Exclusive
‘AI is the engine, diamonds are preserved upside down, copper currently the path to value’ – Botswana Minerals’ Campbell on strategy shift
Botswana Minerals has positioned itself as a data-led, multi-commodity explorer, placing copper at the centre of its growth strategy while retaining diamond assets for future upside, Managing Director James Campbell has told Rough & Polished. In an exclusive...
13 april 2026
Emanuel Vieira Lopes: Angola's new digital mining cadastre to reduce permit times by a third
Angola's new Digital Mining Cadastre (CMA) is on track to reduce average permitting timelines by one-third once fully deployed, according to Emanuel Vieira Lopes, Advisor to the Secretary of State for Mineral Resources. In an interview with...
06 april 2026
Paul Zimnisky warns diamond trade at "crossroads" as geopolitical tensions, pending De Beers sale, and LGDs reshape market
As geopolitical tensions escalate in the Middle East, diamond industry analyst Paul Zimnisky warns that the impact is most acute at trading hubs like Dubai, where flight cancellations and travel fears are keeping buyers away. In a wide-ranging interview...
30 march 2026
From Harry Oppenheimer’s Kimberley House to Hong Kong: SDT's Conrad Van Der Ross on 35 years in diamonds
South Africa's State Diamond Trader (SDT) operations manager Conrad Van Der Ross has witnessed the diamond industry transform over three and a half decades—from his nervous start as a De Beers trainee sorter in pre-democracy South Africa...
23 march 2026
Rough diamond shortage squeezes emerging South African beneficiators, Macs Diamonds founder warns
South Africa’s Macs Diamonds founder Macdonald Mogale has identified a shortage of rough diamonds as the most pressing challenge facing emerging beneficiators amid prolonged subdued market conditions. Speaking to Rough & Polished, Mogale noted that the...
16 march 2026
ALROSA reports sharp increase in investment-grade diamond sales in 2025
17 april 2026
ALROSA reported that sales of investment-grade polished diamonds under its Diamond Exclusive program increased by 40% in 2025 compared to the previous year.
Silver faces sixth consecutive year of supply deficit - report
17 april 2026
The silver market is heading for a sixth year of structural deficit, with 762 million troy ounces drawn from stocks since 2021, raising the risk of a renewed liquidity squeeze despite weaker demand expectations, the Silver Institute and consultancy Metals Focus said.
Platinum jewelry gains popularity in India due to record-high gold prices
17 april 2026
Platinum jewelry is rapidly gaining popularity in India as record-high gold prices force consumers to reassess its value, the Platinum Guild International (PGI) says.
Premier African Minerals advances Zulu lithium plant installation, simplifies operations
17 april 2026
Premier African Minerals has reported encouraging progress at its Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project in Zimbabwe, with the installation of the new Xinhai Flotation Plant advancing and the tailings tank now in place.
Cora Gold secures $120m stream to fund Sanankoro project in Mali
17 april 2026
Cora Gold has signed a binding term sheet for a $120 million gold stream with Eagle Eye Asset Holdings (EEA) to support development of its Sanankoro Gold Project in southern Mali.
Luxury giant Kering's jewelry division achieves record revenue of €269 million in the first quarter
17 april 2026
The jewelry division of luxury giant Kering posted its best results in the first quarter of 2026, achieving record revenue of €269 million. This represents a 14% increase on a reported basis and a 22% increase on a comparable basis, despite overall group sales remaining flat compared to the previous year.
DRC creates a strategic cobalt reserve to influence global supply
17 april 2026
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has established a strategic reserve for cobalt and other critical minerals, giving the state greater control over global supplies, the national minerals regulator announced on Thursday.
50 nations back UAE’s UN resolution on conflict diamonds
16 april 2026
The UAE rammed a landmark resolution through the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, securing co‑sponsorship from 50 countries and putting the global diamond industry on notice that the "Year of Best Practice" is not just talk – it's action.
South Africa mining output jumps 9.7% in February
16 april 2026
Statistics South Africa has reported a 9.7% year-on-year increase in mining production for February, with platinum group metals, chromium ore, manganese ore, and gold delivering the largest positive contributions. Iron ore and coal were the biggest negative contributors.
Diamond market felt pressure from Iran war in March - report
16 april 2026
Diamond prices were mixed in March, as market remained split between small and large goods, and tensions in the Middle East escalated, Rapaport Group said in a recent report.
