News
Copper 360 intersects new copper sulphide mineralisation at Rietberg
Copper 360 has intersected copper sulphide mineralisation at its South African Rietberg underground mine about 16 metres before reaching the planned 300 Level (300L) elevation, earlier than expected from the company's geological model.
Today
Namdeb seeks State recapitalisation as diamond prices erode revenue
Namdeb Holdings, comprising Namdeb and Debmarine Namibia, has approached the Namibian government for financial assistance as falling global diamond prices cut into revenue, The Namibian reports.
Yesterday
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.
Yesterday
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.
Yesterday
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
De Beers Claims Greater Accuracy, Consistency in Diamond Grading
04 april 2016
(diamonds.net) - An announcement in February that the International Institute of Diamond Grading and Research (IIDGR) has launched its generic diamond grading program surprised very few, but was noteworthy. Through it, the De Beers Group entered what arguably is the most contentious space in the diamond distribution chain where concerns have grown over grading consistency and standards, or lack thereof, in the past few years. IIDGR’s foray into diamond grading is an extension of its activity for the Forevermark brand, while the business unit is also responsible for developing De Beers synthetic detection machines – DiamondSure, DiamondView, DiamondPlus, and Automatic Melee Screening (AMS) machines. Jonathan Kendall, president of IIDGR, expects to draw from those other activities as the new grading business develops, while keeping focus on what he claims is his core mandate: to maintain confidence in diamonds.
Post Basel show
04 april 2016
(ehudlaniado.com) - Another trade show has come and gone, leaving more questions in its wake about the role such shows play in fostering diamond sales. These uncertainties take their place alongside many other lingering questions about the direction the diamond trade is taking. BaselWorld is the premier trade show for watches in the world, and probably Europe’s foremost jewelry show. According to exhibitors, the show met with lukewarm sales, an apt reflection of the state of demand in global markets. While sales were low for both watches and jewelry, diamonds and jewelry seemed to suffer worse than watches. In terms of marketing, I must ask myself, is it appropriate for the diamond industry to offer mass quantities of loose one-carat diamonds at such a location? What is the message we are sending to high-end consumers that frequent this trade fair, if they see high-end diamond jewelry pieces in one booth and then loose diamonds in large quantities offered at wholesale prices in another booth? How difficult is it for a sophisticated consumer to understand the markups on luxury jewelry? Doesn’t this behavior create discontent among consumers? Does it not lead to pressure to reduce jewelry prices? And if that is what happens, isn’t it clear to all that we are hurting our own business? Is it appropriate to offer luxury items next to their wholesale offered components?
Lenders in tight spot over Winsome's default; banks want to shame company's directors
01 april 2016
(The Economic Times) - In the summer of 2013, Winsome Group, an almost forgotten name now, had rattled the Indian bullion and diamond markets after it defaulted with 14 banks. Low-profile and less flashy than Vijay Mallya, two Winsome Group companies left a hole of Rs 6,800 crore in the books of local lenders — making the diamond house the country's second-largest willful defaulter after Kingfisher Airlines. Now with the Central Bureau of Investigation snapping at banks' heels, desperate lenders are threatening to name and shame some of the former and present independent directors of Winsome Diamonds & Jewellery and another group company, Forever, to salvage their money.
The Shine Is Off Diamonds and Gold
31 march 2016
(New York Times) - The adage that a diamond can be a best friend has lost some sparkle in recent years. Dampened by dollar appreciation, an increase in stocks of rough stones and weakened consumer demand, the global diamond market has hit headlines of late, thanks to tumbling prices. In fact, the average, inflation-adjusted price of top-quality stones has weakened by as much as 80 percent in the past 30 years, according to the Rappaport Index, an industry benchmark, suggesting that the free fall in a material once considered a timeless store of value has been in effect for some time. The prospects for gold, also long considered a haven for investors, are not glittering either.
Can China’s Government ‘Repatriate’ Its Citizens’ Luxury Spending?
30 march 2016
(jingdaily.com) - From duty-free shops to customs crackdowns, the Chinese government has been on a mission over the past year to encourage its luxury shoppers to keep their shopping sprees at home, despite the high prices that are encouraging them to shop abroad. As high tariffs on imported goods have continued to drive more Chinese consumers than ever to shop abroad, China’s domestic luxury market shrank by 2 percent last year, according to Bain & Company. Overall global spending, however, increased by 10 percent as 78 percent of luxury purchases by Chinese consumers took place outside of mainland China. Recently, the Chinese government has been aiming to regain a piece of that growth by undertaking several key efforts to “repatriate” consumers’ luxury spending. These efforts include a mix of initiatives to make buying at home more attractive, as well as crack down on sellers who try to dodge tariffs with gray-market imports.
