DiamondBuzz
De Beers launches DiamondProof; distinguishes naturals from LGDs within seconds
De Beers has launched a diamond verification device aimed specifically at retailers. DiamondProof distinguishes natural gems from LGD in store within seconds as the customer looks on. DiamondProof distinguishes between the chemical composition of natural diamonds and LGD. De Beers says fewer than 1 per cent of diamonds will need additional evaluation and it guarantees that no synthetic diamonds will be mistakenly identified as natural.
De Beers Group announced that its innovative retail-facing diamond verification device, DiamondProof, has landed in select retail stores for the first time, giving consumers the ability to witness just how quickly the device can distinguish natural diamonds from non-natural diamonds, such as laboratory-grown diamonds (LGDs) and diamond simulants, providing a tool for retailers to help educate their customers on the differences between natural diamonds and other products. With research showing that almost half of consumers are unaware that LGDs can be readily detected, this easy-to-use device will enable retailers to show their customers just how quickly natural diamonds can be identified.
The first DiamondProof prototype instrument was unveiled at the JCK show in Las Vegas in June 2024 and has been developed to rapidly and easily screen both loose diamonds and those set in jewellery. With a zero percent ‘false positive rate*,’ the device will never mistake a lab-grown diamond as a natural diamond and delivers results within seconds.
Sandrine Conseiller, CEO of De Beers Brands, said: “Natural diamonds and LGDs are two fundamentally different products. Natural diamonds are rare, one-of-a-kind miracles of nature that come to us from the earth through heat, pressure and time. This incredible journey is what makes them the ultimate marker of life’s most profound emotional moments. Consumers should be able to have confidence in such a meaningful purchase, and DiamondProof allows retailers to offer them greater peace of mind. We are in a new era of transparency at retail, and customers deserve to know what they are buying.”
DiamondBuzz
South African Task Team To Help Struggling Diamond Producers
The South African Government Has Partnered With Mining Industry Leaders To Form A Joint Task Team Aimed At Saving Jobs and Supporting Diamond Producers Facing Severe Market Pressures.
The quick intervention follows major disruptions in the local sector, including Petra Diamonds placing its Finsch mine under business rescue and De Beers announcing a two-year production pause at Venetia, the country’s largest diamond mine.
In a parliamentary reply on October 26, Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe confirmed that the team—which includes the Minerals Council South Africa and local diamond producers—will develop strategies to help mines survive current economic headwinds.
The immediate focus is finding practical solutions to protect operations across the entire sector, especially junior and small-scale miners who are being hit the hardest,
Key Industry Challenges
The local diamond sector faces a combination of falling global prices, rising operating costs, and intense competition from lab-grown synthetic diamonds. Official figures highlight the severity of the crisis:
Production Downturn: South African diamond output dropped 19.5% year-to-date through August.
Commodity Slump: According to Statistics South Africa, diamond mining was the weakest-performing mining sub-sector in August, with output falling 23.0% in the three months ending August compared to the previous three months.
Significant Mine Reductions: De Beers reported a 37% year-on-year drop in South African production for Q3 2026 (down to 418,000 carats) as operations wrap up ahead of Venetia’s pause. De Beers expects zero further production in South Africa for the remainder of 2026.
Price Pressures: Lower market values and a strong South African rand reduced average tender prices at the Finsch mine from $56 to $47 per carat, making ongoing operations unviable under current conditions.
The task team will focus on measures to ease cost pressures and address global market shifts. Further details regarding the team’s specific work plan, timelines, and financial resources will be announced as proposals are finalized.
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