rapaport

Market Comment

October 31, 2024

News: Markets stabilizing at very high discounts as India stops production for 3 to 4 weeks over the Diwali holiday. Local Indian demand for natural diamonds healthy and US market doing well at start of the season. Steady demand for round, pear and oval, 2 to 3 ct., D-I, VS2-SI2 diamonds with no strong inclusions. US wholesalers sending out goods on memo and preparing for last-minute calls. Large retailers have completed orders. India Sep. net rough imports -20% YOY to $771M. De Beers 3Q production -25% YOY to 5.6M cts., with further cuts possible. De Beers to offer country of origin for rough over 1.25 ct. on Tracr. The Rapaport Group wishes all our friends a happy and delightful Diwali.

Fancies: Fancy-shape prices stabilizing, but decline is more moderate than for rounds. US buyers more selective about quality of SIs, rejecting black centers and short ratios. Elongated shapes in demand. Fancies with medium and short ratios harder to sell. Supply shortages supporting prices for Marquises. Square Cushions slow. Very well-cut fancy shapes hard to find and commanding premiums. Oversizes trading at higher prices than usual. Off-make, poorly cut fancies illiquid.

United States: 

47th Street preparing for Nov. calls. Sentiment okay. Stores making consumer sales of 1.50 to 3 ct. memo diamonds. Oversize diamonds moving. Melee stable.

Belgium: 

Market slow as Jewish dealers return from holidays and Indian dealers begin Diwali break. Rough trading sluggish as buyers in India shut for festival. Sentiment low.

Israel: 

Dealers back after Jewish festival period. Suppliers hoping to capitalize on Indian Diwali shutdown as US buyers prepare holiday goods. Customers purchasing only on demand. Supply and sales low, with prices stabilizing.

India: 

Diwali vacation begins. Mumbai sales offices closing for 7 to 10 days. Surat factories to shut for 3 to 4 weeks — a shorter break than last year, as manufacturers have already reduced production. Some scarcity in select goods, with further shortages expected following Diwali. Manufacturers still holding large inventories of less in-demand goods. Christmas sales complete: Manufacturers to focus on post-holiday orders when they reopen.

Hong Kong: 

Business seasonally slow between September show and holiday season. Wholesale trading expected to pick up in November ahead of Christmas and Chinese New Year. Retail improving ahead of Singles’ Day shopping festival (Nov. 11). Chinese stock market volatile.

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