Global Diamond Industry Shows Signs of Recovery: What Is Driving the Rebound?

 

After three challenging years marked by geopolitical disruption, shifting trade routes, and weakened consumer confidence, the global diamond industry is beginning to stabilise and recover. While price volatility persists in certain segments, demand is gradually rebuilding, particularly across the world’s primary luxury markets. Industry professionals broadly agree that the recovery remains uneven, but the direction is clear: a slow yet meaningful turnaround is underway.

Senior figures within the international jewellery trade point to improving economic sentiment as a key catalyst behind renewed interest in diamonds. Changing consumer behaviour is also playing a central role. Natural diamonds continue to dominate global engagement ring sales, retaining their status as the benchmark for long-term value and emotional significance. However, competition from lab-grown diamonds is intensifying, and the market share gap is narrowing.

In major Western markets, lab-grown diamonds are gaining traction, particularly among younger buyers who place greater emphasis on size, clarity, and price accessibility than on tradition. This generational shift is reshaping purchasing decisions and influencing how value is assessed at the point of sale.

Pricing dynamics underscore this transformation. Over the past year, prices for smaller natural diamondsespecially those under one carat have experienced notable declines. At the same time, lab-grown diamond prices have fallen even further, driven by rapid technological advancements and expanding production capacity. Together, these opposing movements have redefined the competitive landscape, prompting consumers to compare value propositions more closely than ever before.

While challenges remain, the combination of stabilising demand, evolving consumer preferences, and market-driven price realignment suggests the diamond industry has entered the early stages of recovery, with long-term implications for both natural and lab-grown sectors.

Source: DCLA

FOREVERMARK DIAMOND JEWELLERY CELEBRATES THE GRAND OPENING OF DE BEERS GROUP’S LARGEST FLAGSHIP STORE IN MUMBAI

 

Mumbai, 8th January 2026: Forevermark Diamond Jewellery marked a defining milestone in its India journey with the grand opening of the world’s largest flagship store by De Beers Group in Mumbai. Located at Crest Link, Khar West, at the heart of Linking Road, the nearly 5,000 sq. ft. store reflects the brand’s long-term commitment to Indian consumers seeking meaningful, design-led luxury.

The marquee launch was celebrated with an exclusive evening that brought together Mumbai’s most influential tastemakers, jewellery connoisseurs, creative voices, socialites, celebrities, and leading creators. Hosted within the flagship itself, the event offered guests a first glimpse into the brand’s stunning universe, featuring a fashion showcase and immersive experiences that seamlessly blended craftsmanship with contemporary style.

The evening unfolded with enthralling performances including live music and a spectacular fashion showcase, complemented by interactive installations and AI integrations around the Mine to Finger journey, branded photo moments, innovative tarot readings and displays of the new collection, creating an atmosphere of modern luxury and timeless elegance. Guests explored the store’s full portfolio, from refined everyday diamond jewellery to statement and high jewellery pieces, all designed to celebrate life’s most meaningful moments.

Every Forevermark Diamond Jewellery piece is crafted from some of the world’s most beautiful, rare, and responsibly sourced diamonds, each bearing a unique inscription, a promise of authenticity, integrity, and exceptional quality. This philosophy comes to life with the launch of the all-new Forevermark Icon Collection, inspired by the North Star as a symbol of clarity, direction, and confidence. It features versatile everyday diamond jewellery styles, striking statement pieces, and iconic designs across rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.

This collection launch is also accompanied by the brand’s new campaign titled ‘My Guiding Light’ that celebrates four iconic women who represent modern Indian excellence across diverse fields. Manu Bhaker, professional shooter and double Olympic medallist; Diana Penty, actor; Masaba Gupta, designer, actor, and entrepreneur; and Princess Gauravi Kumari of Jaipur, social entrepreneur, each embody individuality, strength, and purpose, sharing their personal stories and perspectives through mini digital videos on Instagram. Together, they reflect the belief that confidence and direction come from within, perfectly aligning with the spirit of the Icon Collection.

All four of them were also in attendance at the event, bringing glamour and gravitas to the evening and reinforcing the store’s position as a landmark destination in Mumbai’s luxury retail landscape. The evening was further elevated by the presence of Mumbai Indian Cricketers Amelia Kerr, Milly Illingworth and Sajeevan Sajana, whose stories of resilience, precision and perseverance echo the enduring strength of natural diamonds.

