New Diamond Verification Device Introduced Natural Vs. Lab Grown Diamonds

A new device, the DiamondProof, can rapidly and reliably distinguish natural diamonds from laboratory-grown diamonds and other diamond simulants.

One of the most common misconceptions in the ongoing debate between natural and non-natural diamonds is that it’s impossible to tell the difference between the two. Research shows that almost half of consumers are unaware that laboratory-grown diamonds (LGDs) can be detected from their natural counterparts. For consumers who are investing in diamonds and diamond jewelry, this means there is perhaps a lack of assurance that they are getting what they think they are paying for. This spring, with the introduction of a new verification device, the DiamondProof, to retail stores for the first time, consumers will be able to make informed purchasing decisions and distinguish natural diamonds from non-natural diamonds, like LGDs and other diamond simulants, with a zero percent ‘false positive rate’.

Developed by the De Beers Group, the DiamondProof technology can detect the distinct chemical compositions of natural diamonds, allowing for precise and rapid identification. Early adopters of the DiamondProof include some of the largest jewelry retailers in the U.S., and the device will also be available in several independent retail outlets to ensure that any diamond consumer can try out the technology and gain assurance on their jewelry, or diamonds they are planning to purchase. The first DiamondProof prototype instrument was unveiled last June at the JCK show in Las Vegas, the premier jewelry expo for retail professionals. Many quickly jumped on board and ordered the device for their stores, noting the ability to rapidly and easily screen both loose diamonds as well as stones set in jewelry. “Natural diamonds and lab-grown diamonds are two fundamentally different products. Natural diamonds are rare, one-of-a-kind miracles of nature that come to us from the earth through heat, pressure, and time.” notes CEO of De Beers Brands Sandrine Conseiller. “This incredible journey is what makes them the ultimate marker of life’s most profound emotional moments. Consumers should be able to have confidence in such a meaningful purchase, and DiamondProof allows retailers to offer them greater peace of mind. We are in a new era of transparency at retail, and customers deserve to know what they are buying.”

“By rapidly and reliably identifying whether a diamond is natural, DiamondProof is instrumental in enhancing consumer confidence in natural diamond purchases. Consumers deserve clarity and having DiamondProof available in retail settings helps them make informed decisions while appreciating the unique value and story behind each natural diamond. With decades of leadership in synthetic-detection technology, we are committed to providing the level of transparency that consumers expect,” stated Sarandos Gouvelis, SVP, of Pricing, Product and Technology Development at De Beers Group. For anyone looking to evaluate and verify their diamond jewelry or looking for assurance in new diamond purchases, a major retailer near you will soon have a DiamondProof available.

Source: DCLA

Sierra Leone’s First Lady Joins Diamond Protest

The first lady of Sierra Leone has joined protests against owners of the Koidu diamond mine, supporting strike action and demanding pay rises and improved working conditions.

Fatima Maada Bio, wife of president Julius Maada Bio, publicly highlighted the demands of workers and posted a message on her official X (formerly Twitter) account.

“As a proud daughter of the soil, I joined my brothers and sisters working at the Koidu Limited Mining Company in Kono Town to peacefully protest,” she wrote.

“Our collective action aimed to urge Koidu Limited to enhance working conditions and provide better services for all employees.”

She said among the key demands were recognition of the union, living allowances, a 30 per cent salary increment, overtime compensation, the provision of incentives, access to safe drinking water, and freedom of financial choice.

“This protest is a call to action for the company to improve the working conditions and provide better services. We believe that these demands are reasonable and essential for maintaining the well-being and dignity of workers.”

Workers at the mine have long complained about low wages, poor working conditions, and alleged racism, and protests have, in the past, turned violent.

Koidu, a subsidiary of the Octea Diamond Group, was the first to begin commercial diamond operations after the country’s 11-year civil war in 2003.

In a statement on what it described as the “illegal strike action” last week, Koidu Limited said: “Our absolute priority remains the safety and wellbeing of our employees and the community. We maintain our position of zero tolerance to any violence, intimidation or incitement thereof. The government of Sierra Leone has offered the full support of its security forces.”

The company said it wanted to engage in direct negotiations as soon as possible to address all of these concerns, but could only do so if the industrial action is called off immediately.

