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Mr Zamel the third generation diamantaire from the original Zamel family from Adelaide.  After 6 years as a control grader at DCLA, Matthew assumes responsibility as DCLA head of Laboratory Director. 

Mr Zamel brings years of experience in diamond grading and diamond industry knowledge.   Mr Zamel’s history in the in the diamond industry extends back three generations  as one of Australia’s best known and respected diamond and Jewellery families.   Mr Zamel’s extensive knowledge and technical ability makes him an important asset to the company and trade.

For any further information on services and pricing, please call or email Mr Zamel at DCLA.  

$520 million De Beers August sight after sightholders refused a significant part of the goods on offer. De Beers have adjusted prices on some cheaper Indian and rejection boxes.

The Indian rupee fell to a low of 69.22/$1 during sight week. The currency has lost fell 8.1 percent in August, recording its worst month since 1992.

The sightholders said that the adjustment wasn’t enough to make a difference for the devaluation of the rupee against the US dollar, which has affected the Indian diamond manufacturers.

This has cause a liquidity problem in the manufacturing sector as banks have become more prudent in their lending to the industry.  Activity on the secondary market is limited as people are not buying without 90 to 120 days credit.

October site will be the final sight that De Beers holds in London. The company will transfer its sightholder sales to Gaborone, Botswana by the November sight.

Sotheby’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels is offering the 7.59 ct fancy vivid blue round diamond as the top lot.

Known as the Premier Blue the internally flawless round brilliant diamond is the largest fancy vivid blue round diamond ever graded by the GIA and is expected to make around $19 million.

The incredibly rare diamond will go on tour throughout Asia as well as in Geneva, London, New York and Doha at before the auction in Hong Kong. Blue diamonds seldom come to market and have been coveted by royals and celebrities for centuries

Companies that bought diamonds from De Beers between 1994 and 2006 paid higher prices than they would have in a truly competitive open market.

The DMIA had played a significant role in bringing the suit to a successful conclusion by filing papers in favour of the settlement of a class action suit against De Beers.

It is a milestone moment. And normalises business for De Beers in America.

An armed man wearing a bandana or scarf and a cap, brandishing an automatic weapon stole jewellery worth an estimated value of $53 million.

The brazen broad daylight heist took place at the diamond exhibition in the French Riviera resort of Cannes.

"Everything happened very quickly and without violence," the prosecutors said. The diamond heist was one of the largest in years in France.

De Beers, the world’s largest diamond producer, introduces forward sales contracts for buyers in its rough-diamond auctions.

Owned by Anglo American, The De Beers Company is moving the purchasing, production and sales base for its diamond auctions to Singapore in November.

Forward trades will allow buyers to determine the volume of goods they want to purchase over a given period.

De Beers noted that 10 percent of the rough diamonds are sold via the auction platform.   

Gem Diamonds recovered a 100 carat white, type IIa diamond from the Letšeng mine in Lesotho. Clifford Elphick, Gem Diamonds’ CEO, reported that the company has recovered three diamonds weighing more than 100 carats at Letšeng in the past two months.

Letšeng’s June export achieved an average price of US$2087 per carat, for a total value of US$22m. This compares to an average value of US$1599 per carat which was achieved for the first three tenders in the year.

 

Petra CEO Johan Dippenaar, said, “We are delighted to have concluded such a successful sales process for this important blue diamond.

The process was highly competitive in terms of bids received, due to the incredible rarity of a blue stone of such size and quality. This result further serves to highlight the Cullinan mine’s unique position as the world’s most important source of blue diamonds.”

 The 25.50 carat rough blue diamond which recovered from its Cullinan mine in South Africa in April sold for $16,910,180 or $663,144 per carat.

Let’s face it: everything you buy today in store is also available online, and often for far cheaper. While some thought it was a fad at first, Internet shopping is here to stay. These days, if you were looking at a pair of runners, you would be silly not to look at the online offers first!

At the DCLA laboratory, we are asked everyday, “How does this work with diamonds and diamond jewellery?”

While buying diamond jewellery and diamonds online may seem like a simple choice, the truth is that there is one huge difference that puts the online jewellery industry in the “customer-beware” box.  The difference is that when it comes to diamonds, you have no clue what you’re buying without an independent certification. If you buy a TV online, chances are it will be the same model, make and carry the same guarantee available at the store – but with a diamond, however, you have no idea whether what you’re paying for is what you really get.

When purchasing a diamond online or not, you should always ensure that it is covered by an IDC-recognised certification. The IDC rules are the internationally-recognised and accepted rules for diamond grading and diamond certification as set out by the WFDB, IDMA and Cibjo – the world’s highest authorities in diamonds and jewellery.

If you buy an IDC-recognised certified diamond from your trusted brick-and-mortar store, you will get the diamond you are expecting. It will undoubtedly cost more than purchasing online, but you will have a face to go with the purchase.

If you buy a diamond online, this is unfortunately a different story.

Local sites seldom own the goods listed. In fact the people trying to sell the diamond probably have never seen the diamond themselves.  This is because the diamonds are not always in stock at the particular store but are instead part of virtual lists populating the site from overseas sellers. These virtual lists are filled with stones that aren’t actually owned by the site you’re viewing them on. Hawked from overseas anonymous sellers, often there’s something seriously wrong with these diamonds that would make it impossible to sell them traditionally.

So are there any safe sites to buy from? Yes, certainly, if the goods listed are actually in stock and available immediately. Make sure you always check that the diamond has an independent diamond certification from a respected laboratory. That way, you’ll always know exactly what you’re getting. Also, never put a deposit on a diamond to be sourced or delivered and never buy a diamond without seeing it first.

Not all laboratories have the same grading system, equipment or official master stones for comparison.  This you will hear from all the recognised laboratories and the honest retailers and dealers. Armed with the correct information from an independent source, you can take charge of the diamond market whether online or off, and get the best deal for your money.

 

The record breaking price achieved at Christie’s in Geneva for the D flawless pear shape which sold for $254,400 per carat,  $26.7 million total.

20 lots sold for prices exceeding $1 million each, and the new owner Harry Winston helped the Magnificent Jewels sale realise $102.14 million total sales.

"A perfect diamond commands a perfect price," Christie’s