Ellah Muchemwa: ADPA to launch Africa's first diamond mining standard next year

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...

04 november 2024

Dmitry Fedorov: I want our jewelry to be displayed at a museum in the future

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...

28 october 2024

Responsible business practices ‘no longer optional’, says WDC President Feriel Zerouki

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...

14 october 2024

James Campbell: Botswana Diamonds optimistic as it enters uncharted territory of using AI for mineral exploration

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...

07 october 2024

Artur Salyakayev: For me, happiness is freedom to make my ideas happen and create valuable products

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...

30 september 2024

Give us back our diamonds, SA politician to Queen Elizabeth II

03 may 2021
A member of Parliament for South Africa's opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has demanded South Africa's diamonds be returned by Queen Elizabeth II.
The politician Mbusiyseni Ndlozi said the diamonds should be brought back to South Africa without compensation as they belong to the country they were found.
"Expropriation of the Queen's crown without compensation: we want our diamonds back!" he tweeted. 
Queen Elizabeth II has two of the biggest diamonds – the Cullinan I and Cullinan II – ever found in the world and both were unearthed in South Africa. 
The Cullinan I diamond (or Star of Africa) is 530.2 carat pear-shaped and is set as the main stone in the majestic Sceptre with the Cross.
The second-largest is Cullinan II or the Second Star of Africa, weighing 317.4 carats and it was mounted in the Imperial State Crown. 
Petra Diamonds currently owns the Cullinan mine.

Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished