The video Beyond Shining Illusions, released by the Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition (KP CSC), offers a powerful and eye-opening look at the often hidden truths behind large-scale diamond mining in countries such as Sierra Leone, Lesotho, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Through real stories and interviews with local people, the video challenges the claims made by the Kimberley Process (KP) and calls attention to the ongoing issues affecting mining communities.

Since its founding in 2003, the Kimberley Process has aimed to prevent the sale of “conflict diamonds”—those used by rebel groups to fund wars against legitimate governments. According to the KP, 99% of diamonds in the market today are “conflict-free.” However, the KP CSC argues that this definition is too narrow and outdated. While it may seem that the problem is almost solved, the video reveals that many serious problems still exist, just under a different name.

In the 17-minute documentary, we hear directly from people who live near or work in diamond mines. They talk about the violence they face from security forces that protect mining operations, as well as the health risks caused by pollution from blasting and waste management. The voices of these communities are usually not included in the shiny advertisements and positive messages often associated with diamonds.

What makes this video especially important is its mission to go beyond the surface and show the full truth. The KP CSC wants to broaden the definition of “conflict diamonds” to include harm caused by governments and corporations, not just rebel groups. They also want to highlight environmental damage and human rights abuses that are still happening today.

In conclusion, Beyond Shining Illusions is a necessary reminder that the beauty of diamonds often hides a painful and complex reality. we need to look beyond marketing messages and learn the full story behind the things we value. Only then can we support real changes that help protect people and the environment in mining communities around the world.

India’s polished diamond exports fell sharply by 16.8% in the fiscal year ending March 2025, totaling $13.29 billion, according to data released by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). This marks one of the weakest annual performances for the sector in the last two decades, although not the lowest on record—as has been mistakenly reported in some outlets. The lowest figure in recent history remains $12.3 billion in 2005, following $10.3 billion in 2004. In comparison, polished diamond exports for FY2023–24 stood at $15.97 billion.

The broader gem and jewellery export sector also saw a significant downturn. Total exports for FY2024–25 declined by 11.7% to $28.5 billion, the lowest level in four years. Industry leaders have attributed the slump to multiple global challenges, including softening demand in India’s primary export markets—the United States and China—amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.

However, recent monthly data suggests the downturn may be stabilizing. Polished diamond exports in March 2025 registered a marginal year-on-year dip of just 0.76%, amounting to $1.16 billion. Meanwhile, total gem and jewellery exports for the month posted a modest 1% growth, reaching $2.58 billion. These signs of resilience have sparked cautious optimism that the sector may be on the path to recovery.

Christie’s is proud to present The Golconda Blue—the largest Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond ever to be offered at auction. Weighing an extraordinary 23.24 carats, this superb historic gemstone will headline Christie’s Magnificent Jewels sale, taking place live on 14 May 2025 at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva, with an estimate of $35 – 50 million. The Golconda Blue, perfectly mounted in a ring by JAR, is a true masterpiece with its recently uncovered royal provenance, mesmerizing colour, and sensational size.  It ranks among the rarest and most important diamonds ever discovered throughout history. 

This exceptional pear-shaped Golconda diamond boasts a remarkable provenance rooted in Indian Royalty. Yeshwant Rao Holkar, the Maharaja of Indore and a member of the Holkar dynasty, was known—alongside his wife—for a lifestyle defined by elegance and cosmopolitan sophistication in the 1920s and ’30s. A Knight of the Order of the Indian Empire, the Maharaja spent much of his time abroad, cultivating a strong affinity for Western art, design, and jewellery.

In 1913, his father acquired the famed Indore Pear diamonds from Chaumet, marking the beginning of a long-standing relationship with the historic Parisian Maison. In 1923, during another visit to Chaumet, he commissioned a diamond bracelet set with his own 23-carat pear-shaped Golconda blue diamond.

Drawn to the firm’s avant-garde flare, Yeshwant Rao Holkar appointed Mauboussin as his official jeweler in 1933.  Thereafter, Mauboussin reimagined much of the Maharaja’s collection and created the exceptional necklace including the Golconda Blue and the Indore Pears, worn by the Maharani of Indore memorialized in a portrait by Bernard Boutet de Monvel (illustrated on top of release).

Yeshwant Rao Holkar also collaborated with other iconic jewelers, including Harry Winston. In 1946, Mr. Winston purchased the Indore Pears from the Maharaja, and the following year, in January 1947, he acquired this 23-carat blue diamond. Winston later set it in a brooch alongside a matching 23-carat white diamond, which he sold to the Maharaja of Baroda. The brooch was subsequently reacquired by Mr. Winston and resold as a newly designed jewel to its current owner.

Now, over a century later, this legendary blue diamond comes to auction for the very first time, set as a striking contemporary ring by the celebrated Parisian designer JAR.

The legacy of Golconda diamonds begins with a reference found in a 4th-century Sanskrit manuscript. In 327 BC, Alexander the Great brought diamonds from India to Europe, sparking the West’s enduring fascination with these rare gems. By 1292 AD, Marco Polo famously chronicled the captivating beauty of Indian diamonds in his travel writings. Today, The Golconda Blue stands not only as a natural marvel but also as a storied jewel—its provenance bridging continents, dynasties, and centuries.