Jewellery and Coins

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The miner faces competing pressures as the focus shifts to negotiations with Botswana.

The news at last week’s De Beers sight was what soccer fans might call “off the pitch.” The sale itself was uneventful. The miner left rough prices unchanged at the first cycle of the year after December’s sharp reductions. It allowed 20% buybacks for all goods — a mechanism that lets sightholders sell the least profitable stones back to the company. Demand was weak, with sales value expected to be low.

But the question on sightholders’ lips was what would happen next. One of the main reasons for the low sales was De Beers’ high prices. The miner’s rough remains significantly more expensive than the tender and auction market.

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Poor results at the US’s largest diamond retailer reflected a fragmented and changing market rather than a crisis in consumer demand.

Signet Jewelers’ disappointing holiday results had a dampening effect on the industry’s mood. Same-store sales at the US’s largest diamond retailer fell 2% for the 10 weeks that ended January 11. The company slashed its guidance for the fiscal fourth quarter. Its share price fell 22% in one day.

What the results indicated, however, was not so much sluggish consumer demand as a complex US jewelry market that has forced retailers to strategize carefully. The key issue for Signet was product range, the jeweler’s new CEO, J.K. Symancyk, said at the ICR Conference 2025 on Tuesday, a few hours after the sales announcement.

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https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/

The global diamond market is undergoing a transformative shift, with lab-grown diamonds emerging as a formidable force. This shift is particularly evident in Korea, where these ethically sourced and cost-effective gems are quickly gaining popularity, carving out a niche in the wedding and anniversary jewelry sectors, according to Iris Arnold, CEO and founder of the U.K.-based jewelry company Novita Diamonds.

“Lab-grown diamonds are undoubtedly a game changer in the jewelry industry. They are revolutionizing the market by making diamonds more accessible and aligning with consumer values around sustainability and ethics,” Arnolds told The Korea Times in a recent written interview.

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JCK Online

JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates talk with human rights activist and author Ian Smillie, one of the architects of the Kimberley Process. Ian’s unlikely career began when he volunteered to teach high school in Sierra Leone more than 50 years ago and has led him to become a leading advocate for ending the “blood diamond” trade.

In this episode, Ian discusses his quest to improve life for artisanal miners, the threats they face from the rise of lab-grown stones, and his new memoir about a life dedicated to combatting global poverty. Victoria and Rob welcome Ian Smillie, a Canadian human rights activist who was instrumental in the campaign against blood diamonds.

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https://www.nytimes.com/

Consumer misconceptions about diamonds can make the process of engagement ring shopping even more distressing.

With Thanksgiving marking the unofficial start of engagement season — late November through Valentine’s Day is when marriage proposals are common — ring buying is top of mind for many couples considering marriage.

The four Cs — carat, cut, color, and clarity — have traditionally been used to evaluate diamonds. Now, couples buying diamond engagement rings have another choice to make: natural diamonds, which are mined from the earth, or lab-grown diamonds, which are man-made but chemically identical.

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Natural diamonds have taken a big hit in the past few years. From the highs and lows of Covid-19 spending on luxury, to economic uncertainty and an oversupply in the midstream that has led to a persistently weak market, prices and demand have dropped. And that’s before you consider the effect of the younger demographic’s growing interest in lab-grown.

With significant obstacles to overcome, those in the trade have been looking for a solution to reengage Millennials, Gen Z and up-and-coming Gen Alpha consumers with the wonder, rarity and magic of a natural diamond. Enter De Beers and Signet Jewelers.

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https://www.naturaldiamonds.com/

Meet the world’s most expensive jewel ever sold at auction.

The Pink Star Diamond shattered every price record when Sotheby’s sold it for a staggering $71.2 million in April 2017 at a Hong Kong auction. It’s the single most expensive diamond or jewel sold at auction.

At 59.60 carats (about the size of a strawberry), the fancy vivid pink internally flawless diamond has none comparable in size and quality. So how can you assess a price for something that is essentially priceless?

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https://www.salonprivemag.com/

A spectacular 300-carat diamond necklace with connections to Marie Antoinette’s infamous affair heads to Sotheby’s auction, expected to fetch millions.

In a stunning revelation that has sent ripples through the world of high-end jewellery and historical artefacts, Sotheby’s has announced the upcoming auction of an extraordinarily rare and historically significant 18th-century diamond jewel.

This magnificent piece, weighing approximately 300 carats and valued at an estimated 1.6 to 2.4 million Swiss francs (£1.4 to £2.1 million), has made its first public appearance in half a century.

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https://www.finehomesandliving.com/

Lab-grown diamonds are not just a trend – they are reshaping the entire fine jewelry industry. With their stunning appearance, ethical appeal, and affordability, these diamonds are becoming the go-to choice for modern consumers.

A lab-grown diamond offers all the luxury and brilliance of a natural stone but with added benefits. As we look to the future of fine jewelry, it’s clear that lab-grown diamonds will play a major role in defining the next generation of jewelry designs.

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