“Failure to work within the laws of Sierra Leone, as well as the continuing of incitement of actions to obstruct workers from returning to work (particularly violence), is likely to result in the withdrawal of all staff from the mine on the grounds of safety.

“This will result in the ceasing of all operations; an existential threat to the mine itself.”

Source: DCLA

PS: Sierra Leone: The Original Blood Diamonds

Sierra Leone, a West African nation blessed with abundant natural resources, is synonymous with the term “blood diamonds”—a phrase that evokes images of conflict, human suffering, and illicit trade. These diamonds, also known as conflict diamonds, played a devastating role in the country’s brutal civil war from 1991 to 2002, financing rebel groups and fueling atrocities. Understanding Sierra Leone’s blood diamond history is essential to appreciating the industry’s evolution and the ongoing efforts to prevent such tragedies from recurring.

The Rise of Blood Diamonds

Sierra Leone’s diamond wealth has long attracted fortune seekers and corporations, but it also became a curse. Diamonds were first discovered in the country in the 1930s, and by the 1950s, Sierra Leone had established itself as a significant diamond producer. However, much of the mining was conducted informally, leading to smuggling and corruption.

The real tragedy began in 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), a rebel group, launched a war against the government. The RUF quickly realized that controlling diamond mines meant securing a near-endless source of funding for weapons and operations. The group forced civilians, including children, into grueling labor in the mines, extracting diamonds that were then smuggled through neighboring countries and sold on international markets. These diamonds were used to purchase arms, prolonging the conflict and leading to widespread atrocities, including mutilations, mass killings, and child soldier recruitment.

International Response and the Kimberley Process

By the late 1990s, reports detailing the horrors of Sierra Leone’s blood diamonds gained global attention. The international community, led by the United Nations, took action to curb the trade of conflict diamonds. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was introduced in 2003 to prevent blood diamonds from entering the legitimate market. The initiative requires diamond-producing nations to certify that their exports are conflict-free, aiming to eliminate the link between diamonds and violence.

While the Kimberley Process has reduced the trade of conflict diamonds, criticisms remain regarding its effectiveness. Loopholes, weak enforcement, and the continued smuggling of diamonds in war-torn regions highlight the need for ongoing reforms.

The Present and Future of Sierra Leone’s Diamond Industry

Since the end of the civil war in 2002, Sierra Leone has made significant strides in stabilizing its diamond sector. The government has implemented stricter regulations, and international oversight has increased. Today, diamonds remain a crucial part of Sierra Leone’s economy, providing jobs and revenue. However, challenges such as illegal mining, corruption, and poor working conditions persist.

Ethical sourcing initiatives, including Fair Trade diamonds and blockchain technology for traceability, are helping to ensure that diamonds from Sierra Leone and other regions are mined responsibly. Companies and consumers are increasingly demanding conflict-free diamonds, putting pressure on the industry to maintain transparency and ethical practices.

Sierra Leone’s tragic history with blood diamonds serves as a stark reminder of the potential dark side of the diamond trade. While progress has been made, the industry must remain vigilant to prevent history from repeating itself. For consumers, choosing diamonds certified as conflict-free and supporting ethical mining initiatives can contribute to a future where diamonds symbolize love and commitment, rather than conflict and suffering.

The legacy of blood diamonds in Sierra Leone is a painful one, but it also highlights the resilience of its people and the ongoing global efforts to ensure that diamonds never again finance war and human suffering.

Job Losses at Tiffany Subsidiary in Antwerp

A subsidiary of Tiffany & Co plans to lay off 26 of its 42 staff in Antwerp amid the ongoing slump in demand.

Laurelton Diamonds, a De Beers sightholder, was established in 2002 to procure rough diamonds, and to cut, polish and supply polished stones to its own jewelry manufacturers. It has operations in Belgium, Vietnam, Canada, Botswana, South Africa and beyond.

The company, wholly owned by Tiffany, blames the possible job losses on weak demand from China and the US, together with competition from lab growns.

“For the workforce the news came as a bolt out of the blue,’ said Yves Toutenel of the Christian ACV union ((Algemeen Christelijk Vakverbond), according to VRT, the Flemish public broadcaster.

“In 2018, the company closed its cutting plant in Antwerp. At that time, 20 staff were laid off. Laurelton now intends to make 18 blue-collar staff and eight white-collar workers redundant by the autumn.”

