At some point, more lab-grown diamonds will be sold than naturals. Natural diamonds are a finite resource, and over time, their supply will dwindle. Lab-grown diamonds are factory made, and the raw materials for producing them are nearly infinite. Lab-grown diamonds sales will eventually outpace naturals. The question is not if but when this will happen.
Diamond Business
A constant examination of the global diamond business from mining to retail. Using industry data and analytics, it is explained in context with clarity.
What is the Diamond Industry?
The diamond industry is a fascinating sector, with a rich and, at times, controversial history. To satisfy global consumer demand for diamond jewelry, the diamond industry invests in exploration and has developed new ways to extract diamonds from the ground.
It employs sophisticated ways to assess rough diamonds without the need to first cut them open, and has developed state-of-the-art technologies to plan diamond polishing. In addition, the industry has sophisticated ways to grade diamonds, and a complex way for determining a diamond’s value.
The diamond industry also includes design and jewelry manufacturing. Some are ultra-modern, and others very traditional. In all cases, they address consumer demand and tastes.
Are Diamonds Expensive?
Diamonds come in all sizes and clarities, and in many colors. The rarer a diamond, the higher is its value. Some are very pricy, and some are less so. There is a diamond for every budget.
Along the value chain, miners, polishers, jewelry makers and retailers do not have a wider margin than their counterparts in other sectors.
Surprised? Read the following insight posts and reports to learn more about the economics of the diamond industry.
What Are the Components of the Diamond Industry?
The diamond industry includes:
- Exploration
- Mining
- Rough diamond sales
- Diamond polishing
- Polished diamond wholesaling
- Jewelry making
- Retailing
- Consumer demand
The following posts provide insights into how exactly the diamond industry works, the ways miners sell rough diamonds, how diamond polishers tackle changing demand in a lengthy polishing process, and the financial issues that all parts of the diamond industry face.
For a deeper look into this topic, please see below:
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The LGD Price Anomaly: Demand Rises, Prices Decline
There is an anomaly in lab-grown prices. Demand is high but prices are declining, especially for larger goods in demand for the bridal industry. Here are the dynamics, prices, retail details and changes in demand. Plus, what the actual price gap is between natural and LG: a diamond market analytics review.
Are We Heading Towards a Diamond Price Bubble?
Polished diamond prices are on a year-long rally. Now, concerns are rising that they are reaching an apex that may prove to be a diamond price bubble. This is why.
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Five Countries Lead Diamond Supplies to the US
Diamond supply to the US comes from all over the world. As the world’s largest diamond consumer market, the US is the country that imports the most diamonds – more than $400 billion worth of polished diamonds in the last 30 years.
Expect Higher Diamond Prices This Holiday Season
Consumers should expect higher diamond prices as strong demand has been driving them up in recent months. After consumer retail purchases dropped in March and April, US retail activity surged in the summer months. This renewed demand includes jewelry and diamonds and is causing diamond prices to rise.
4
Diamond Production Dropped, Now It Is Nosediving
Global diamond production sank 6.9% in 2019, the deepest plunge in a decade. By value, diamond production dropped 6.2%. There were good reasons for this, and the updated diamond production forecast calls for an even more significant slide in 2020.
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Diamond Business Absorbs Blows
The diamond business keeps suffering from declining prices and a decrease in consumer spend on jewelry due to COVID-19. Persuasive marketing can address underlying issues.
This Is How COVID-19 Impacted Jewelry Sales
COVID-19 hit the world like a wild and destructive storm and the diamond industry was not spared. Following are the figures showing just how COVID-19 impacted sales, and how the tide is perhaps starting to turn.
The Rush for the Holy Grail: Cash Flow
Diamond wholesalers, just as any other business owners in the COVID-19 era, need to jump start their business activity, and those that could did. The result was a mid-single digit drop in wholesale diamond prices in May and an improvement in cash flow. Polished Diamond Prices Tumble Seeking Cash Flow The desire to generate cash flow, accompanied by pressures to …
4
Polished Diamond Prices Edge Down in April
Conventional wisdom holds that trading in the diamond industry should have come to a complete stop in April. This is largely true, but there are some exceptions. Polished diamond trading has continued, though at a much reduced level. Prices naturally declined, down a low single digit. Jewelry stores in China are mostly open, and a good number of stores remained …
