RAPAPORT... The US, UK, Canada and Japan have placed sanctions on the import of Russian gold in an effort to eliminate revenue used to fund President Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine.The four countries made the decision to ban Russia's biggest non-energy export at the G7 summit in Germany on Sunday, the UK government said. The remaining G7 participants - France, Italy and Germany - will likely foll...Read More
RAPAPORT... The Natural Diamond Council (NDC) is facing a massive budget cut in 2023 unless the industry steps in to compensate for the loss of Alrosa's financial contribution, CEO David Kellie told Rapaport News. "We've probably been impacted more than anybody [by sanctions against Russian diamonds] in as much as Alrosa was almost half of our funding," Kellie said in an interview on Thursday. "I...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Edward Asscher, president of the World Diamond Council (WDC), said there was "strong support" for reforms at the Kimberley Process's intersessional meeting, despite its failure to address the redefinition of conflict diamonds."This year, throughout our engagements with many government participants here in Kasane (Botswana), there seems to be strong support for further reforms,...Read More
(IDEX Online) - A Ukrainian diplomat is urging consumers not to buy Russian diamonds, because they fund the war in her country.Liubov Abravitova, who serves as her country's ambassador to South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique, made the comments as members the Kimberley Processes failed to reach any agreement over calls to broaden its definition of conflict diamonds."When you see Bucha, Irpin,...Read More
(IDEX Online) - US president Joe Biden yesterday announced plans by G7 - the world's seven richest nations - to impose sanctions on Russian gold.Russia supplies around a tenth of the world's gold and has reserves valued at $140bn, according to estimates by the World Gold Council.The G7 nations - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and the UK - resolved to outlaw imports of newl...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Kimberley Process (KP) must address its narrow definition of conflict diamonds, Edward Asscher, president of the World Diamond Council (WDC) told delegates at a meeting of the global watchdog in Botswana last week.He warned that industry solutions to responsible sourcing could end up eclipsing KP's certification scheme - but could also marginalize smaller players without the r...Read More
RAPAPORT... An investment company that holds nearly a third of Firestone Diamonds' stock has made an offer to purchase all remaining shares in the company.PRRF II Investment Holdings owns 239.9 million shares in the miner, which operates the Liqhobong deposit in Lesotho, Firestone said last week. The investment company's subsidiary, Pacific Road Australia Trust, controls an additional 4.3%. PRRF w...Read More
(IDEX Online) - A jeweler had his uninsured suitcase of diamonds and jewelry, valued at over $1m, stolen as he packed up at the end of a gem show in Houston, Texas, USA."It takes so much to collect... and to see everything vanish... It's your entire life savings. It's gone," Iftikhar Sayed, 72, told local news channel Click2Houston.He and his wife had been displaying their goods at the I...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Two suspects have been arrested over the $12m armed heist at Bulgari's flagship store in Paris last November. The men, aged 26 and 37, were detained on Tuesday (21 June), according to French media. Four robbers fled on scooters and three in a grey BMW, after the raid in the capital's prestigious Place Vendome (pictured), which is also home to Chanel, Boucheron...Read More
RAPAPORT... A 25.40-carat diamond ring will take center stage at the upcoming Christie's auction in Paris, where it's set to fetch up to EUR 450,000 ($475,052).The old-cut, I-color, VS1-clarity jewel will lead a selection of important diamond and gemstone pieces that will go under the hammer at the June 23 to July 7 Joaillerie Paris auction. Among those are a cushion-cut, 10.56-carat Kashmir sapph...Read More
RAPAPORT... The status of Russian diamonds was the main point of contention at the recent Kimberley Process (KP) intersessional in Botswana, which closed Friday amid a stalemate over the issue.Ukraine, the European Union (EU), Australia, the UK, Canada, the US and nongovernmental organizations pushed to put Russia on the agenda, Reuters reported last week during the meeting. However, Russia,...Read More
RAPAPORT... The status of Russian diamonds was the main point of contention at the recent Kimberley Process (KP) intersessional in Botswana, which closed Friday amid a stalemate over the issue.Ukraine, the European Union (EU), Australia, the UK, Canada, the US and nongovernmental organizations pushed to put Russia on the agenda, Reuters reported last week during the meeting. However, Russia,...Read More
RAPAPORT... The recent Phillips Jewels and Jadeite auction in Hong Kong achieved $3.4 million, even as several top lots were left unsold.The leading item was a necklace containing 45.02 carats of Burmese pigeon's-blood rubies and diamonds, which fetched $385,258, within its estimate, Phillips said last week. A bracelet set with 21.47-carats of Colombian emeralds and diamonds took the second s...Read More
(IDEX Online) - The Angolan government now has majority stake in Catoca, the world's fourth biggest diamond mine.It transferred part-control from Chinese investors LLI International after a ruling by the attorney general, and it now holds 59 per cent of its shares.The remainder are held by Alrosa, the Russian miner, although it is exempt from US sanctions because it owns under 50 per cent.The...Read More
(IDEX Online) - Gemfields says it sold rough rubies worth $95.6m at its latest online auction, setting a new company record.The London-based ruby and emerald miner described the results as "glittering", despite failing to sell a single lot that accounted for almost a quarter of the total weight of rubies sold.The rubies were all extracted by Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM) which is 75% owned by Gemfie...Read More
News: Optimism for US market as Las Vegas shows demonstrate robust demand despite inflation concerns. China slowdown weighing on 0.30 ct. goods. Trading seasonally quiet. Excess inventory of less desirable goods; prices declining due to low demand. Russian rough entering supply chain and may disrupt market balance. Alrosa reportedly maintaining production plan of 34M to 35M cts. for 2022. De Beer...Read More
RAPAPORT... A Kashmir sapphire led Wednesday's Bonhams Hong Kong Jewels and Jadeite auction, selling for more than $400,000.The ring, featuring the unheated cushion-shaped, 6.99-carat sapphire with a pav?(C)-set diamond surround, fetched HKD 3.3 million ($417,752), within presale estimates, Bonhams said the same day. A modified shield brilliant-cut, 5.09-carat Paraiba tourmaline and diamond r...Read More
RAPAPORT... Lower rough supply due to the Russia situation may be a "blessing" given the pressures on retail spending, Martin Rapaport said in his annual presentation at JCK Las Vegas.In his "State of the Diamond Industry" speech, the chairman of the Rapaport Group discussed the impact of higher inflation and interest rates on the market, as well as how the US government's Covid-19 policies l...Read More
RAPAPORT... Swiss watch exports grew strongly in May as demand strengthened in the US and Europe while orders of high-end timepieces surged.Global shipments rose 14% year on year to CHF 2.04 billion ($2.12 billion) for the month, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry reported Tuesday. Supply to the US market increased 35% to CHF 327.4 ($340.1 million), with exports to Europe gaining 32%....Read More
RAPAPORT... The global luxury industry grew by almost a fifth at the start of the year as European spending recovered at a faster rate than expected, according to Bain & Company."After its worst dip in history, the personal luxury goods market has experienced a V-shaped rebound," the consultancy said Tuesday in its spring update, entitled "Rerouting the Future."Sales increased by 17% to 1...Read More