Pressing Matters: Retail momentum, De Beers value, traceability beckons, Pandora's lab grown approach, and more...
Great insights about trends and consumer preferences regarding natural diamonds, published by the Natural Diamond Council.

At the start of the ‘Year of the Snake,’ Chinese buyers remain absent from the diamond market and China still presents a major test for the industry.
The diamond industry begins 2025 slightly more optimistic, but with much uncertainty still clouding its outlook. In my latest video, I outline the stories which shaped the industry in 2024 to gain an understanding of what to expect in the year to come.
In the News
Hong Kong’s polished diamond imports fell 26% to $10.77 billion in 2024, while polished exports dropped 21% to $10.72 billion, the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, China reported. Exports to China declined 36%. Rough imports to Hong Kong grew 113% to $1.23 billion, with imports from Russia up 74% to $789 million.
India’s polished exports slid 13% year on year to $1.02 billion in January, according to data published by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). Rough imports slumped 37% to $735.4 million as amid weak trading at the start of the year.
Belgium’s polished exports declined 36% year on year to $366.6 million in January, and polished imports dropped 31% to $431.4 million, statistics from the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) revealed. Rough imports fell 46% to $231.1 million, while rough exports slumped 59% to $170.5 million.
The London Diamond Bourse launched a digital platform to encourage networking and collaboration within the diamond industry. CiviGem offers a global industry directory, direct messaging and community engagement, knowledge sharing and industry insights and support for young professionals, the bourse explained.
Namdia, Namibia’s state-owned rough trading company, has suspended CEO Alisa Amupolo, chief operations officer Uahoroka Kauta, and security manager Paulinus Sheyapo, following a robbery of its premises in which employee Francis Eisib was killed. Namdia executive Lelly Usiku is serving as interim CEO while an investigation of the crime is ongoing.