International News
US jewellery, watches sales up by 4.4 per cent year-on-year
Sales of watches and jewelry in the US showed further signs of growth in December 2024, up 4.4 per cent year-on-year, according the latest figures from the US Department of Commerce. But there’s been a marked slowdown since the 10 per cent increases of last September and October.
November saw sales up by just 3.0 per cent, revised down from 5.8 per cent based on actual through-the-till transactions rather than estimates. October has been revised up from 9.7 per cent to 10.0 per cent.
The average monthly year-on-year growth for the full year is 5.4 per cent, so December was little below par. Having said that, it was the 15th consecutive month of growth after a long period (the end of 2022 and much of 2023) of falling sales.
International News
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:Â 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:Â * Volume Throughput:Â Increased by ~20%Â YoY.
- Value Capture:Â Realized a more modest 3.7% uptick.
- Operational Velocity:Â 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.
Polished Prices Up, Rough Prices See Decline: AWDC
MCX Gold and Silver Face Volatility Amid Geopolitical Shifts
Precious Metals Under Pressure: Diplomatic Shifts, Geopolitical Risk, and Central Bank Outlook AUGMONT BULLION REPORT
Precious Metals Under Pressure: Diplomatic Shifts, Geopolitical Risk, and Central Bank Outlook AUGMONT BULLION REPORT
FED, Iran, and The Rupee- Three Forces Shaping Bullion’s Next Move AUGMONT BULLION REPORT
Akoirah Records Strong Growth Across Key Markets With Festive Diamond Draw Campaign
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International News2 hours agoPrecious Metals Under Pressure: Diplomatic Shifts, Geopolitical Risk, and Central Bank Outlook AUGMONT BULLION REPORT
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International News22 hours agoFED, Iran, and The Rupee- Three Forces Shaping Bullion’s Next Move AUGMONT BULLION REPORT
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National News2 hours agoAkoirah Records Strong Growth Across Key Markets With Festive Diamond Draw Campaign
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National News1 hour agoMCX Gold and Silver Face Volatility Amid Geopolitical Shifts
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