DiamondBuzz
US Jewellery Industry faces $117 Billion threat amid proposed diamond tariffs
The World Diamond Council (WDC), representing the global natural diamond value chain, has raised concerns over proposed U.S. tariffs that could place the $117 billion American jewellery industry at significant risk. In a formal appeal, the WDC urged the U.S. Administration to exempt natural diamonds (HS Codes 7102.10 and 7102.31) from the ongoing tariff review and include them in Annex II, citing their critical role in the nation’s economic and manufacturing sectors.
Natural diamonds, though not produced in the U.S., are essential to the health of the domestic jewellery market — a sector supporting over 200,000 American jobs and generating over $91.5 billion in annual sales. The combined impact of jewellery manufacturing and exports adds another $25.5 billion to the economy each year.
The WDC warns that tariffs on natural diamonds would effectively act as a consumption tax, raising prices on popular items like engagement rings and anniversary jewellery, placing additional financial strain on American families. Retailers are already experiencing inventory concerns, with inflationary pressures beginning to impact consumer prices.
“A tariff would destabilize the supply chain, weaken U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, and increase costs for consumers,” said Feriel Zerouki, President of the World Diamond Council. “We support the U.S. Government’s goal of fair trade, but urge an exemption for natural diamonds to protect jobs, competitiveness, and consumer access.”
The United States is the world’s largest consumer of natural diamond jewellery. The WDC emphasized that continued access to these goods is vital to preserving the innovation, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurship that define the American jewellery industry.
WDC members are actively engaging with U.S. officials, calling for a collaborative resolution that supports fair trade without undermining one of America’s most valuable consumer markets.
DiamondBuzz
Polished Prices Up, Rough Prices See Decline: AWDC
While The Ecosystem Has Yet To Achieve A Full-Scale Rebound, The Current Data Suggests We Are Moving Toward A Stabilized Growth Posture
The Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) has released its Q1 2026 fiscal retrospective, highlighting a significant divergence in asset class performance. While we are seeing a robust 11.6% YoY tailwind in international polished price points, the rough segment continues to face downward pricing pressure, currently de-escalating to a $72/carat baseline (a 27% delta from the previous $99/carat benchmark).
- Polished/Rough Arbitrage: The current landscape reflects a bifurcated recovery. We are observing a “gradual recovery” trajectory where polished premiums are scaling, even as rough demand remains in a corrective phase.
- Yield-Driven Projections: Per AWDC insights, rough valuations are fundamentally leveraged against expected polished yields. Consequently, the current polished price appreciation serves as a leading indicator for potential downstream rough price stabilization.
- Volume vs. Value Scalability: * Volume Throughput: Increased by ~20% YoY.
- Value Capture: Realized a more modest 3.7% uptick.
- Operational Velocity: Rough import volumes have surged by 35.7%, signaling high-intensity inventory movement despite the lower price-per-unit environment.
Market Trajectory & Forward Outlook
Following a period of non-linear volatility—characterized by a summer pivot, a transient dip, and a Q4 resurgence—the Antwerp sector is currently navigating a “cautious turnaround” phase.
While the ecosystem has yet to achieve a full-scale rebound, the current data suggests we are moving toward a stabilized growth posture. AWDC will continue to monitor the polished-to-rough synergy to identify the inflection point for total market synchronization.
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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.