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

Pensana breaks ground on Longonjo rare earths project as construction begins in Angola

21 may 2025

Pensana has commenced construction activities at its Longonjo rare earths project in Angola, following a $25-million investment from the Fundo Soberano de Angola (FSDEA), the country’s sovereign wealth fund.

The project team, led by South African project management professional Kevin Botha, has now initiated key procurement and engineering contracts.

Engineering firms Pro-Process and ADP (Lycopodium RSA) have been formally appointed and have begun work on site.

Preparatory site works, completed earlier this year, have paved the way for a streamlined construction phase.

The main contractor, Grupo Nov, has mobilised its workforce, which is expected to exceed 100 on-site personnel, with additional earthmoving equipment arriving to complete terracing in the production plant area.

Pensana chief executive Tim George described the start of main construction as “a pivotal moment for the project, which has been six years in the making.”

The company has invested more than $70 million over the past six years in exploration, technical studies, and environmental assessments at Longonjo.

Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor-In-Chief, Rough & Polished