Commenting on the launch, Sandrine Conseiller, CEO, Brands & Diamond Desirability, De Beers Group, said: “India is central to the future of the natural diamond category. The opening of our largest Forevermark store in Mumbai reflects both the strength of consumer response we are seeing and our long-term confidence in the market. As luxury consumption in India becomes more considered and value-driven, Forevermark is well positioned to build relevance through trust, craftsmanship, and enduring desirability.”

Shweta Harit, Senior Vice President, De Beers Group and CEO, Forevermark, added: “Mumbai marks an important next chapter in Forevermark’s India story. Following the encouraging response to our New Delhi store, this flagship reflects the scale of opportunity ahead. As our largest store globally, it brings together our brand vision, retail ambition, and commitment to the Indian consumer. This opening is also a key step toward our longer-term plan of building a network of 100 Forevermark stores in India by 2030.”

The new Mumbai flagship blends Forevermark’s contemporary international design with local sensibilities. The spacious store offers an immersive experience, showcasing everyday diamond jewellery, statement and high jewellery pieces, and iconic designs in a setting that reflects the brand’s commitment to thoughtful, experience-led luxury.

About Forevermark Diamond Jewellery

Forevermark Diamond Jewellery is the signature diamond jewellery brand from De Beers Group, the world’s leading diamond company, a name synonymous with more than 135 years of expertise and heritage in the world of diamonds. Every Forevermark Diamond Jewellery creation celebrates life’s most meaningful moments, featuring natural diamonds that are beautiful, rare and responsibly sourced. Every Forevermark diamond bears a unique inscription, ensuring authenticity and making each piece deeply personal.

Formed over billions of years deep within the Earth, Forevermark diamonds are hand-selected for their exceptional quality, graded beyond the 4Cs in the pursuit of absolute beauty. Responsibly sourced and carefully cared for along their journey, they reflect the brand’s commitment to creating a positive impact on the people and places its diamonds come from. Expertly crafted by master designers, Forevermark Diamond Jewellery combines modern artistry with timeless elegance. Each piece elevates the brilliance of its diamond while embodying the brand’s enduring values of beauty, rarity, and responsibility.

Holiday Season: Modest Uptick in US Jewelry Sales

Jewelry sales in the US grew by 1.6 per cent during the 2025 holiday period, outpacing last year’s 0.8 per cent rise as consumers showed renewed confidence.

Stable inflation also boosted discretionary spending, as shoppers gravitated toward meaningful gifts over short-lived trends.

But the modest uptick in jewelry sales was still well below the 3.9 per cent recorded by Mastercard SpendingPulse across all retail sectors (except automotive) from November 1 through December 21. The figure for 2024 was 3.1 per cent.

“Consumers demonstrated flexibility and confidence this season, shopping early, leveraging promotions, and investing in meaningful experiences and wish-list items,” said Michelle Meyer, chief economist, Mastercard Economics Institute.

“They also blended online and in-store shopping to find the best deals and maximize convenience.”

Mastercard SpendingPulse measures in-store and online retail sales across all forms of payment, including cash, checks, and credit cards.

Source: DCLA

Lucara Advances Karowe Underground Expansion Despite Global Diamond Market Slump

Lucara Diamond Corp is moving forward with the underground expansion of its flagship Karowe mine in Botswana, reaffirming long-term confidence in natural diamonds despite a challenging global market backdrop.

An updated feasibility study has confirmed that the underground project is expected to recover approximately 4.5 million carats over a 10-year mine life, extending Karowe’s production through to 2038. The study strengthens Lucara’s strategy to invest counter-cyclically at a time when the diamond industry is facing falling revenues, production suspensions, and intensifying competition from lab-grown diamonds.

Open-pit mining at Karowe is scheduled to conclude before June, after which surface stockpiles will continue to be processed while underground development progresses towards commercial production. Underground operations are expected to commence in the first half of 2028.

Lucara President and CEO William Lamb said the company remains focused on Karowe’s unique ability to deliver large, high-value stones. “We look forward to continuing to recover large, exceptional diamonds from the underground project,” Lamb said, noting that Karowe is the only diamond mine in the world to have produced nine diamonds weighing more than 1,000 carats.

