Pop quiz: Rough diamond prices were reduced at Sight 7 by: 13%, 9% or 5%? If you examine the price list, you’ll see that the price of some goods decreased by as little as 2.5%, whereas others were cut by as much as 20%. One report may have been based on a simple average of the discounts and came close …
Insights Into the Diamond Industry - Page 11 of 13
Our latest insights, expert analysis and thinking on the topics that matter most in the diamond industry.
Has De Beers Unveiled Deep Kimberley Process Mistake? Russia & Dubai on the Rise
The return from the summer break has been anything but smooth. While the focus has been on the Sights, there are other issues, such as long-term trends, that are becoming clearer as we dive deeper into the current crisis. The recent Kimberley Process figures are at odds with De Beers’ diamond production report. Which is more accurate? After initially posting …
How Sightholders Take Care of Business – A Market Report
From retailers in Middle America to jewelry manufacturers in India, from polishers in Israel to rough traders in Antwerp and miners in Africa – the global diamond industry seems tired, pessimistic and gloomy. Everyone in the pipeline is seeing their sales decline and their turnover shrink, with improvement resting on a distant horizon – constantly receding. It seemed that no …
The Diamond Austerity
In July, diamond miners will offer fewer goods, but in August – this saga will be of a greater magnitude. A diamond austerity plan is needed.
Is the Diamond Market Screeching to a Halt?
From top to bottom, the diamond market is changing, and in most places the change is anything but positive. The upcoming Sight, business failures in India and Israel and the languishing retail market all have issues. Not all is bad though, there is some good news as well. Rough Diamond Market: Worry about the Next Sight The upcoming Sight is …
Yikes! Jewelry Losing Market Share (and Consumer Interest)
Since October 2014, sales by specialty jewelers have been declining, while total retail sales in the US have been expanding, leading to a steady, yet constant loss in fine jewelry market share. Clearly, when given a choice, American consumers prefer spending their money on products other than jewelry. However, even in the recent past, this was not always the case. …
Buying and Crying, the Longest Diamond Recession
Sometimes, when talking with Sightholders, they have a strong, even passionate opinion about their Sight supplies, prices and the state of the market. This happens at times of instability. At other times, their views are quite moderate, yielding to the market and everything that is happening in it at the moment. However, during a turbulent period, it is very rare …
The Jewelry Retail Challenge: Think H&M
As we all know, the jewelry retail sector is struggling and facing many challenges: from declining consumer interest to limited marketing, from competing categories to unclear propositions, from confidence-eroding scandals to difficult pricing. Even benchmarking performance and prices is not widely available. And these are just internal issues. The question is no longer if the jewelry retail landscape is challenging, …
10 Things Learned at the Las Vegas Trade Shows
The Las Vegas trade show not only spotlighted where the problems are in the diamond industry, they also showed where positive change activity is taking place, possibly signaling the way for the rest of the industry. The JCK Las Vegas and Couture shows started with a certain degree of promise, and even though they suffered from low foot traffic, they …
Economic Indicators – Just What Are They Indicating?
Economic indicators for the US jewelry market are showing a long term downward trend and price is not the reason for lost consumer demand.