Botswana’s Minister Moagi and De Beers’ CEO Bruce Cleaver in an interview speak of the challenges in renewing their contracts and the impact of lab grown. They debunk some sustainability claims and discuss the importance of empowering the people of Botswana, changes in KP, a flat production forecast, and what role smart mining may play in the future.
Diamond Industry
The economy of the diamond industry untangled. Thorough analysis, granular data, and background on the diamond market. All this put in context with clarity.
What is the Diamond Industry?
In some ways, it is an industry just like any other despite the aura of an industry shrouded in mystery. It needs to satisfy consumer demand, promote the retail category, address technical problems, and secure financing to operate and grow.
It is also a unique one. It faces very certain expectations from consumers and governments alike. The modern diamond business is highly skilled and involves heavy use of technology and innovation. And yet, it is very traditional, relying heavily on a backbone of family structure, and it is highly fragmented compared to other industries.
Why is There a Diamond Industry?
It is human nature to desire to be decorated. Jewelry arose as a way to look better, to make a statement about who you are culturally, to declare your financial status, and to reveal your marital standing. Diamonds have been part of this storytelling for hundreds of years.
Ever since they were first dug along riverbanks in India and Brazil, the yearning for diamonds has grown to the point that a sophisticated value chain be developed to satisfy this demand. Although the iconic ”a diamond is forever” marketing campaign is no longer running, desire for diamonds remain high. Most people, of practically all ages and of nearly all cultures, still covet diamond jewelry. And most buy it too.
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
For a deeper look into this topic, please see below:
US Jewelry Sales Explosion Continues, Surges 50% in November
A jewelry sales explosion is taking place, and American consumers are buying jewelry like never before. These are the November figures, including the radical rise in engagement ring prices.
4
What it Took to Survive in 2020 – A Worklist
Many businesses did not survive this challenging year. There are a lot of lessons here for everyone in the diamond pipeline and the jewelry industry. Here is a summary of the results of analyzing the activities of those businesses that succeeded in 2020 and those that did not.
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.
3
De Beers’ Market Share Falls in 2019, Hides a Surprise
After a year of pains, and in the midst of one of the most complicated years since World War II, De Beers’ market share sank in 2019. Not only De Beers, but ALROSA, Rio Tinto, and Petra all lost market share. The reason is changes in diamond production by smaller firms.
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.
6
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 …
