractive price.
Diamonds are forever, but buyers are not: How the gem industry is wooing millennials
09 august 2016
(telegraph.co.uk) - In 1947, copywriter Frances Gerety invented the tagline “A diamond is forever” on behalf of South Africa’s De Beers Group. Dubbed the “slogan of the century”, the strapline has been in use ever since, tapping consumers’ desire to own a timeless, precious symbol of love. “It has survived because 'a diamond is forever’ summarises that sense of commitment and bond,” says Stephen Lussier, De Beers’ executive in charge of marketing. The marketing prowess of De Beers, which at one point controlled 90pc of the diamond market, cemented the ritual of buying a diamond engagement ring in people’s minds. But since 2000, the industry has undergone profound change.
