Exclusive
Diamond market crash is Africa’s opportunity, not its crisis – M'zée Fula Ngenge
Global natural diamond supply is forecast to fall below 95 million carats this year, the lowest since 1987. For Dr. M'zée Fula Ngenge, chairperson of the African Diamond Council (ADC), this is not a death knell but a clarion call. In an exclusive...
12 october 2026
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
South Africans demand the return of diamond from Queen’s sceptre
CNN reports that more than 6,000 people had signed a petition asking for the return of the diamond.
The Cullinan diamond was discovered in South Africa’s old Transvaal province in 1905 and was allegedly given to King Edward VII as a gift two years later.
“The Cullinan Diamond must be returned to South Africa with immediate effect,” activist Thanduxolo Sabelo was quoted as saying by local media.
“The minerals of our country and other countries continue to benefit Britain at the expense of our people.”
A member of Parliament for South Africa's opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) demanded last year that South Africa be given its diamond back.
The politician Mbusiyseni Ndlozi said at the time that the diamond should be brought back to South Africa without compensation.
Queen Elizabeth II had the Cullinan I diamond (or Star of Africa), which is a 530.2 carat pear-shaped stone and is set as the main stone in the majestic Sceptre with the Cross.
It is allegedly worth $400 million.
Petra Diamonds currently owns the Cullinan mine.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
