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Andrey Yanchevsky: A brand is much more than just a name

Andrey Yanchevsky is the CEO and founder of the LA VIVION jewellery company. Over 20 years in this business, he has worked his way from a software programmer to a member of the board of directors, gaining experience in various sectors of the jewellery...

09 june 2025

Jonathan Kendall: Industry must focus on the diamond dream

From a lengthy career at the De Beers Group to playing a major role at CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, Jonathan (Jonnie) Kendall is enjoying his diamond journey as much as ever today. He took time out from his busy schedule to speak...

26 may 2025

Dr. M’zée Fula Ngenge: How De Beers’ Lightbox undermined natural diamonds

De Beers’ venture into the lab-grown diamond (LGD) market through its subsidiary Lightbox backfired, undermining its century-old luxury positioning around natural diamonds, according to the African Diamond Council (ADC) Chairperson Dr...

19 may 2025

LDB’s David Troostwyk: London still has major role to play in global diamond trade

London Diamond Bourse (LDB) President David Troostwyk has had a varied career in the diamond business. David sat down with Rough&Polished to discuss how his love of diamonds started, his career, the state of the diamond trade in the UK and globally...

12 may 2025

David Johnson: De Beers balancing lab-grown and natural diamonds rarity while pioneering ethical transparency

De Beers has been differentiating its lab-grown diamond brand, Lightbox, by positioning it as an affordable, fashion-focused product. Group spokesperson David Johnson told Rough & Polished that this is in contrast to how De Beers promotes natural diamonds...

28 april 2025

Gem Diamonds recovers 113ct diamond at Letšeng

21 february 2024

News

Gem Diamonds has recovered a high-quality 113-carat white Type II diamond at its 75%-owned Letšeng mine in Lesotho.

The 113-carat is the third greater than 100-carat diamond recovered to date this year.

The other diamonds include a 295-carat high-quality Type II white diamond recovered on 8 January 2024 and a 139-carat low-quality Boart diamond unearthed on 17 January 2024.

Gem Diamonds discovered four stones weighing over 100 carats last year.

Its sales dropped 26% in 2023 to $139.4 million as weak demand for rough diamonds forced its average price to weaken.

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

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