DiamondBuzz
AWDC unveils gumball machine dispensing 5-euro LGDs in Antwerp
A gumball machine dispensing five-euro lab grown diamonds was unveiled on 12 June as part of a two-pronged campaign, highlighting Antwerp’s history as a diamond hub – and the low value of lab growns. Lab growns account for just 0.6 per cent of the diamonds traded in Antwerp, which has been a global hub for almost 580 years.
The cheeky stunt, taking place today and tomorrow at the city’s Stadsfeestzaal shopping mall, is part of the new We Protect a Legacy initiative by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC).
The campaign highlights the core differences between natural and lab growns, which remain unclear to many consumers, leaving room for confusion — and in some cases, deliberate misinformation. the market price of synthetic diamonds has collapsed in recent months, losing up to 95 per cent of their value over the past seven years, while natural diamonds are becoming increasingly scarce
DiamondBuzz
Diamond Slump forces Debswana to diversify into copper, platinum and solar
Diamond-centric mining models is giving way to broader resource portfolios
Debswana Diamond Company, the 50–50 joint venture between the Botswana government and De Beers, is moving to diversify into copper, platinum and renewable energy as the prolonged downturn in natural diamond demand pressures earnings and forces the industry to rethink its growth strategy.
The company’s board has approved plans to invest in a portfolio of non-diamond projects after revenue fell 46% in 2024, the latest available financial year, highlighting the scale of the downturn in the global diamond market.
The move signals a strategic shift toward commodities with stronger long-term demand fundamentals, particularly copper, which is central to global electrification and energy-transition infrastructure.
Debswana’s diversification reflects a broader industry pivot as diamond producers confront weak consumer demand, rising competition from lab-grown stones and elevated inventories across the supply chain.
The shift is also visible among smaller exploration companies. Botswana Diamonds recently rebranded as Botswana Minerals, signalling its own strategic focus on copper exploration rather than diamonds.
Together, these moves underscore a growing consensus across the sector: the era of diamond-centric mining models is giving way to broader resource portfolios anchored in energy-transition metals.
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