News: Round prices stabilizing but discounts still deep. Fancy-shape prices mixed. Rough market for smaller sizes heating up as India import freeze has caused shortages. Sightholders expect lower prices at next week’s sight, since De Beers rough is expensive. Celebrities show off natural diamonds at Golden Globes. Solid trading at India’s IIJS Signature show amid positive outlook for rest of wedding season. Titan 3Q jewelry sales +23% as consumers bought gold despite high prices; diamond jewelry less strong. GIA launches same-day verification to combat rise in fraud. Debswana board approves $1B investment in Jwaneng underground expansion. Bruce Cleaver steps down as De Beers cochair.
Fancies: Fancy market slowing. Weak demand for Hearts and Cushions. Longer Ovals, Pears, Radiants and Cushions bringing higher prices than shorter stones. Elongated fancy shapes moving well. Goods with medium and short ratios harder to sell. Marquise prices holding up following drop in availability. 0.30 ct. seeing good sales. Orders down for 0.70 to 1.20 ct. diamonds. Well-cut stones in short supply. Excellent shapes commanding premiums. Retailers offering broader product ranges as consumers seek alternative cuts. Oversizes trading at higher prices than usual. Off-make, poorly cut fancies illiquid.
United States:
Market stable. Dealers reflect on mixed holiday season, which started strongly but dipped for some sellers in December. Large companies succeeded in maintaining momentum. Retailers and dealers assessing 1Q inventory needs and preparing for Valentine’s Day. VS goods moving better than SIs.
Belgium:
Traders slowly returning from vacation and assessing market situation. Recent festive period was mediocre, with US and European markets showing mixed results. Industry focused on Jan. 15 De Beers sight and watching for impact on rough prices.
Israel:
US demand stabilized over holiday season. Rounds doing okay, with melee firm. Prices of top-make fancy shapes steady; inventories of medium makes increasing and prices softening. All eyes on De Beers sight.
India:
Domestic market strong as Indian economy has outperformed China’s. Trading stable but export demand weak, with shortages of better-quality goods supporting market. Steady orders for round, 0.30 to 0.90 ct., D-I, VVS-SI, RapSpec A3+ diamonds. Buyers selective. Polished production below capacity following end of two-month freeze on rough imports. Far East recovering slowly, with some Chinese interest in dossiers. Uncertainty about rough market ahead of De Beers sight.
Hong Kong:
Festive season supporting wholesale market, with more activity in recent weeks due to Christmas and New Year holidays. Focus shifting to Chinese New Year. Good demand for round, 0.70 to 1.50 ct., D-J, VS-SI1, 3X diamonds as nice SI2s are hard to find. Slow economy dampening interest in 2 ct. and larger stones.
Market Comment
News: Round prices stabilizing but discounts still deep. Fancy-shape prices mixed. Rough market for smaller sizes heating up as India import freeze has caused shortages. Sightholders expect lower prices at next week’s sight, since De Beers rough is expensive. Celebrities show off natural diamonds at Golden Globes. Solid trading at India’s IIJS Signature show amid positive outlook for rest of wedding season. Titan 3Q jewelry sales +23% as consumers bought gold despite high prices; diamond jewelry less strong. GIA launches same-day verification to combat rise in fraud. Debswana board approves $1B investment in Jwaneng underground expansion. Bruce Cleaver steps down as De Beers cochair.
Fancies: Fancy market slowing. Weak demand for Hearts and Cushions. Longer Ovals, Pears, Radiants and Cushions bringing higher prices than shorter stones. Elongated fancy shapes moving well. Goods with medium and short ratios harder to sell. Marquise prices holding up following drop in availability. 0.30 ct. seeing good sales. Orders down for 0.70 to 1.20 ct. diamonds. Well-cut stones in short supply. Excellent shapes commanding premiums. Retailers offering broader product ranges as consumers seek alternative cuts. Oversizes trading at higher prices than usual. Off-make, poorly cut fancies illiquid.
Market stable. Dealers reflect on mixed holiday season, which started strongly but dipped for some sellers in December. Large companies succeeded in maintaining momentum. Retailers and dealers assessing 1Q inventory needs and preparing for Valentine’s Day. VS goods moving better than SIs.
Traders slowly returning from vacation and assessing market situation. Recent festive period was mediocre, with US and European markets showing mixed results. Industry focused on Jan. 15 De Beers sight and watching for impact on rough prices.
US demand stabilized over holiday season. Rounds doing okay, with melee firm. Prices of top-make fancy shapes steady; inventories of medium makes increasing and prices softening. All eyes on De Beers sight.
Domestic market strong as Indian economy has outperformed China’s. Trading stable but export demand weak, with shortages of better-quality goods supporting market. Steady orders for round, 0.30 to 0.90 ct., D-I, VVS-SI, RapSpec A3+ diamonds. Buyers selective. Polished production below capacity following end of two-month freeze on rough imports. Far East recovering slowly, with some Chinese interest in dossiers. Uncertainty about rough market ahead of De Beers sight.
Festive season supporting wholesale market, with more activity in recent weeks due to Christmas and New Year holidays. Focus shifting to Chinese New Year. Good demand for round, 0.70 to 1.50 ct., D-J, VS-SI1, 3X diamonds as nice SI2s are hard to find. Slow economy dampening interest in 2 ct. and larger stones.
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