He said he feared Laurelton was making redundancies too quickly and said there were early signs that the diamond industry could be recovering.

Source: DCLA

High-Value Recoveries Drive up Gem Revenue

Gem Diamonds saw revenue and profits increase in FY2024, as high-value recoveries more than made up for persistent downward pressure of the diamond market.

In its Full Year 2024 Results published today (13 March), the UK-based miner reported a 10 per cent increase in revenue to $154.2m, largely driven by the sale of 13 +100-cts diamonds from its Letseng mine, in Lesotho.

Underlying EBITDA almost doubled to $29.7m and profit for the year increase from $1.6m to $8.1m.

Exceptional sales included an 11 carat pink diamond that was sold for $45,537 per carat, a 63 carat Type IIa white diamond that was sold for $41,007 per carat (the highest per carat price of the year) and a 113 carat Type IIa white diamond that was sold for $39,345 per carat.

The number of carats recovered during the year fell 4 per cent to 105,012.

Clifford Elphick, CEO at Gem, said: “2024 was another challenging year for the diamond market with decreasing rough and polished diamond prices. Our relentless focus on factors within our control – cost containment, operational efficiencies and appropriate capital allocation, has yielded pleasing results.”

Looking to the future, the company expects the market to remain under pressure during the year, with signs of a modest recovery in diamond prices.

Source: DCLA

52% of Engagement Rings are Now Lab Grown

More than half of all couples are now buying a lab grown diamond engagement ring, according to research carried out in January for The Knot wedding website.

A survey of almost 17,000 couples who married in 2024 found that 52 per cent opted for lab grown – the first time the balance has tipped from natural.

The figure for 2023 was 46 per cent and in 2019 it was just 12 per cent.

Couples are now spending less and getting bigger stones, according to the newly-published The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study.

“The rise in popularity of lab-grown stones is fueling the decrease in the average cost of an engagement ring,” it says.

“2024 served as a continuation of that trend with proposers spending $5,200 on average for their ring. This is a decline from $5,500 in 2023, and $5,800 in 2022.

“Back in 2021, it was $6,000. Lab-grown stones typically begin at a lower price point than mined stones which is reflected in the average cost.

“A proposer purchasing a lab-grown engagement ring could expect to spend $4,900 versus spending $7,600, on average, for a mined diamond engagement ring.”

The average carat weight of an engagement ring bought last year was 1.7 carats, says the study, up from 1.5 carats in 2021.

Source: DCLA

Cleaner Accused of Stealing $1.3m Jewels from Princess

A cleaner has appeared in court in London, charged with stealing diamonds, watches and jewelry worth $1.3m (£1m) from her employer, Princess Firyal of Jordan.

Maria Taborda Henao, aged 69, from Colombia, is accused of stealing the items between February and November 2020 and of selling them through an auction house.

The case against her at Westminster Magistrates’ Court (pictured) was adjourned on Monday (10 March) because there wasn’t a Spanish interpreter in court.

Princess Firyal, aged 80, is a noted humanitarian and philanthropist, and has served as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador since 1992. She is the former wife of Prince Muhammad bin Talal, the second son of the late King Talal of Jordan.

The thefts of diamond rings, bracelets, watches and earrings allegedly took place at the princess’s $7.5m home in the exclusive Belgravia area of London. The case will resume next month.

Source: DCLA

World’s Biggest Pearl on Display in Toronto

The world’s largest pearl – weighing 27.65kg and valued at $98m is currently being displayed at a secret venue in Canada.

The Giga Pearl belongs to Toronto-based artist Abraham Reyes and is being shown as part of his Beneath The Surface exhibition of pearls, diamonds, and other precious stones.

The pearl was created 1,000 years ago by a giant clam, the largest of all bivalve molluscs (soft-bodied sea creatures with a hinged shell).

It has been certified by the GIA as the world’s largest natural blister pearl and holds the Guinness World Record.

Reyes inherited the pearl in 2019 from a great aunt after his grandfather bought it from a fisherman in the Philippines.

“I wanted to educate people about it,” Reyes said. “A lot of people don’t know that these giant clams exist because they’re endemic in the South Pacific. So this is something fascinating for people here in Toronto.”

The location of the Giga Pearl is being kept private for security reasons. 

Source: DCLA