RAPAPORT... The Covid-19 shutdown and its consequences have caused many diamond wholesalers and jewelry retailers to reevaluate even the most basic business practices. Is there a new normal for memos as well? Memos, both short- and long-term, have been integral to the industry. "Much of the business is based on a consignment program," says David Rakower, president of New York-based manufacturer Jo...Read More
RAPAPORT... Synthetic-diamond firm Lumex will set up shop in the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), as the trading hub looks to expand its lab-grown sector. "In line with its mandate to attract, facilitate and drive new trade flows through Dubai, DMCC is positioning the emirate as a hub for both the natural and laboratory-grown diamond trade," the DMCC said Monday.Last year, DMCC held its...Read More
RAPAPORT... Synthetic-diamond firm Lumex will set up shop in the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), as the trading hub looks to expand its lab-grown sector. "In line with its mandate to attract, facilitate and drive new trade flows through Dubai, DMCC is positioning the emirate as a hub for both the natural and laboratory-grown diamond trade," the DMCC said Monday.Last year, DMCC held its...Read More
(IDEX Online) - The manager of a diamond unit in Surat, India, was arrested for allegedly breaching COVID-19 rules.Police say they found 26 employees working at a factory in the Katargam area of the city, which is in lockdown because of localized outbreak of coronavirus, according to a Times of India report.Municipal officers on a routine check reportedly found that the factory, at Gangotri Tower...Read More
U.S. jewelers had great hope for 2020. The 2019 end-of-year November-December holiday shopping season was strong, a trend that carried over to the January-February 2020 Valentine's Day selling period, when jewelry shoppers opened their wallets for their sweethearts. Jewelry industry sales were up solidly by an estimated 7% in the first six weeks of 2020 through February 14, 2020 (...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Dubai is expanding its lab-grown sector by welcoming Lumex to its diamond hub.Lumex was founded in 2018 by the Mehta family, owners of the Rosy Blue empire, and produces diamonds up to two carats.The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) is keen to grow both its mined and lab-grown sectors, with safeguards to ensure the stones remain separate.It says it is "committed to growing the...Read More
(IDEX Online ) - A Chinese jewelry firm based in Wuhan stands accused of securing loans with eighty-three tons of fake gold.Kingold Jewelry is a Nasdaq-listed company based in the city which reported the world's first cases of coronavirus.The allegation made in Caixin, a Chinese publication known for its investigative journalism, is that Kingold used copper-alloy bars with a gold leaf coating...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Botswana, the world's top diamond-producing country by value, is to seek financial help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to deal with the consequences of COVID-19.The country is in economic crisis, even though the virus has claimed just one life, on 31 March, and as of today there are just 277 active cases.At least 181 confirmed cases have been tra...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Zimbabwe is poised to offer a diamond stockpile of over a million carats for sale as it seeks foreign currency.It hopes to net up to $100m, according to a report in today's Sunday Mail newspaper.The Minerals and Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe, which has controlled all the country's diamond sales since 1983, says it plans to hold an auction in the near future, after can...Read More
RAPAPORT... Global rough-diamond production fell 7% to $13.48 billion last year, reflecting lower output in Botswana and Canada, according to new data from the Kimberley Process (KP). Production volume slipped 12% to 130.3 million carats, while the average price increased 6% to $103.41 per carat.Russia ranked as the top producer, bucking the negative trend with an increase of 3% to $4.12 bill...Read More
RAPAPORT... Belgium's diamond trade slowed in June, with polished exports down 44% year on year to $469 million, according to data from the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). However, the rate of decline eased following heavier drops in April and May, when the global industry shut due to the coronavirus. US orders rose 4% to $173 million in June, indicating a gradual recovery as the importa...Read More
RAPAPORT... The Covid-19 pandemic that has swept the globe has had a notable impact on the diamond industry, with new developments unfolding every day. Here, we present a one-stop, running news feed on industry events impacted by the virus.July 2?EUR? Rio Tinto has carried out nearly 2,600 Covid-19 tests at its Diavik diamond mine in Canada since introducing the measure seven weeks ago. All c...Read More
RAPAPORT... Belgium's diamond trade slowed in June, with polished exports down 44% year on year to $469 million, according to data from the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). However, the rate of decline eased following heavier drops in April and May, when the global industry shut due to the coronavirus. US orders rose 4% to $173 million in June, indicating a gradual recovery as the importa...Read More
RAPAPORT... Times are hard for luxury in general, and jewelry in particular. In a recent survey by McKinsey & Company, jewelry was one of the luxury products consumers were most willing to forgo post-Covid-19, considering the financial crisis the virus has left in its wake. The question is, how does discretionary spending fit into the "new normal," and what does the future hold for the average...Read More
Polished trading slow despite improved retail sales in China. US jewelers limiting purchases, as they have enough inventory to meet 3Q demand. Trade sees potential for good holiday season since consumers are not spending on travel. Major retailers investing in technology to drive multichannel sales. Savvy independents nurturing ties with local communities to maintain market share. Rough market qui...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Subsidiaries of the Indian diamond giant Dharmanandan have developed a low-cost ventilator to sav the lives of COVID-19 patients.The device, (pictured) which costs under $3,500, was launched yesterday.Dharmanandan, with a $1bn annual turnover, developed the Respiwin device in just five months through its Dharmanandan Research Centre (DRC) Techno and InnovSeed company.A team of...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Declare your undying love with a diamond engagement ring based on a Pokemon character.The 0.3-carat solitaire (pictured) is set between a pair of gold ears belonging to Pikachu, a fictional yellow rodent that appears in video games, TV shows, movies, trading card games, comic books and much besides.The Pokemon empire is marketing this and two other engagement rings, in partnership...Read More
RAPAPORT... Christie's brought in more than $4 million at its latest digital sale, with a 29-carat diamond earning the highest online price ever for a jewel.The emerald-cut, 28.86-carat, D-color, VVS1-clarity, type IIa diamond ring garnered $2.1 million, beating its $2 million high estimate at the Jewels Online sale, Christie's said Tuesday. The piece received offers as soon as the sale start...Read More
(IDEX Online) - A 28.86-carat type IIa D-color diamond has sold for $2.1m, a world record high price for an online-only auction.Christie's say the near-flawless, VVS1-clarity emerald-cut stone (pictured) just exceeded a high estimate of $2m, attracting 31 bids during the two-week sale, which ended yesterday.The diamond's estimate in the Jewels Online sale was $1m to $2m."The sale of this...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Alrosa has resumed operations at its International underground mine, a week after a dozen workers tested positive for COVID-19.The mine (pictured), close to the town of Mirny, in the subarctic Russian republic of Sakha, yields some of the world's highest diamond grades, and produced 2.2 million carats in 2019.All staff have now been tested. Those awaiting results have be...Read More