Exclusive
Tracr passes 5 million rough diamonds milestone as De Beers expands provenance push
De Beers Group's blockchain-enabled traceability platform Tracr reached a significant milestone in 2025, with more than 5 million rough diamonds individually scanned and registered, up from 2.8 million cumulative registrations reported in 2024. The...
28 september 2026
South African diamonds head to Hong Kong: SDT partners with BRINKS for JGW 2026
South Africa’s State Diamond Trader (SDT) has confirmed the country's participation in Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong (JGW) 2026 through a partnership with BRINKS. SDT marketing and communication manager Tsholofelo Gopolang Tselapedi...
14 september 2026
David Benderly: PermaScribe seeks to put trust mark on diamond table, not just girdle
In this interview with Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa, PhotoScribe Technologies president and chief executive David Benderly explains how PermaScribe differs technically from conventional laser inscription, its potential to strengthen security, and...
31 august 2026
The great reset: Paul Zimnisky on supply catharsis, De Beers' bargain and the case for natural diamonds
The natural diamond industry is in the throes of its most profound reset in a generation. Supply is plunging to its lowest level since 1987 and De Beers—once valued at over $9 billion—is reportedly being sold for as little as $1 billion.
Lab-grown...
10 august 2026
Roman Karakurkchi: Maintaining the highest standards of jewelry craftsmanship
Roman Karakurkchi is the founder of the Roman Karakurkchi jewelry brand and the International Jewellery School that brings together instructors from Russia, the USA, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Italy, and Germany, as well as students from 65 countries...
03 august 2026
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo Announces Highlights ahead of The Geneva Watch Auction: XV on 7 & 8 May
This auction follows a blockbuster white glove year in 2021, in which Phillips Watches department achieved an annual total of $209.3 million and sold 100% of lots across all sale locations.
The live sale will take place on 7 and 8 May at the Hôtel La Réserve in Geneva.
Leading the sale are three exceptional watches. The first is a well-preserved Rolex chronograph wristwatch reference 6239 in yellow gold which was formerly part of the collection of Eric Clapton CBE (162922 estimate in excess of CHF 1,500,000). The second is an outstanding example of the Patek Philippe pink gold reference 1518 with a pink dial (157572 estimate CHF 1,200,000-2,400,000).
The third is a historically significant Patek Philippe reference 1503 (estimate CHF 250,000 - 500,000) in stainless steel with black glossy dial and Breguet numerals –notably one of two examples known in this configuration.
Alexandre Ghotbi, Head of Watches, stated: “These are watches that will attract the budding enthusiast and speak to the seasoned collector. However, what they all have in common is their rarity, state of preservation and relevance.”
Alex Shishlo for Rough&Polished
