Diamond Prices Firm After Supply Declines

 

Diamond trading was seasonally slow in December as the industry’s focus shifted to retail and as diamantaires took their end-of-year break. Sentiment received a boost from strong holiday e-commerce sales, the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, and the US approval of a $900 billion coronavirus stimulus package.

Polished prices firmed as supply declined due to limitations on diamond manufacturing during India’s lockdowns. The RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI™) for 1-carat diamonds rose 2.3% in December and 5.8% for the full year.

RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI™)
	December	4Q 2020	FY 2020
RAPI 0.30 ct.	0.4%	-4.7%	0.2%
RAPI 0.50 ct.	0.8%	-2.3%	12.1%
RAPI 1 ct.	2.3%	3.8%	5.8%
RAPI 3 ct.	2.5%	7.0%	3.7%

© Copyright 2021, Rapaport USA Inc.

The industry began 2021 with a healthier supply-demand balance than it had at any stage in the past five years.

The volume of 1-carat diamonds on RapNet in the D-H, IF-VS range — the categories the RAPI measures — declined 24% in the second half of 2020. The top 10% of diamonds in that category were selling at an average of 32% below the Rapaport Price List on January 1, 2021, compared to 37% below on July 1, 2020. The lower discount suggests that demand is stronger relative to the available supply.

Manufacturers are raising polished production in anticipation of steady first-quarter orders as jewelers and dealers seek to replace inventory they’ve sold during the holiday period.

Jewelers with solid e-commerce programs had a good season. Many off-mall independents also did well, as consumers felt safer visiting stand-alone stores than crowded malls and were driven to support local community businesses following the Covid-19 lockdowns. Independents without an effective online presence struggled.

US jewelry sales for October 11 to December 24 fell 4.3% year on year, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse. Online jewelry sales grew 45%.

There is some optimism for the year ahead even as Covid-19 continues to disrupt business activity. To ensure growth, the trade must intensify its efforts to engage with consumers via storytelling and improved omni-channel platforms while keeping supply in sync with prevailing levels of demand.

Source: DCLA

Diamond Prices Firm After Supply Declines

 

Diamond trading was seasonally slow in December as the industry’s focus shifted to retail and as diamantaires took their end-of-year break. Sentiment received a boost from strong holiday e-commerce sales, the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, and the US approval of a $900 billion coronavirus stimulus package.

Polished prices firmed as supply declined due to limitations on diamond manufacturing during India’s lockdowns. The RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI™) for 1-carat diamonds rose 2.3% in December and 5.8% for the full year.

RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI™)
	December	4Q 2020	FY 2020
RAPI 0.30 ct.	0.4%	-4.7%	0.2%
RAPI 0.50 ct.	0.8%	-2.3%	12.1%
RAPI 1 ct.	2.3%	3.8%	5.8%
RAPI 3 ct.	2.5%	7.0%	3.7%

© Copyright 2021, Rapaport USA Inc.

The industry began 2021 with a healthier supply-demand balance than it had at any stage in the past five years.

The volume of 1-carat diamonds on RapNet in the D-H, IF-VS range — the categories the RAPI measures — declined 24% in the second half of 2020. The top 10% of diamonds in that category were selling at an average of 32% below the Rapaport Price List on January 1, 2021, compared to 37% below on July 1, 2020. The lower discount suggests that demand is stronger relative to the available supply.

Manufacturers are raising polished production in anticipation of steady first-quarter orders as jewelers and dealers seek to replace inventory they’ve sold during the holiday period.

Jewelers with solid e-commerce programs had a good season. Many off-mall independents also did well, as consumers felt safer visiting stand-alone stores than crowded malls and were driven to support local community businesses following the Covid-19 lockdowns. Independents without an effective online presence struggled.

US jewelry sales for October 11 to December 24 fell 4.3% year on year, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse. Online jewelry sales grew 45%.

