SPOTLIGHT

Diamond dealers are not disappearing from the rough market, but their role has narrowed as the industry has become more efficient, consolidated, and capital-intensive, according to a discussion on an episode of Diamond Debates with Avi Krawitz.   The rough diamond market today bears little resemblance to that of a decade or two ago, Krawitz and Didier Backaert, director of Bonas Group, agreed. Rough now passes through far fewer hands before reaching manufacturing, reducing op

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

The discussion between Avi and Matt Gabel of jewelry advisory firm MJ Gabel examined how younger consumers are reshaping the diamond market through their growing embrace of synthetics. The conversation underscored the structural and cultural shifts now redefining both product perception and the retail landscape.   These were the key themes that emerged from the debate:   Affordability   Price, accessibility, and perceived sustainability of synthetics outweigh the legacy appea

The diamond industry must brace itself for another shakeup as restrictions on Russian supply may be lifted sooner than anticipated.   Alrosa’s reintroduction to the market should now be considered an imminent possibility, after President Trump presented a 28-point draft proposal in Kyiv to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. The plan, developed with Moscow’s input, maps out phased and selective sanction relief, a path for Russia to rejoin the G8, and broader US-Russia economic coope

The Natural Diamond Council (NDC) is close to receiving the funds pledged under the Luanda Accord signed in July.   Two separate commitments came out of that meeting in the Angolan capital. The first was a structural one, with signatories agreeing to establish a mechanism that allocates 1% of rough-diamond sales to the NDC. The aim is to support the council’s budget from next year (2026) onward, and create a more stable way for the industry to fund consumer-facing marketing f

What does the diamond industry want, or expect, from the new owners of De Beers, whoever they turn out to be?   Should we expect a...

Uncertainty over US tariffs, China’s slowdown, and geopolitics has dominated industry headlines this year, but two additional forces are...

Interior of a Kay Jewelers store. (Signet Jewelers) Signet Jewelers is emerging as the ultimate test case of how the natural and...

Aerial view of the Letšeng mine in Lesotho. (Credit: Gem Diamonds) “Which mining companies are making a profit in the current diamond...

Taylor Swift's diamond engagement ring. ( www.instagram.com/taylorswift/ ) Taylor Swift’s engagement to Travis Kelce tells you everything...

A sightholder examines De Beers rough supply. (Credit: De Beers) During an interview with De Beers CEO Al Cook in June, I asked him about...

The Diamond Trails collection with artist and project initiator Reena Ahluwalia (Credit: Reena Ahluwalia) How can we enhance our...

Editorial Botswana President Duma Boko addresses industry leaders at the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) Presidents Meeting in...

Jewelers have realigned their operations to meet a new consumer reality shaped by caution and changing values. Image: Attendees closely...

There were four main themes that shaped trading activity at the show: foot traffic, inventory, lab-grown diamonds, and actual demand.  ...

De Beers hosted its big, beautiful breakfast on Friday presenting a lot of information about its strategy and the market, but two main...

Notes from Las Vegas: Day 1   My first day at the Las Vegas shows centered around three key themes affecting te diamond market: lab-grown...

De Beers is investing again, but the trade must do its part. Natural Diamond Council (NDC) ambassador Lily James inspects a diamond as...

Synthetic diamond growing at De Beers' Element Six facility in Oregon, which will now focus on lab grown for industrial use. (De Beers...

Image: The Millennium Star (De Beers) As storylines go, The Diamond Heist  would have been far more compelling if the robbers had...

Transcript of the video: Signet Jewelers announced a massive shift in strategy, highlighting a significant difference between the...