The Diamond Press | Diamond Industry

Pressing Matters: A Good Week For Diamonds

The Diamond Disconnect

The Way Forward For Natural Diamonds

Calm After the Tariff Storm

Diamond Market Recovery or Continued Pressure?

10 Predictions for the Diamond Industry in 2026

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News In Brief

Sales among US independents rose in January, with higher average sales offsetting a decline in units sold, Edge Retail Academy and Tenoris reported separately...

Anglo American is reviewing the carrying value of De Beers ahead of its full-year results on February 20, citing continued weakness in the diamond market...

De Beers rough sales rose 10% to $2.98 billion in 2025, supported by a 17% increase in sales volume to 20.9 million carats despite a 7% drop in the average price to $142 per carat...

Polished diamond prices continue to decline in January, albeit at a slower pace, Rapaport Group said...

Gem Diamonds reported that rough sales from its Letšeng mine in Lesotho fell 36% to $97.7 million in 2025...

Watches of Switzerland reported trading beat expectations in the third quarter ending December 31, driven by sustained growth in the US across categories...

Pandora will introduce platinum-plated jewelry, diversifying its metal mix and reducing reliance on sterling silver amid volatile commodity prices...

Hong Kong’s sales of jewelry, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts rose 14.3% year on year in December, according to the Census and Statistics Department...

The United States and India have agreed to a trade deal that will lower US import tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 25%, President Donald Trump said…

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Spotlight

The Diamond Disconnect

The contrast between the performance of the retail jewelry sector and diamond mining revealed in the recent round of earnings is striking. At retail, Watches of Switzerland said its Roberto Coin business delivered an excellent US holiday season. Swatch Group noted that Harry Winston had a record month in December, while Birks Group reported comparable-store sales grew 2.5% over the November–December period. The momentum carried into January. The Edge Retail Academy estima

Calm After the Tariff Storm

The diamond industry breathed a collective sigh of relief after the US and India reached a trade deal that will eliminate import duties on India-sourced diamonds and gemstones. By way of recap, in September President Trump imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff, followed by an additional 25% penalty on all Indian imports, aimed at pressuring India to halt purchases of Russian oil. The impact was immediate and severe. India’s diamond trade was put at a massive disadvantage, with go

India Must Follow Antwerp’s Diamond Playbook

The recent trade deal between the EU and India laid bare the differing approaches to the diamond trade taken by two of the industry’s largest centers. Once again, Antwerp leveraged its position to secure favorable terms in the negotiations. Under the agreement, India reduced its tariff on imports of natural polished diamonds from the European Union to 2.5%, down from 5.5%. “This tariff reduction is the result of intensive lobbying efforts by the Antwerp World Diamond Cent

10 Predictions for the Diamond Industry in 2026

The diamond market enters 2026 in a state of flux after three punishing years from 2023 to 2025, with sustained pressure across mining, manufacturing, and retail. It does not take a futurist to see that many of the forces behind the downturn remain firmly in place. The question now is how those dynamics evolve as the industry searches for greater stability. To open the year, The Diamond Press sets out 10 developments and themes that are set to define the diamond trade in

Tough Love for Botswana

At last, someone has advised the Botswana government not to raise its stake in De Beers. As Anglo American prepares to divest from its 85% share in the diamond company, Botswana has signaled its interest in buying some or all of that stake, adding to the 15% it already owns. Until now, it seems that most of those with the president’s ear have entertained the notion that increasing the government’s stake in De Beers is a good idea. Yet Botswana is heading for its third str

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Pressing Matters

A Good Week For Diamonds

Every so often, I’m tempted to turn this memo into a gossip column. If I ever did, it might open with something like, OMG! I’ve got so much to tell you! Perhaps I’ve found a quieter way to indulge that instinct, because the truth is it’s been a very good week for the diamond industry. The headlines were dominated by the US–India trade deal, which will remove tariffs on diamond imports into the world’s largest jewelry market from the largest source of polished supply. The

Optimism Amid Trade Advocacy for Diamonds

February is a slightly strange month. It’s a day or two shorter than the rest, which gives it a sense of ease, as though it passes a little more seamlessly. That said, it’s an important month for the diamond industry. By now, we have a clearer view of how the holiday season played out, and jewelers have a better handle on their inventory requirements. Valentine’s Day also looms on the 14th, with the National Retail Federation (NRF) expecting record spending , including arou

Deglobalization and the Case for Fewer, Better Diamonds

Watching events unfold at the World Economic Forum in Davos, one major theme has already emerged in 2026: the era of globalization is over. That presents another challenge for the diamond industry, although it’s not necessarily a new one. The trade benefited greatly from globalization in the 2010s, as the expansion of China’s jewelry market was driven by the belief that the country could transition toward a US-style, consumer-led economy. That dynamic meant more diamonds we

What Gives A Diamond Its Value

What gives a diamond its value? Is there something intrinsic in the physical product itself, or does value mostly come from how the industry positions it? I put that question to a group of industry professionals during a panel discussion on The Way Forward for Natural Diamonds at the VicenzaOro show on Sunday. As moderator, my aim was to use the idea of value as a way into a broader conversation about how we engage today’s consumer. The answers leaned heavily on emotional

A Diamond Is Forever, Repositioned

Did you watch the Golden Globes last night? Well, neither did I. What I did get was a press release from “A Diamond Is Forever” about the natural diamond jewelry highlights on the red carpet. I know, right. Who or what is A Diamond Is Forever to be sending me press releases? Isn’t that a slogan, the line that capped off some of De Beers’ most nostalgic marketing campaigns? You may or may not have noticed the subtle introduction of the A Diamond Is Forever Instagram acco

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Videos

Adapt or Die: The Diamond Industry Must Pivot to Value