There is some optimism for the year ahead even as Covid-19 continues to disrupt business activity. To ensure growth, the trade must intensify its efforts to engage with consumers via storytelling and improved omni-channel platforms while keeping supply in sync with prevailing levels of demand.

Source: DCLA

A laser code could protect your diamond ring and save you thousands

Replacing a diamond ring can be an expensive prospect, but that’s the reality for the majority of Australians who don’t insure their heirlooms.

Diamond engagement rings are a big deal for many Australians, but very few are protected from would-be thieves.

Insuring diamond rings is expensive, which is why 44 per cent of Australians’ diamond rings remain uninsured. Of those that are insured, 70 per cent are inadequately insured.

That is, the rings are insured under a household policy that, in many cases, leaves the diamond vulnerable.

These policies do not cover rings taken out of the home, and most policies do not cover the expense of a diamond ring replacement.

The reason behind the expense is because untraceable diamonds are easily stolen and then on-sold at a higher price, but there is now a solution.

Diamond rings in Australia now contain a laser code that is etched in the diamond.

The code makes the rings a “low risk” theft item because they are easily traceable by police.

Certified Diamond Insurance (CDI) etches the secret antitheft serial number onto the diamonds and makes them traceable.

The insurance comes from a partnership between the Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia and the Woodina Underwiting Agency.

CDI founding partner and head of speciality risks at Woodina, Isaac Garson, said the code was a game-changer.

“We are putting thieves and fraudsters on notice,” he said.

Now the CDI has begun work on a national database to return stolen or lost rings to their rightful owners.

“If they steal a certified diamond ring insured with CDI, it will be much more difficult to sell because the diamond’s unique ‘fingerprint’ is traceable and would be registered on a central database,” Mr Garson said.

This decreases a ring’s value on the black market as it is more difficult to move, but many older rings do not have the code.

“Many older engagement rings do not have this vital ‘fingerprint’ that make diamonds traceable,” Mr Garson said.

Mr Garson said families with expensive diamond heirlooms should get a diamond ring certification in their annual diamond check-up.

“Just like cars need an annual service to make them roadworthy so too do diamond rings,” he said.

Source: News.com.au

A laser code could protect your diamond ring and save you thousands

Replacing a diamond ring can be an expensive prospect, but that’s the reality for the majority of Australians who don’t insure their heirlooms.

Diamond engagement rings are a big deal for many Australians, but very few are protected from would-be thieves.

Insuring diamond rings is expensive, which is why 44 per cent of Australians’ diamond rings remain uninsured. Of those that are insured, 70 per cent are inadequately insured.

That is, the rings are insured under a household policy that, in many cases, leaves the diamond vulnerable.

These policies do not cover rings taken out of the home, and most policies do not cover the expense of a diamond ring replacement.

The reason behind the expense is because untraceable diamonds are easily stolen and then on-sold at a higher price, but there is now a solution.

Diamond rings in Australia now contain a laser code that is etched in the diamond.

The code makes the rings a “low risk” theft item because they are easily traceable by police.

Certified Diamond Insurance (CDI) etches the secret antitheft serial number onto the diamonds and makes them traceable.

The insurance comes from a partnership between the Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia and the Woodina Underwiting Agency.

CDI founding partner and head of speciality risks at Woodina, Isaac Garson, said the code was a game-changer.

“We are putting thieves and fraudsters on notice,” he said.

Now the CDI has begun work on a national database to return stolen or lost rings to their rightful owners.

“If they steal a certified diamond ring insured with CDI, it will be much more difficult to sell because the diamond’s unique ‘fingerprint’ is traceable and would be registered on a central database,” Mr Garson said.

This decreases a ring’s value on the black market as it is more difficult to move, but many older rings do not have the code.

“Many older engagement rings do not have this vital ‘fingerprint’ that make diamonds traceable,” Mr Garson said.

Mr Garson said families with expensive diamond heirlooms should get a diamond ring certification in their annual diamond check-up.

“Just like cars need an annual service to make them roadworthy so too do diamond rings,” he said.

Source: News.com.au