DiamondBuzz
Botswana could buy De Beers outright, looks towards greater control of diamond sector
The government of Botswana could buy an additional stake in De Beers, or even acquire the business outright, according to a Financial Times (FT) report. Full control over De Beers would allow Botswana to capture a larger share of value across the diamond supply chain — from production to marketing and distribution.
The southern African nation’s government appointed the French investment bank as co-adviser, alongside Swiss boutique lender CBH Compagnie Bancaire Helvétique, regarding “the potential acquisition of all or part of the De Beers Group”. The news follows last week’s announcement that Botswana had secured a $12bn investment commitment from Qatar-based Al Mansour Holdings to help stabilize its faltering economy.
In July, Botswana’s mining minister Bogolo Kenewendo reaffirmed President Duma Boko’s determination to expand the country’s stake in De Beers, signaling a clear policy direction towards greater national control of the diamond sector.
Anglo American, which is looking to sell its stake in De Beers, received approximately nine indications of interest in first-round bids this month, the Financial Times reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the process.
The Botswanan government holds a significant position in the potential transaction as it has the right to match any third-party offer for the diamond company.This development comes as Anglo American continues its divestiture process for its De Beers ownership stake.
DiamondBuzz
CIBJO Backs ‘synthetic’ As Sole Label For Man-Made Diamonds
CIBJO’s Laboratory-Grown Diamond Committee, Told Delegates That “Synthetic” Remains The Primary Term Recognized By Consumers, Despite A Formal Push From The Sector’s Steering Committee To Defer The Ruling and Authorize “Laboratory-Grown.”
The World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) has recommended “synthetic” as the only acceptable descriptor for non-mined diamonds, rejecting calls from trade leaders to permit the term “laboratory-grown,” the organization said on Monday.
The decision, finalized at the closing session of the 2026 CIBJO Congress, deepens a global divide over gemstone terminology at a time when manufactured stones are rapidly eroding the market share and pricing power of mined gems.
CIBJO’s Laboratory-Grown Diamond Committee, told delegates that “synthetic” remains the primary term recognized by consumers, despite a formal push from the sector’s steering committee to defer the ruling and authorize “laboratory-grown.”
CIBJO’s move aligns with a growing regulatory push in several major markets. France restricted terminology to “synthetic” in 2024, Russia followed suit in June, and the London Diamond Bourse endorsed the single descriptor on Sunday. In May, the African Diamond Producers Association also tightened descriptor rules to shield the natural diamond trade.
In contrast, regulators and retailers in the United States and India have favored consumer-friendly phrases such as “lab-grown” or “laboratory-grown.” The commercial stakes are particularly high in the U.S., where synthetic stones now account for more than half of all engagement ring sales by volume, applying severe downward price pressure on natural rough and polished stones.
CIBJO, which began moving to strike “lab-grown” from its influential Diamond Blue Book standards last year, warned that the diverging legal frameworks are leaving the global market increasingly fragmented.
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