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De Beers Sightholders report shortages of large diamonds

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Rough diamonds above 5 carats were in tight supply at this week’s sight, customers reported, with explanations ranging from production cuts to ’ strategy of withholding supply. The February trading session saw stable prices in the vast majority of categories, as the miner maintained its policy of not flooding the market, insiders said this week.

The lack of large stones has puzzled some, since De Beers is reportedly sitting on $2 billion of inventories, its largest since the 2008 financial crisis.  Many market insiders viewed it as a positive that these sizes were hard to find, reflecting that the categories had sold better in the past few sights. The resultant polished — mostly 2 carats and larger — has performed better in the recent downturn than 0.30- to 2 carat goods.

Some point to a tactical effort by De Beers to limit supply — either to protect the market or to reward sightholders that purchase less sought-after items.

SOURCE: RAPAPORT

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DiamondBuzz

Natural Diamond Market Defies Demand-Supply Dynamics As Prices Continue To Fall

The Diamond Market Continues To Defy Basic Supply-and-Demand Dynamics, Weighed Down By Structural Shifts In Consumer Behavior and Persistent Macroeconomic Pressures.

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According to figures from the Kimberley Process, global rough diamond production fell 8% in 2025 to 98.8 million carats, down from 107.9 million carats in 2024. The output marks a significant milestone in the ongoing contraction of the natural diamond mining sector, placing global supply approximately one-third lower than its 2017 high.

De Beers, the world’s premier diamond mining company by value, underscored the depth of the slump in its recent financial disclosures. The industry giant reported that its average realized rough diamond price plummeted 32% in the first half of 2026, falling to $105 per carat.

Under traditional economic principles, a tightening supply chain typically drives prices upward. Yet, the diamond market continues to defy basic supply-and-demand dynamics, weighed down by structural shifts in consumer behavior and persistent macroeconomic pressures.

Industry analysts attribute the sustained drop in realization prices to a confluence of headwinds: Rise of Lab-Grown Alternatives:

Persistent Market Pressures: Changing Consumer Priorities:

With natural supply reaching historic lows and prices remaining under heavy pressure, miners and industry stakeholders face unprecedented pressure to re-calibrate their market strategies and re-establish the value proposition of natural gems in an evolving retail landscape.

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JewelBuzz is Asia’s First Digital Jewellery Media & India’s No.1 B2B Jewellery Magazine, published by AM Media House. Since 2016, we’ve been the trusted source for jewellery news, market trends, trade insights, exhibitions, podcasts, and brand stories, connecting jewellers, retailers, and industry professionals worldwide.

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