The underground expansion carries a pre-production capital cost of US$779 million, of which US$436 million has already been invested over the past five years. The remaining US$343 million is expected to be funded through operating cash flow, supplemented by potential equity or debt financing. Lucara is currently engaging with existing lenders and its major shareholder to evaluate funding options.

The project delivers an after-tax net present value of US$432 million, with Lucara forecasting more than US$1.3 billion in net income over the life of the underground operation.

The mine plan targets the highest-value domain of the South Lobe of the AK6 kimberlite, which continues at depth beneath the existing open pit. The underground mine is designed to sustain a 2.85 million tonne-per-year mining and processing operation as surface mining winds down.

A Proven Source of Exceptional Diamonds

Since production began, Karowe—whose name means “precious stone” in the local language—has established itself as one of the world’s most prolific sources of exceptional diamonds. Notable recoveries include the 1,758-carat Sewelô (2019), the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona (2015), and the 813-carat Constellation, also recovered in 2015. The mine has also produced Botswana’s largest fancy pink diamond to date, the Boitumelo.

Despite current market headwinds, Karowe remains one of the highest-margin diamond mines globally, consistently producing around 300,000 high-value carats per year—a distinction that continues to underpin Lucara’s confidence in the project’s long-term fundamentals.

Namibia’s Diamond Output Hit by Price Drops and Lab Growns

Namibia’s rough diamond production fell by 3.5 per cent year-on-year during Q3 2025, as prices fell, demand for lab growns increased and inventories grew.

The Bank of Namibia said in its quarterly bulletin that the country’s output was 442,000 carats, down by 15.3 per cent on the previous quarter, valued at N$ 2.41bn (USD 147.3m).

“The decrease stemmed from planned actions to lower production at Debmarine Namibia on the back of a combination of downside pressures, including the falling price due to rising demand for lab-grown diamonds and high inventory levels.”

It said rough diamond revenue for Q3 fell by 19 per cent year-on-year and 17.4 per cent compared with the previous quarter.

The bank noted “persistently soft consumer demand in key markets such as China and the United States” as well as oversupply of diamonds by some major producers.

Namibia’s diamond sector is a cornerstone of its economy, historically accounting for 7 to 10 per cent of its GDP and 30 per cent of export earnings. Around three quarters of diamonds are recovered from the seabed by Debmarine’s fleet of ships.

Source: DCLA

Passenger Hid $280,000 Diamonds Inside Body

A passenger arriving on a flight into Mumbai was found to have $280,000 of diamonds concealed in their body.

Customs officials at the city’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (pictured) were alerted through routine profiling, spot checks and the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS)which requires airlines to share details of all passengers on international flights.

The seized diamonds weighed a total of 894.6 carats and were valued at Rs 2.52 crore (USD 280,000), according to Mumbai Customs.

No further details of the diamonds, the passenger, or their port of departure were disclosed.

The diamonds were among a number of seizures made on 30 and 31 December at the same airport, including gold and cannabis.

Earlier in December, a passenger was caught with Rs 43.97 lakh (USD 53,000) of cut diamonds hidden in a suitcase as they prepared to board a flight to Bangkok.

People smuggling diamonds into India are generally trying to evade import duties on rough stoners, or bypass Kimberley Process certification requirements.

Source: DCLA

Namibia: Gold and Uranium Earnings Overtake Diamonds

Namibia has, for the first time, earned more tax revenue from gold and uranium than from diamonds.

Natural diamonds, primarily from marine operations, have long accounted for almost a third of Namibia’s export earnings.

But it has faced a severe contraction since mid-2022. At the same time, gold prices have been surging to record highs, and demand for uranium is rising for nuclear energy production.

Diamond mining is projected to decline by 4.5 per cent in 2025 and 5.7 per cent in 2026, the Bank of Namibia said in its August 2025 Economic Outlook.

“Non-diamond mineral revenues have surpassed diamond revenues for the first time, reinforcing a structural shift towards a more diversified and resilient mining revenue base,” the Chamber of Mines of Namibia said in its report for October, published last week.

It said tax revenue from diamonds in the six months to September was down 79 per cent, year on year. It did not provide like-for-like figures for gold or uranium.

But it said tax revenue from other minerals, mainly uranium and gold, had almost doubled the original budget estimate in the last financial year.

Source: DCLA

Record Watch and Jewellery Sales Mark Strong 2025 at Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s has reported a standout performance in 2025, with watch and jewellery sales delivering robust year-on-year growth.

Watch sales reached a record $193.6 million, up 22 per cent on 2024, making 2025 the strongest year ever for the category. One of the standout results was Audemars Piguet’s Grosse Pièce pocket watch, which realised $7.7 million, dramatically exceeding its high pre-sale estimate of $1 million.

Worldwide jewellery revenue also rose sharply, increasing 18 per cent year on year to $317.7 million. While this figure remained well below Sotheby’s all-time jewellery record of $603 million set in 2014, it was driven by a series of landmark auctions, important private collections and expanding participation from new global markets.

Among the top-selling jewellery lots of 2025 were:

• The 10.03-carat fancy vivid blue “Mediterranean Blue”, which sold for $21.1 million
• The 31.68-carat fancy vivid orangy-pink “Desert Rose”, achieving $8.8 million
• A 4.50-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, which realised $6 million

“This has been an exceptionally strong year for the jewellery market, marked by multiple ‘white glove’ sales and expansion into new markets,” said Quig Bruning, Head of Sotheby’s Jewels, Americas & EMEA. “These results reflect a growing global appetite for rare, exceptional jewels and impeccable diamonds, as well as a continued quest for quality among collectors seeking the very best the world has to offer.”

By comparison, Sotheby’s 2014 jewellery record was underpinned by a series of extraordinary stones, including the Zoe Blue diamond (now known as the Mellon Blue), which sold for $32.6 million, the Graff Vivid Yellow diamond at $16.3 million, and the Hutton-Mdivani jadeite necklace, which fetched $27.4 million.

Together, the 2025 results underline renewed momentum across both the high-end watch and jewellery markets, reinforcing Sotheby’s position at the forefront of global luxury auctions.

Source: DCLA

3.63-ct “Salt and Pepper” Pink Fails to Sell

The highlight of Sotheby’s Fine Jewelry sale in New York – a rare 3.63-carat fancy vivid purple-pink diamond failed to find a buyer.

The unmounted, cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut stone carried a pre-auction estimate of $1m to $1.5m , reflecting both its unusual color and its potential appeal to collectors.

But bidding at the auction, on 11 December, stalled below the consignor’s undisclosed reserve, leaving the stone unsold.

Market observers suggested that bidders were likely deterred by the diamond’s noticeable “salt and pepper” inclusions, which significantly affected its clarity.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) graded the stone as I2 clarity, raising concerns about transparency and overall visual appeal.

Observers say buyers in today’s cautious high-end market are increasingly unwilling to compromise on clarity, particularly for unmounted stones, where inclusions are more apparent, even when the color is considered rare and desirable.

Source: DCLA

Childhood Friends Unearth $55,000 Natural Diamond in India

On a crisp winter morning in Panna, a historic diamond-mining region in central India, two childhood friends made a discovery they believe will transform their lives.

Satish Khatik and Sajid Mohammed were working a small plot of land they had leased only weeks earlier when they came across a large, shimmering stone. Their instincts proved right. An official evaluation confirmed the find as a 15.34-carat gem-quality natural diamond, one of the finest varieties of diamond found in nature.

According to Anupam Singh, Panna’s authorised diamond evaluator, the stone is valued at approximately five to six million rupees (USD $55,000–$66,000) and will be sold at an upcoming government auction.
“Final prices depend on the US dollar exchange rate and benchmarks set by the Rapaport Report,” Singh said, referencing the globally recognised diamond pricing authority.

India’s government conducts quarterly diamond auctions in Panna, attracting buyers from across the country and overseas.

For the two young men, the discovery is deeply personal.
“We can finally get our sisters married,” they said, describing the moment as life-changing.

Mr Khatik, 24, runs a small meat shop, while Mr Mohammed, 23, sells fruit. Both come from modest backgrounds and are the youngest sons in their families. Like many residents of Panna, their families have searched for diamonds for generations.

Located in Madhya Pradesh, Panna is one of India’s least developed districts, facing ongoing challenges such as poverty, water shortages and unemployment. Yet it remains home to the country’s most significant diamond reserves, drawing hopeful locals to its fields year after year.

While most diamond mines are government-operated, small plots are leased annually to residents at nominal fees. With limited employment opportunities, many locals pin their hopes on a rare discovery—though most searches yield little more than dust and quartz.

Mr Mohammed recalls that his father and grandfather spent decades digging without success. His father, Nafees, says this find feels like long-awaited reward.
“The gods have finally honoured their hard work and patience,” he said.

Driven by rising living costs and the pressure of family responsibilities, the friends leased the plot out of necessity. After long days at work, they spent evenings digging by hand—hauling soil, washing gravel through sieves and painstakingly examining thousands of stones.

Panna’s district mining officer, Ravi Patel, described the discovery as exceptional.
“They leased the plot on 19 November. Finding a gem-quality diamond within weeks is extraordinary luck,” he said.

Although the auction proceeds are still to come, the two friends remain grounded.
“We’re not thinking about buying land or expanding our businesses just yet,” they said. “Our first priority is our families.”

Source: DCLA

Graff Diamond Ring Steals the Show at Freeman’s Important Jewellery Auction

A spectacular Graff diamond ring emerged as the star lot at Freeman’s recent Important Jewellery auction in New York, achieving USD $368,800 and surpassing its upper estimate of USD $350,000. The result made it the top-performing lot of the sale.

The auction, held on 11 December, realised a total of USD $4.5 million, with an impressive 91% sell-through rate, underlining continued demand for high-quality signed and gemstone jewellery.

The headline Graff ring features a 13.11-carat oval brilliant-cut diamond, graded H colour, VS1 clarity, flanked by two shield-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 0.95 carats each. The sale also saw strong results for pieces by Bulgari, Tiffany & Co. and Cartier, reinforcing buyer confidence in established luxury maisons.

Commenting on the outcome, April Matteini, Head of Freeman’s Jewellery Department, noted that the final jewellery auction of 2025 delivered a USD $1 million year-on-year increase, marking another milestone in the auction house’s second year at its Upper East Side gallery.

Other Top Lots from the Sale

• 17.13-carat Diamond Ring
  A ring centred with a round brilliant-cut 17.13-carat diamond, graded N colour, VS2 clarity.
  Final price: USD $178,300
  Estimate: USD $150,000 – $200,000
• 12.32-carat Diamond Ring with Trillion Accents
  Featuring a round 12.32-carat diamond, graded L colour, VS2 clarity, set between two trillion-cut diamonds.
  Final price: USD $171,950
  Estimate: USD $100,000 – $150,000
• 10.02-carat Oval Diamond Ring
  An oval modified brilliant-cut 10.02-carat diamond, graded K colour, SI1 clarity, surrounded by round diamonds, with baguette-cut diamonds lining the shank and band.
  Final price: USD $114,800
  Estimate: USD $80,000 – $120,000
• Tiffany & Co. Paraiba Tourmaline Ring
  Set with an oval 4.36-carat Paraiba-type tourmaline from Mozambique, encircled by a halo of round diamonds totalling 0.61 carats.
  Final price: USD $95,750
  Estimate: USD $50,000 – $80,000

The results once again highlight the market’s appetite for exceptional diamonds, signed jewellery and rare coloured gemstones particularly when quality, provenance and craftsmanship align.

Source: DCLA

Alrosa Upbeat, Despite Tariffs and Lab Growns

Alrosa CEO Pavel Maryinchev gave a remarkably upbeat assessment of the natural diamond market, telling the Times of India (TOI) that the industry is adapting well to US tariffs and that the threat from synthetic diamonds is diminishing.

Maryinchev (pictured) highlighted two major factors behind his optimism: steady global demand for jewelry and a decline in diamond production. “Inventories throughout the diamond pipeline are gradually normalizing, creating favorable conditions for price recovery,” he said.

Alrosa, Russia’s state-owned and sanctioned diamond miner, reported a 24 per cent drop in revenue in the first half of 2025 and has suspended production at several low-margin mines.

But Maryinchev remains confident. “Our expectations are that the high import tariffs will not have a long-lasting impact, and businesses will be able to adapt and minimize the effect,” he said.

He also pointed to a significant decline in wholesale prices for lab-grown diamonds, which fell nearly 40 per cent year-on-year in Q3 2025, reducing the competitive pressure on natural stones.

“Fears that synthetic substitutes might replace natural diamonds are becoming less likely to come true every year,” he told TOI.

