IDEX Price Report for 1 May: Prices Show Signs of Stabilizing

A diamond held by dop is polished on rotating automatic cast iron lap

Prices showed signs of stabilizing during April, with an even mix of increases and decreases in many sizes, especially fancy cuts. Overall there were more clusters of price rises than we have seen of late.

It’s too early to positively identify a clear upward trend, but the “end of the lab grown boom” is arguably having an impact. Lab grown prices are now so low – in some case just 10 per cent of natural – that many jewelers are opting not to stock them in inventory and are only buying them on consignment.

In addition the G7 sanctions, in place since 1 March, are now starting to bite, and to slowly push up prices.

They have effectively restored the De Beers monopoly, although its rough production is down by almost a quarter so far this year (as is Rio Tinto’s) and rough sales remain sluggish (down 18 per cent on last year). Meanwhile polished exports from India fell by 27 per cent during March to $1.2bn

Highlighted changes

Rounds

1.00-1.24 ct. D-F / VVS2-VS1 +4-5%, F-I / IF-VVS1 -1-7%

2.00-2.99 ct. D-G / VVS2-VS2 +2.5-5%, G-N / IF-VVS1 -2-5%

4.00-4.99 ct. E-I / VS1-2 +1-4%, K-M / VS2-SI1 -1-2%

Fancy Cuts

1.25-1.49 ct. D-I / VVS1-SI1 -1-6.5%

1.50-1.99 ct. D-E / VVS1-VS2 +1-5%, I-J / IF-VS2 -4.5-5.5%

2.00-2.99 ct. D-H / VVS2-VS2 +2.5-3%, H-N / IF-VVS1 -2-5%

Source: DCLA

Diamond Services introduces new lab-grown diamond identification system

Diamond Services, the Hong Kong headquartered developer of technological systems and services for detecting treated diamonds, laboratory grown diamonds (LGDs) and simulants is introducing a new device which widens the range of detectable merchandise to include all rough and polished stones in the lower yellowish to light brown colour ranges.

Like other detection apparatus developed by Diamond Services, the new system, called DND (Diamond Natural Device), scans diamonds at the temperature of liquid nitrogen, which the company has shown provides a higher degree of accuracy than detection devices which examine diamonds at room temperatures.

“To provide as accurate results as possible, we insist that all diamonds being tested to detect the possible presence of synthetically produced goods be examined at temperatures in a liquid nitrogen atmosphere,” explained Joseph Kuzi, Diamond Services’ founder and president. “Since this can only be done reliably and safely in a proper laboratory setting, we have selected not to sell the equipment we develop, but rather to use it exclusively as part of the service we provide the trade.

The new DND system improves that offering, widening the range of goods that can be screened to include all goods at the lower end of the standard colour range.”

Source: DCLA

Diamond Services introduces new lab-grown diamond identification system

Diamond Services, the Hong Kong headquartered developer of technological systems and services for detecting treated diamonds, laboratory grown diamonds (LGDs) and simulants is introducing a new device which widens the range of detectable merchandise to include all rough and polished stones in the lower yellowish to light brown colour ranges.

Like other detection apparatus developed by Diamond Services, the new system, called DND (Diamond Natural Device), scans diamonds at the temperature of liquid nitrogen, which the company has shown provides a higher degree of accuracy than detection devices which examine diamonds at room temperatures.

“To provide as accurate results as possible, we insist that all diamonds being tested to detect the possible presence of synthetically produced goods be examined at temperatures in a liquid nitrogen atmosphere,” explained Joseph Kuzi, Diamond Services’ founder and president. “Since this can only be done reliably and safely in a proper laboratory setting, we have selected not to sell the equipment we develop, but rather to use it exclusively as part of the service we provide the trade.

The new DND system improves that offering, widening the range of goods that can be screened to include all goods at the lower end of the standard colour range.”

Source: DCLA