International News
WGC:Central banks keep gold in focus in February
Central banks reported 24t net purchases in the second month of the year The National Bank of Poland led net purchases, adding 29t to its gold reserves, making February its 11th consecutive month of net buying The People’s Bank of China, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, the Central Bank of Jordan, the Czech National Bank and the Qatar Central Bank also reported net purchases in February.
Demand for gold from central bankers continues, with data available for February showing reported global central bank gold reserves rising by 24t. Thus far, Poland, China, Turkey and the Czech Republic have led gold demand from emerging market central banks.
As in the preceding months, much of the buying was centred on those central banks that have been regular buyers/sellers of late:
- National Bank of Poland (NBP) lead month and year-to-date net buying, adding 29t in February alone. Year-to-date, NBP added 32t of gold, with its total gold holdings now 480t or 20% of its total reserves
- People’s Bank of China (PBoC) added 5t of gold in February, its fourth consecutive month of net buying since it resumed reporting in November 2024
- The Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey added 3t of gold in February, with its gold reserves totalling 623t or 38% of its total reserves
- The Central Bank of Jordan also added 3t of gold in February, with total gold reserves now at 72t or 30% of total reserves
- Qatar Central Bank reported 2t of net buying in February; its total gold holdings now stand at 114t which constitutes 19% of total reserves
- Czech National Bank added 2t of gold to their reserves this month, its gold holdings stand at 55t or 3% of total reserves
- Net sellers for the month of February were the National Bank of Kazakhstan (-8t) and the Central Bank of Uzbekistan (-12t). Both central banks lead net selling activity year-to-date, down 4t
- Despite net sales y-t-d, gold reserves form 54% of Kazakhstan’s total reserves, bringing its total to 280t.
The National Bank of Belgium (NBB) has addressed recent media reports on the monetisation of Belgium’s gold reserve for public finance purposes, particularly defence spending. In a recent press release, NBB reaffirmed its independence and said gold reserves constitute assets allocated for achieving “public interest tasks entrusted to the Bank.”
The year has had a decent start as central banks’ appetite for gold continues to be robust. Our upcoming Gold Demand Trends report scheduled for publication on 30th April, covering central bank demand for the entire first quarter.
DiamondBuzz
De Beers Group Launches “Heera Hai Aapke Liye” Program at IIJS Bharat Signature to Revolutionize Natural Diamond Accessibility in India
De Beers Group, the world’s leading diamond company, marked a significant milestone in the Indian jewellery landscape with the official launch of the “Heera Hai Aapke Liye” program at IIJS Signature. The star-studded event featured actress Sonakshi Sinha, who joined Shweta Harit, Global Senior Vice President of De Beers Group and CEO of Forevermark, to unveil an initiative dedicated to making natural diamonds an integral part of daily life for the modern Indian consumer.
The “Heera Hai Aapke Liye” (Diamonds are for You) program is strategically designed to promote natural diamonds by raising awareness, boosting market visibility,and creating a seamless connection between retailers and consumers. With a focus on modern designs and attractive price points, the program also lets local retailers use De Beers Group campaigns as their own—second-piercing earrings, ‘Bestie’ bracelets, and ‘Intention’ pendants. It positions diamonds as a lifestyle choice for self-expression and daily wear.
Speaking at the launch, Shweta Harit, Global Senior Vice President of De Beers Group and CEO of Forevermark, detailed the evolution of the brand’s storytelling, stating, “De Beers Group has a rich legacy of creating iconic ritual campaigns that have shaped how the world perceives diamonds. With ‘Heera Hai Aapke Liye,’ program we are evolving that narrative for the Indian market to another level.
We are not just selling jewellery, we are making natural diamonds more accessible and desirable in India. Our goal is to empower retailers through INDRA (Indian Natural Diamond Retailer Alliance) to ensure that every ‘First Diamond’ journey is as credible as it is beautiful.”
Speaking on the occasion, Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), said, “IIJS has always been a powerful platform for shaping the future of India’s gem and jewellery industry, and the launch of ‘Heera Hai Aapke Liye’ at IIJS Signature reinforces that role. GJEPC is proud to partner with De Beers Group on the INDRA (Indian Natural Diamond Retailer Alliance) project, which is a critical step towards strengthening domestic demand for natural diamonds.
By empowering retailers, enhancing consumer confidence, and expanding access across metros and Tier 2 markets, this initiative aligns perfectly with our vision to grow the natural diamond category sustainably within India.”
The program ‘Heera Hai Aapke Liye’, rests on few strategic pillars aimed at industry growth and scalability:
- Stocking & New Consumer Opportunity: Identifying gold wholesalers and distributors across 15–20 cities to focus on a first-phase target of 500 retailers.
- Retailer Advantage: Providing a “Design Advantage” and strict “Product Hygiene,” backed by a clear buy-back policy and robust training and marketing support via the INDRA alliance.
- Heera Hai Aapke Liye is robust entry-level product kit featuring earrings, bangles, bracelets, etc supported by exclusive visual merchandising (VM) for display.
- Growth and Scalability: A PAN-India reach strategy designed to unlock new business opportunities for both manufacturers and retailers.
As India continues to grow as the world’s second-largest market for retail diamond jewellery, De Beers Group remains committed to strengthening the natural diamond narrative. By combining the emotional appeal of natural diamonds with the practical “Heera Hai Aapke Liye” framework, De Beers aims to build a sustainable future for the category across both metros and Tier 2 cities. De Beers and GJEPC aim to expand the base of Natural Diamond buyers, increase self-purchase consideration, and establish long-term credibility for the category.
Asia’s Premier Jewelry Hub Returns: 73rd Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair Set to Outshine Record-Breaking Predecessor
KISNA Diamond & Gold Jewellery launches KISNA Digital Gold in partnership with SafeGold, expanding its omnichannel gold ecosystem
De Beers Group and Mumbai Indians Women Champion Intention and Excellence
KISNA Diamond & Gold Jewellery launches KISNA Digital Gold in partnership with SafeGold, expanding its omnichannel gold ecosystem
Asia’s Premier Jewelry Hub Returns: 73rd Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair Set to Outshine Record-Breaking Predecessor
De Beers Group and Mumbai Indians Women Champion Intention and Excellence
-
National News2 hours agoKISNA Diamond & Gold Jewellery launches KISNA Digital Gold in partnership with SafeGold, expanding its omnichannel gold ecosystem
-
ShowBuzz54 minutes agoAsia’s Premier Jewelry Hub Returns: 73rd Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair Set to Outshine Record-Breaking Predecessor
-
National News3 hours agoDe Beers Group and Mumbai Indians Women Champion Intention and Excellence
-
DiamondBuzz6 hours agoDe Beers Group Launches “Heera Hai Aapke Liye” Program at IIJS Bharat Signature to Revolutionize Natural Diamond Accessibility in India
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.