He noted that, with no major new deposits discovered and existing mines producing less, supply constraints are increasingly stabilizing the market.

Global rough diamond production is expected to fall to 100 million carats in 2025, a 30-50% decline compared to six to eight years ago.

Maryinchev said the effect of US tariffs on demand was muted because luxury jewelry buyers tend to be less price-sensitive, and retailers can temporarily adjust markups.

“Diamond jewelry manufacturers may need time to adapt, but we expect India’s demand to recover once the first positive sales figures post-tariffs are achieved,” he said.

Source: DCLA

Diamond-Encrusted Timepieces: Haute Horology at Its Most Dazzling

Diamond-set watches from Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Graff represent the pinnacle of high jewellery watchmaking. With dials, cases and bracelets lavishly adorned with hundreds sometimes thousands of diamonds, these exceptional creations are true show-stoppers, blending technical mastery with extraordinary gem-setting artistry.

Both bold and refined, these spectacular ladies’ timepieces come from some of the world’s most prestigious watch and jewellery maisons. Almost entirely cloaked in diamonds, they are designed to command attention while maintaining an unmistakable sense of elegance.

Cartier’s iconic Baignoire watch traces its origins back to 1958, when it was first introduced as the Ovale cintre. Officially renamed in 1973, the modern mini jewellery version features a quartz movement and is set with hundreds of brilliant-cut diamonds, reaffirming its status as a timeless symbol of refined luxury.

Graff’s Tilda’s Bow diamond watch adds a distinctly feminine flourish. Accented by a graceful ribbon-inspired motif on one side, this statement piece features a pavé-set dial and a triple-row diamond bracelet, seamlessly combining softness with striking brilliance.

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s platinum 101 Secrets watch transcends both trends and seasons. Concealing a delicate mother-of-pearl dial, the piece is embellished with more than 1,000 diamonds meticulously set along the bracelet and case sides an extraordinary demonstration of precision and craftsmanship.

Van Cleef & Arpels draws inspiration from the Art Deco “white period” of the 1930s with its À Cheval high jewellery watch. Reflecting the era’s preference for white gold paired with diamonds, the design pays homage to a defining moment in jewellery history, favouring refined monochrome elegance over the coloured gemstones of earlier decades.

Together, these diamond-encrusted watches showcase the seamless union of haute joaillerie and fine watchmaking where time is measured not only in seconds, but in brilliance and craftsmanship.

Paraiba Tiffany Necklace Sets New World Record at Christie’s New York

A spectacular Tiffany & Co. necklace has made auction history, achieving a record-setting USD $4.2 million and establishing a new world auction record for a Paraiba tourmaline. The piece sold for more than seven times its high estimate during Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale on 10 December in New York.

The centrepiece of the necklace is an exceptional 13.54-carat triangular modified brilliant-cut Paraiba tourmaline, accented by an array of round, pear, and square-shaped diamonds. Paraiba tourmalines of this size and saturation remain among the rarest gemstones in the world, and the extraordinary result underscores the continued strength of the coloured-gemstone market.

Christie’s reported an impressive 95% sell-through rate, with the auction realising USD $46.5 million. High-value pieces from renowned maisons such as Harry Winston, Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, and Tiffany & Co. all attracted strong global demand.

Below are the top-performing lots from the sale:

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Top 10 Jewels at the Christie’s Magnificent Jewels Auction

1. Paraiba Tourmaline Tiffany & Co. Necklace
Final price: $4.2 million
Estimate: $300,000 – $600,000
A 13.54-carat Paraiba tourmaline with diamond accents — now a world-record holder.

2. Antique Kashmir Sapphire Earrings (circa 1910)
Final price: $3.1 million
Estimate: $1.5 million – $2 million
Featuring 11.92-carat and 12.61-carat cushion mixed-cut Kashmir sapphires suspended from old-cut diamonds.

3. Art Deco Cartier Ring (Rockefeller Kashmir Sapphire, circa 1925)
Final price: $2.6 million
Estimate: $1.5 million – $2.5 million
Centred on the celebrated 17.66-carat sugarloaf cabochon Kashmir sapphire.

4. D-Colour, VS1, 27.19-Carat Type IIa Diamond Ring
Final price: $1.9 million
Estimate: $1.4 million – $1.8 million
A rare type IIa diamond in classic emerald cut.

