Nosiphiwo Mzamo: South Africa’s State Diamond Trader to buy diamonds from other African countries

South Africa’s State Diamond Trader (SDT) is set to buy diamonds from other African countries starting with Botswana. SDT’s chief executive Nosiphiwo Mzamo told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa at the country’s inaugural diamond show, which...

10 february 2025

Edahn Golan: Halo effect from lab-grown diamonds driving high demand for large, 2-carat natural stones in the U.S.

Edahn Golan, owner of the eponymous Edahn Golan Diamond Research and Data, told Rough & Polished's Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that their research found a halo effect from lab-grown diamonds. He said the trend among lab-grown diamond...

27 january 2025

Paul Zimnisky: We will see a modest recovery in natural diamond demand and prices in 2025

According to Paul Zimnisky, an independent diamond and jewellery analyst and consultant based in the New York metro area, the natural diamond industry will see a modest recovery in demand and prices this year. Zimnisky said a moderate recovery would...

13 january 2025

African Diamond Council makes traceability its top priority, wants KP to embrace Authentia.io

The African Diamond Council (ADC) has made traceability its foremost priority and has been contributing to a traceability solution called Authentia.io for the last three and a half years, which is now ready to globally satisfy the traceability...

16 december 2024

Gaetano Cavalieri: CIBJO leading the jewelry industry on critical issues

One of the gem and jewellery industry’s most well-known and respected personalities, Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, has been the president of the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO), for the past 23 years. CIBJO is the oldest international organisation...

09 december 2024

Surat Diamond Bourse pips Pentagon as the world's largest office building

19 july 2023

The Surat Diamond Bourse became the world's largest office building. According to architects, it comprises over 7.1 mn square feet of floor space. It took four years of construction work, which was twice hampered by Covid-related delays, as per a CNN report.

Surat Diamond Bourse, billed as a 'one-stop destination' for over 65,000 diamond professionals, including cutters, polishers and traders, will welcome its first occupants in November. It features a succession of nine rectangular structures spilling out from a central 'spine'. The sprawling 15-storey complex has been built across more than 35 acres. It is expected to be officially opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

New photos, shared by CNN, give a glimpse of the marble floors and light-filled atriums connecting over 4,700 office spaces, which can also double as small workshops for cutting and polishing diamonds. The $388 mn complex also houses 131 eleva­tors, besides dining, retail, wellness and conference facilities for workers.

Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished