Dr M'zée Fula Ngenge: Demand for considerable-sized diamonds stronger than ever

The African Diamond Council (ADC) chairperson Dr M'zée Fula Ngenge told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that although overall global diamond prices have been somewhat soft, the demand for considerable-sized diamonds...

02 september 2024

Amplats sees prospects as a standalone company

Anglo has revealed its plans to demerge Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), which has operations in South Africa and Zimbabwe, to optimise shareholder value. Rough&Polished contacted Amplats to comment on this and other issues but was referred...

19 august 2024

WFDB President Yoram Dvash Remains Confident Despite Global Diamond Challenges

Yoram Dvash is President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) having been elected in 2020. He found time in his busy schedule to speak to Rough&Polished about the state of the diamond industry around the world and some of the major...

12 august 2024

Lyudmila Vysotskaya: Amber is a mystical stone, a living substance

Lyudmila Vysotskaya is a Kaliningrad-based amber artist and designer, expert, chairwoman of the Amber Academy and member of the Creative Union of Artists in Decorative and Applied Arts. This summer, visitors could admire the art works by Lyudmila Vysotskaya...

30 july 2024

De Beers shines light on budding jewellery designers

Diamond giant De Beers will this year conduct its bi-annual Shining Light Awards jewellery design competition. De Beers beneficiation manager Kagiso Fredericks told Rough & Polished's Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview they set aside 4.5 carats...

22 july 2024

Is the Sparkle getting Dull?

03 july 2012

The allure of diamonds is being challenged today, with the economic environment, Diamond World reports in its Weekly E-Post. Major markets like India are facing a tight spot with the falling of the Indian Rupee, rise in inflation, European economic crisis and such. China too is not lending too much hope for growth. Also, the rise in rough diamond and polished diamond prices are breathing down on manufacturers.
While the industry is known to be resilient and unshaken even in strongest of situations, at present it still is finding its lifeline to bail it out of this gloom. While trade is slow, there is some positive hope and enthusiasm reflected by trade bodies which are consistently supporting generic promotion of diamonds. And this is helping strengthen the strings of the trade to be more ethical, vigilant and transparent.
As the second half of the year unfolds, will it lend to a new beginning for the trade or a fall in its confidence. It is all a matter of waiting and watching.