DiamondBuzz

Israel Diamond Exchange quits WFDB amid tariff dispute

Published

2 years ago

April 14, 2025

The Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) has suspended its membership in the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), citing dissatisfaction with the organisation’s conduct during the ongoing US import tariff crisis, Rapaport News reported.

In a letter to WFDB Secretary-General Rony Unterman on 8th April, the IDE board said the decision followed unanswered requests for information and actions that had harmed Israel’s diamond trade. IDE President Nissim Zuaretz told Rapaport the move was triggered by WFDB President Yoram Dvash’s comments in Calcalist, where he criticised country-specific lobbying and promoted a global strategy for tariff exemptions.

Zuaretz accused Dvash of trying to take credit for advocacy led by the World Diamond Council (WDC), potentially jeopardising Israel’s own efforts. Dvash denied the claims, telling Rapaport they were “untrue and frankly absurd,” and emphasised the WFDB’s ongoing collaboration with the WDC.

Zuaretz said the IDE would shift focus to partnerships with the WDC and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA), while also saving over $29,000 in annual fees. Dvash described IDE’s withdrawal as “rash,” warning it could weaken global unity at a critical time for the industry.

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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.

Published

3 hours ago

October 29, 2026

JewelBuzz Spread The Buzz

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.