5. 16.23-Carat Kashmir Sapphire Ring
Final price: $1.8 million
Estimate: $500,000 – $700,000
A dramatic result for a cushion mixed-cut Kashmir sapphire surrounded by old-cut diamonds.

6. Tiffany & Co. Paraiba Tourmaline Earrings
Final price: $1.3 million
Estimate: $120,000 – $180,000
Two oval modified brilliant-cut Paraiba gems of 3.19 and 3.45 carats — another major Paraiba surprise.

7. Cartier Ring with 23.03-Carat D, VVS2 Step-Cut Diamond
Final price: $1.1 million
Estimate: $800,000 – $1.2 million
Featuring a cut-cornered rectangular step-cut diamond flanked by trapezoid stones.

8. Barbara & Frank Sinatra Diamond Ring
Final price: $990,600
Estimate: $800,000 – $1.2 million
Showcasing a 20.60-carat emerald-cut D, VVS1 diamond between triangular side stones.

9. Multi-Stone Diamond Earrings
Final price: $863,600
Estimate: $500,000 – $700,000
Each earring includes three pear-shaped diamonds, the largest being an 11.36-carat D VS2 and a 9.96-carat E VS1.

10. JAR Ruby and Diamond Earrings
Final price: $787,400
Estimate: $400,000 – $600,000
Designed with cushion, oval, pear, and round rubies surrounded by diamonds.

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What This Means for the Market

The exceptional performance of Paraiba tourmaline and Kashmir sapphire pieces highlights continued buyer appetite for rare, high-quality coloured gemstones, particularly those with strong provenance or iconic branding. Record prices at auction also reaffirm the importance of independent grading and authentication, an area where the DCLA remains Australia’s trusted authority.

Lab-Grown Diamonds Surge in Popularity, Both Globally and in Australia

Lab-grown diamonds are transforming the global jewellery market and Australia is no exception. What began as a value-driven alternative is now a major contributor to sales growth for leading jewellers around the world.

Signet Jewelers parent company of retail chains Kay Jewelers, Zales and Jared recently reported 6% same-store sales growth, largely fuelled by strong demand for fashion and bridal jewellery featuring lab-grown diamonds (LGDs). Today, LGDs represent around 40% of Signet’s bridal diamond sales, proving just how quickly consumer preferences are shifting.

This growth is driven by simple customer logic:
Larger stones. Greater brilliance. Lower cost.
Ethically and environmentally responsible.
Exceptional value at key gifting price points.

Retailers are seeing customers choose bigger, higher-quality stones because LGDs allow them to upgrade without increasing their budget a trend transforming both the bridal and fashion jewellery categories.

The Australian Lab-Grown Diamond Boom

Australia is now one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for certified laboratory-grown diamonds. Engagement ring buyers and fine jewellery lovers alike are turning toward lab-created stones that offer:

Certified quality
Significant savings compared to natural diamonds
A conflict-free, sustainable choice
Access to premium size and sparkle

Demand has risen sharply in the last 18 months as Australians search for better value in a higher-interest-rate economy while still wanting beautiful luxury pieces.

Why Buy Lab-Grown Diamonds from DCLA?

With rapid growth comes the increasing importance of credible certification. This is where the Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia (DCLA) leads the market.

DCLA is Australia’s official CIBJO-accredited diamond laboratory
Every diamond is independently graded in Sydney
Transparent, trusted certification standards no inflated grades or misleading claims

Through the DCLA Diamond Exchange, buyers can purchase certified lab-grown diamonds directly, ensuring:

Authentic grading from Australia’s most trusted authority

Competitive prices without retail mark-ups

Expert support when selecting the perfect stone

Secure local service and delivery

Whether upgrading to a bigger stone or choosing your first diamond, the DCLA Diamond Exchange offers unmatched confidence, value and peace of mind.

The Future Is Bright and Lab-Grown

As global retailers continue to expand their lab-grown diamond offerings and consumers embrace the beauty and value of LGDs, the category is expected to keep gaining market share particularly in the fast-growing fashion jewellery segment.

Here in Australia, buyers are becoming more educated and discerning. They want quality, certification and true value making DCLA-certified lab-grown diamonds the smartest choice.

Discover Australia’s most trusted source for certified lab-grown diamonds:
The DCLA DiamondExchange Where Quality Comes First.