DiamondBuzz
De Beers India MD Calls for Better Tech to Distinguish Synthetic and Natural Diamonds
De Beers India managing director Amit Pratihari expressed concerns over the lack of transparency in synthetic diamond sales, emphasizing the importance of clear disclosure to consumers. He highlighted the need for proper certification and reliable grading institutions to distinguish natural diamonds from lab-grown ones, adding that the company’s in-house lab, which used to serve only De Beers brands, is now available to other retailers as well. The natural diamond industry, he noted, is collaborating with the Gems and Jewellery Exports Promotion Council and the government to standardize quality certifications and grading parameters.
While Pratihari does not view the synthetic diamond market as direct competition, he acknowledges the growing popularity of lab-grown diamonds and the need for regulation to ensure consumers are well-informed. India, following the Federation Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, now mandates that synthetic diamonds be clearly labeled as such, with further developments expected in grading standards.
In terms of retail growth, De Beers is optimistic about India’s diamond market, projecting it will grow from $8.5 billion in 2024 to $17 billion by 2030. To tap into this potential, the company plans to significantly increase its retail presence, including opening 100 exclusive outlets for its Forevermark brand, with the goal of reaching $100 million in sales by 2030.
DiamondBuzz
Polished Prices Up, Rough Prices See Decline: AWDC
While The Ecosystem Has Yet To Achieve A Full-Scale Rebound, The Current Data Suggests We Are Moving Toward A Stabilized Growth Posture
The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) has released its Q1 2026 fiscal retrospective, highlighting a significant divergence in asset class performance. While we are seeing a robust 11.6% YoY tailwind in international polished price points, the rough segment continues to face downward pricing pressure, currently de-escalating to a $72/carat baseline (a 27% delta from the previous $99/carat benchmark).
- Polished/Rough Arbitrage: The current landscape reflects a bifurcated recovery. We are observing a “gradual recovery” trajectory where polished premiums are scaling, even as rough demand remains in a corrective phase.
- Yield-Driven Projections: Per AWDC insights, rough valuations are fundamentally leveraged against expected polished yields. Consequently, the current polished price appreciation serves as a leading indicator for potential downstream rough price stabilization.
- Volume vs. Value Scalability: * Volume Throughput: Increased by ~20% YoY.
- Value Capture: Realized a more modest 3.7% uptick.
- Operational Velocity: Rough import volumes have surged by 35.7%, signaling high-intensity inventory movement despite the lower price-per-unit environment.
Market Trajectory & Forward Outlook
Following a period of non-linear volatility—characterized by a summer pivot, a transient dip, and a Q4 resurgence—the Antwerp sector is currently navigating a “cautious turnaround” phase.
While the ecosystem has yet to achieve a full-scale rebound, the current data suggests we are moving toward a stabilized growth posture. AWDC will continue to monitor the polished-to-rough synergy to identify the inflection point for total market synchronization.
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