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

Paul Zimnisky: China key for sustained recovery in demand for natural diamonds, prices

The curtailing of upstream and midstream natural diamond production in the past months is starting to have an effect on prices, according to the New-York-based independent diamond and jewellery analyst and consultant, Paul Zimnisky. He told Rough & Polished’s...

23 september 2024

Namibian Gvt challenges order to renew diamond valuation contract

30 august 2022
The Namibian government has challenged a decision by an Arbitration Tribunal that ordered Windhoek to renew a five-year N$200-million contract with Nuska Technologies to evaluate Namibia Desert Diamonds (Namdia)’s stones.
Mines minister Tom Alweendo, who filed High Court documents on 23 August, wants the tribunal's decision to be overturned.
“[The arbitration award] made on 12 July 2022 is effectively meant to impose a five-year contract onto Namdia (without its say) in the same manner as it, unfortunately, occurred during 2016,” reads the minister’s court papers seen by The Namibian.
“This is clear from the fact that as soon as the award was made, Nuska wasted no time and started steps to enforce the award against Namdia prior to the confirmation by this court.”
Alweendo said the valuation services were not required as the valuation of diamonds statutorily required under Section 45 of the Diamond Act, was already being carried out by another party through Namibia Diamond Trading Company.
Nuska Technologies, previously known as C-Sixty Investments, was controversially hand-picked in 2016 by former mines minister Oberth Kandjoze to evaluate Namdia's diamonds.
The mines ministry informed Nuska Technologies in 2020 that they would not renew the contract.
Nuska subsequently sued through an arbitration tribunal, to force the government to hand them another five-year deal.

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