DiamondBuzz
Wealthy Russians Surge in Investment-Grade Diamond Purchases Amid Market Uncertainty
Demand for polished diamonds up by 60% as individuals diversify portfolios with gemstones following VAT abolition and growing financial volatility.
Wealthy Russians are increasingly turning to investment-grade diamonds, with purchases of polished stones rising by 60% last year, according to VTB, the country’s second-largest bank. This surge in demand is attributed to the government’s decision to abolish VAT on diamond purchases, which has made gemstones a more attractive investment option.
Oksana Semenenko, vice president at VTB and head of its private banking division, explained that the rarity and uniqueness of diamonds make them especially appealing during times of rising financial market instability and tighter investment restrictions. Many affluent clients are now incorporating alternative investments, including diamonds, into their portfolios, typically allocating 5-10% of their assets to these tangible assets for diversification.
This shift comes amid increasing sanctions from the G7 and restrictions on Russian currency, which have impacted Russian diamond exports. In response, Alrosa, the state-run diamond mining giant, is turning to alternative markets to sell its goods. The company’s Diamond Exclusive program focuses on polishing its largest and highest-quality diamonds, particularly stones of 3 carats or more, to be sold directly to investors through partnerships with VTB and other financial institutions.
DiamondBuzz
Botswana and Angola Join WFDB As Nation Affiliate Members At Recently Concluded WFDB Summit
Bharat Diamond Bourse Postal Stamp Presented to Hon. Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, Minister Of Minerals and Energy, Botswana
Mehul Shah, Vice President of the Bharat Diamond Bourse, presented the official stamp released by the Department of Posts, Government of India, to Hon. Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, Minister of Minerals and Energy, Republic of Botswana during his visit where he represented the Indian Diamond Industry at the World Federation of Diamond Bourses Summit. of India to Hon. Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, Minister of Minerals and Energy, Botswana. Honorable Minister showed heartfelt appreciation during the presentation and reiterated the excellent relationship the Republic of Botswana shares with India.

On the Summit, Mehul Shah opined:

“I am very happy that Botswana and Angola have joined the WFDB as Nation Affiliated Members, broadening the Federation’s international representation and deepening engagement between producing countries and the global manufacturing countries. It was also a pleasure to meet Hon. Minister of Minerals and Energy Ms Kenewendo and present her the Bharat Diamond Bourse Stamp.“
Shah also invited mining entities present to visit the world class infrastructure housed within Bharat Diamond Bourse, the India Diamond Trading Centre [IDTC] to view and tender their respective Rough diamonds. He said that by doing this hundred of BDB members will save time and money on travelling to buy rough and in turn the tendering companies will get a good price benefit. IDTC is a 100% securitised ecosystem with viewing rooms, vault facilities and efficient IT systems including WIFI.
The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) concluded its International Summit in Gaborone, Botswana. The summit brought together senior government representatives, industry leaders and stakeholders from across the global natural diamond value chain to examine the sector’s future amid shifting market dynamics and evolving consumer expectations.
Held in collaboration with Botswana’s Ministry of Minerals and Energy under the theme “Nation-Building and the Future of Responsible Luxury”, the summit focused on the long-term positioning of natural diamonds, including provenance, beneficiation, transparency, traceability, sustainability and value creation across producing nations and trading centers. The gathering sought to reinforce consumer confidence, standardise in grading & certificates and strengthen the value proposition of natural diamonds within an increasingly competitive luxury landscape.
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