The diamond trade’s trusted bulletin for pricing, trends and news
Weekly since 1980
May 15, 2025
News:
Steady US retail demand lifts sentiment. Mother’s Day season okay. Indian suppliers with US offices benefiting. Good trading in 5 ct. and larger diamonds at GemGenève. Reports of De Beers special deals stoke tensions in rough market. De Beers to close Lightbox. Lucara flags viability concerns. Indian rough demand declines amid summer slowdown in production and high rough inventory. Tariffs have cut off large proportion of polished exports, forcing dealers to find alternative markets. Indian retail slower than before. Geneva auctions: Sotheby’s sells cushion modified brilliant, 10.03 ct., fancy-vivid-blue, VS2 diamond for $21.5M ($2.1M/ct.); Christie’s garners $72M at white-glove sale.
Fancies:
Large fancy shapes doing better than rounds. Prices stable or increasing for 2 ct. and larger diamonds. High-quality stones hard to find. Solid US interest in elongated Ovals of good shape and quality in D-I, VS-SI categories. Elongated Emeralds, Radiants and Pears in 2.50 to 2.99 ct. sizes trading at significant premiums. Oval and Pear, 0.30 to 0.49 ct., F-I, VS diamonds in demand. Ovals 5% to 10% more expensive than Pears in US market. Supply shortages supporting prices for Marquises. Square Cushions slow. Very well-cut fancy shapes difficult to find and commanding premiums. Off-make, poorly cut fancies illiquid.
Country Comments
United States
Market solid, though not as hot as April. Tariffs have boosted demand for diamonds located in US. Retailers showing appetite for memo goods and making decent sales to consumers. Nice 3 ct. and larger fancies strong, with some demand for princess shapes. Stable demand for round, F-I, VS-SI diamonds. Industry cautiously optimistic for Las Vegas shows.
Belgium
Trading stable, with few goods available. Dealers waiting for outcome of US’s 90-day tariff pause and optimistic that situation will settle. Some companies shipping to US despite customs duties. D-F diamonds in demand. Ovals steady.
Israel
Tariffs have hit the large number of small Israeli dealers that rely on US sales. Mood pessimistic as companies struggle to find solution. Traders not buying many goods in India due to difficulty selling.
India
Sluggish overseas demand impacting local trade. Indian retail market slower than before. Polished production steady as manufacturers work through rough they imported in March and April. Customers reluctant to buy for inventory. India-Pakistan ceasefire eases nerves.
Hong Kong
Sales slow. Cushion cuts improving at consumer level. Some mainland demand for round, 0.30 ct., 0.5 ct. and 1 ct. diamonds and for 5 ct. and larger high-quality diamonds. US lowers tariffs on Chinese goods to 30% from 145%. Market expecting low attendance from Far East companies at Las Vegas.
Market Comment
The diamond trade’s trusted bulletin for pricing, trends and news
Weekly since 1980
May 15, 2025
News:
Steady US retail demand lifts sentiment. Mother’s Day season okay. Indian suppliers with US offices benefiting. Good trading in 5 ct. and larger diamonds at GemGenève. Reports of De Beers special deals stoke tensions in rough market. De Beers to close Lightbox. Lucara flags viability concerns. Indian rough demand declines amid summer slowdown in production and high rough inventory. Tariffs have cut off large proportion of polished exports, forcing dealers to find alternative markets. Indian retail slower than before. Geneva auctions: Sotheby’s sells cushion modified brilliant, 10.03 ct., fancy-vivid-blue, VS2 diamond for $21.5M ($2.1M/ct.); Christie’s garners $72M at white-glove sale.
Fancies:
Large fancy shapes doing better than rounds. Prices stable or increasing for 2 ct. and larger diamonds. High-quality stones hard to find. Solid US interest in elongated Ovals of good shape and quality in D-I, VS-SI categories. Elongated Emeralds, Radiants and Pears in 2.50 to 2.99 ct. sizes trading at significant premiums. Oval and Pear, 0.30 to 0.49 ct., F-I, VS diamonds in demand. Ovals 5% to 10% more expensive than Pears in US market. Supply shortages supporting prices for Marquises. Square Cushions slow. Very well-cut fancy shapes difficult to find and commanding premiums. Off-make, poorly cut fancies illiquid.
Country Comments
Market solid, though not as hot as April. Tariffs have boosted demand for diamonds located in US. Retailers showing appetite for memo goods and making decent sales to consumers. Nice 3 ct. and larger fancies strong, with some demand for princess shapes. Stable demand for round, F-I, VS-SI diamonds. Industry cautiously optimistic for Las Vegas shows.
Trading stable, with few goods available. Dealers waiting for outcome of US’s 90-day tariff pause and optimistic that situation will settle. Some companies shipping to US despite customs duties. D-F diamonds in demand. Ovals steady.
Tariffs have hit the large number of small Israeli dealers that rely on US sales. Mood pessimistic as companies struggle to find solution. Traders not buying many goods in India due to difficulty selling.
Sluggish overseas demand impacting local trade. Indian retail market slower than before. Polished production steady as manufacturers work through rough they imported in March and April. Customers reluctant to buy for inventory. India-Pakistan ceasefire eases nerves.
Sales slow. Cushion cuts improving at consumer level. Some mainland demand for round, 0.30 ct., 0.5 ct. and 1 ct. diamonds and for 5 ct. and larger high-quality diamonds. US lowers tariffs on Chinese goods to 30% from 145%. Market expecting low attendance from Far East companies at Las Vegas.
Previous Market Comments
Market Comment: June 12, 2025
Market Comment: June 5, 2025
Market Comment: May 29, 2025
Market Comment: May 22, 2025
Market Comment: May 15, 2025
Stay Up-to-Date with Rapaport Industry News and Analysis
Sign up for Rapaport Newsletters
Get the trade’s most trusted news, analysis and data delivered to your inbox daily.
Previous Market Comments
Market Comment: June 12, 2025
Market Comment: June 5, 2025
Market Comment: May 29, 2025
Market Comment: May 22, 2025
Market Comment: May 15, 2025
Market Comment: May 8, 2025