DiamondBuzz
NDC unveils Record-Breaking Diamonds: chronicling the extraordinary life stories of the planet’s most legendary gems
In a world where rarity commands reverence, the Natural Diamond Council (NDC) unveils Record-Breaking Diamonds, a meticulously crafted report that chronicles the extraordinary life stories of the planet’s most legendary gems. This comprehensive volume traces these stones from their raw, unyielding origins deep within the Earth’s mantle to their dazzling polished perfection, weaving together the threads of geology, history, mining innovation, and masterful craftsmanship. Far more than a catalog of treasures, the report illuminates why these diamonds transcend mere luxury—they embody the sublime interplay of nature’s whims and human ingenuity, setting them apart as unparalleled wonders.
At the heart of the report lie iconic diamonds that have not only captivated imaginations but also redefined market benchmarks. Consider the Hope Diamond, a 45.52-carat deep-blue beauty now enshrined at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Gazing upon its haunting allure, over 100 million visitors have pondered its cursed lore and royal provenance, from French kings to American tycoons. Equally mesmerizing is the CTF Pink Star, a flawless 59.60-carat fancy vivid pink diamond that shattered auction records in 2017, commanding a staggering $71.2 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong—the highest price ever paid for a diamond at public sale. These stories, richly detailed in the report, reveal how such gems become cultural touchstones, their journeys echoing through centuries of human ambition and artistry.
Yet Record-Breaking Diamonds extends beyond historical romance to offer a forward-looking lens for the industry. Positioned as an enduring reference, it delves into the transformative role of modern recovery technologies—from advanced geophysical modeling to ethical mining practices—and precision cutting techniques that safeguard the integrity of exceptionally large crystals. These innovations have unlocked new possibilities, preserving record sizes and vivid hues that once seemed unattainable. For industry professionals charting market trends, investors eyeing precious metals, and enthusiasts alike, the report provides fresh insights into the diamonds’ scarcity and magnetic appeal, underscoring their role as timeless symbols of excellence in an era of evolving retail dynamics.
In essence, the NDC’s report reaffirms the diamond’s mythic status: born of volcanic fury billions of years ago, refined by cutting-edge science, and immortalized by human vision. It invites us to marvel at these landmark gems not just as commodities, but as testaments to rarity’s enduring power.
DiamondBuzz
De Beers Group Sets Out Portfolio and Organisational Actions to Support Long-Term Value Creation
Company outlines strategic cost optimisation, portfolio streamlining and operational changes to strengthen resilience while positioning for long-term growth in the natural diamond industry.
De Beers Group is advancing delivery of its business streamlining by setting out a number of planned portfolio and organisational changes to ensure an efficient cost base that strengthens resilience in the near-term while enhancing future competitiveness and retaining optionality as industry conditions improve.
Since 2024, De Beers has been streamlining its business in line with its Origins strategy to reduce costs, divest non-core assets and prioritise investment in activities that create the most value. Significant progress has been made, with more than $100 million of annual overhead costs removed from the business, the sale or closure of a number of non-core assets and significant capital and cost reconfigurations to asset expansion projects.
Simultaneously, De Beers has reinvested in natural diamond category marketing to support the industry’s efforts to grow natural diamond demand, launching new large-scale campaigns and collaborating with key stakeholders across the value chain to foster industry-wide investment. Global consumer demand for natural diamond jewellery returned to growth in 2025, while natural diamond sales increased across US independent jewellers in 2025 and into Q1 2026, led by higher value diamonds and those promoted by De Beers’ Desert Diamonds marketing campaign.
On the supply side, global rough diamond production is now decreasing, with several producers closing mines during 2026. Whilst the increasing rarity of diamonds and the emerging signs of improvement in consumer demand are likely to support longer-term value creation, rough diamond trading conditions are expected to remain challenging in the near-term due to cyclical and industry-specific factors.
Consistent with recent actions to improve business resilience, De Beers intends to pause production at the Venetia mine in South Africa for two years to reduce costs while also rephasing capital expenditure on its underground project. This will involve critical infrastructure investment to enhance the capacity and efficiency of the mine, with the intention to support future production growth as business and industry conditions improve.
De Beers is engaging with stakeholders in accordance with relevant requirements and the company’s values as it moves through this process, and will both support impacted employees and continue to invest in its community and Social and Labour Plan commitments.
This proposed action at Venetia Mine follows the decision earlier this year to pause the Tuzo Phase 3 expansion project at the Gahcho Kué Mine in Canada.
In parallel, De Beers plans to reconfigure its global operating model to refocus and prioritise resources on the core operational businesses and reduce its central corporate cost base.
Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, said:

“In line with our commitment to focus and streamline our business, we are making a number of changes to De Beers to ensure greater business resilience in the near-term, while supporting long-term value creation. We recognise the protracted challenging conditions as the diamond industry evolves, though we are encouraged by signs of consumer demand growth in the US and beyond, particularly in higher quality diamonds.
Global rough diamond supply is falling, bringing more support to the market. The changes we are making to our business are focused on underpinning our efficiency now and into the future, favourably positioning De Beers in its leadership role.”
De Beers Group will maintain current production levels through its other operations, and previous production guidance remains unchanged.
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