Petra Diamonds – The Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia (DCLA)

JAR Collection set to Fetch $3m

A collection of 21 pieces by the celebrated jeweler JAR (Joel Arthur Rosenthal) is expected to sell for at least $3m at Christie’s Geneva.

It’s described as “one of the largest and most important private collections of works by the visionary designer”.

JAR is one of the most sought-after contemporary jewelers, known for his use of unconventional materials and techniques, and for drawing on flora and fauna as his inspiration.

His exclusive boutique, in Place Vendome, Paris, admits clients only by personal approval or recommendation and produces just 70 or 80 pieces a year.

The collection – A Bouquet of Gems: A Superb Collection Of Jewels By JAR – will be offered for sale at the Magnificent Jewels sale on 14 May.

They were acquired for a single private collector in the early 2000s and 2010s and none of them has previously appeared on the market or at auction.

Highlight of the sale is the 2009 sculptural diamond Apricot Blossom bracelet (pictured) with an estimate of $340,000 to $570,000.

A multi-gem chain necklace of round brown diamonds, emeralds, tourmalines, tsavorite spessartine garnets, peridots, purple, orange, pink sapphires and sapphires, topazes, fire opals, rubies, pink and purple spinels, amethysts, and aquamarines, has an estimate of $285,000 to $400,000.

And a 2006 ring, with a 6.36-carat cushion modified brilliant-cut diamond, and black diamonds, is offered with a $160,000 to $230,000 estimate.

Source: IDEX

India’s Polished Diamonds Export Down 17%

India’s polished exports fell by almost 17 per cent in the fiscal year ending March 2025, to $13.29bn, according to the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).

That’s among the lowest annual export figures for two decades, although not, as widely reported, the lowest of all. The GJEPC figure for 2005 was $12.3bn, up from $10.3bn in 2004. By comparison 2023/4 foreign sales totaled $15.97m.

Overall gem and jewellery exports fell 11.7 per cent in 2024/5 to $28.5bn, the lowest figure in four years.

But there are signs of a recovery, with polished diamond exports for March showing a year-on-year decline of just 0.76 per cent to $1.16bn and gems and jewelry actually growing 1 per cent to $2.58bn.

“The decline in gems and jewellery exports is mainly due to the continuous dip in demand in China as well as the US, India’s key export markets, due to the ongoing geopolitical tensions,” said GJEPC Chairman Kirit Bhansali.

“Also, the correction in rough diamond prices by 10-15 per cent impacted the value, causing the overall decline in exports.”

Source: IDEX

The Golconda Blue: The Largest Fancy Vivid Blue Diamond Ever Seen at Auction

Christie’s is preparing to showcase something truly extraordinary — The Golconda Blue, a 23.24 carat Fancy Vivid Blue diamond, set to headline the Magnificent Jewels auction in Geneva on 14 May. Held at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, this remarkable stone carries an estimate of between $35 million and $50 million.

Mounted in a ring designed by the legendary JAR, The Golconda Blue is not only the largest Fancy Vivid Blue diamond ever offered at auction — it’s also one of the rarest and most historically significant diamonds in existence.

Its journey through history is as dazzling as the stone itself. Originally owned by Yeshwant Rao Holkar, the Maharaja of Indore — a prominent patron of art and fine jewellery in the 1920s and 1930s — the diamond was first set into a bracelet by Chaumet in 1923. A decade later, Mauboussin transformed it into a necklace worn by the Maharani, immortalised in a striking portrait by Bernard Boutet de Monvel.

In 1947, the diamond was acquired by none other than Harry Winston, who later sold it as a brooch to the Maharaja of Baroda. After years of being held privately, The Golconda Blue is now returning to the public eye for the first time in decades.

Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s international head of jewellery, called it “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” noting the auction house’s long history with legendary Golconda diamonds such as the Archduke Joseph, the Princie, and the Wittelsbach.

The term Golconda itself refers to the legendary diamond mines of Eastern India, famous for producing some of the world’s most luminous, transparent, and pure gems. Among them are historic stones like the Koh-i-Noor, the Hope Diamond, and the Darya-i-Nur — and now, The Golconda Blue joins this rarefied list.

This sale is not just about a diamond. It’s about history, heritage, and the timeless allure of one of nature’s most breathtaking creations.

Petra Diamonds delays sale amid US tariffs uncertainty

Tender of diamonds from the Williamson mine in Tanzania proceeded as planned.

Africa-focused Petra Diamonds has postponed a scheduled sale of about 200,000 carats of diamonds from its Cullinan mine in South Africa, citing uncertainty over the impact of new US tariffs.

Last week, US President Donald Trump announced sweeping import tariffs ranging from 10% to over 100%, including a 30% duty on many South African goods. The move has injected volatility into the global diamond market.

Petra, which holds the world’s third-largest diamond resource, said the decision to delay the Cullinan sale aims to secure stronger market prices once the tariff situation becomes clearer. The sale had been expected to generate approximately $18 million in revenue.

Despite the disruption, the company managed to complete sales from its Finsch mine in South Africa and the Williamson mine in Tanzania before the tariffs were introduced.

South Africa remains one of the largest diamond exporters to the US, alongside India.

So far in the 2025 financial year, Petra has earned $103 million from rough diamond sales, down from $138 million during the first five tenders of the previous year.

Source: mining.com

Diamond miner Lipari begins trading on Cboe Canada

Canadian diamond miner Lipari Mining has officially begun trading on the Cboe Canada stock exchange following the completion of its recently announced reverse takeover.

“Listing on Cboe Canada marks a major milestone in our company’s growth,” CEO Ken Johnson stated in a news release Monday, adding that the exchange’s global footprint would allow the company to broaden its shareholder base and increase market visibility.

Shares of Lipari Mining traded at C$0.57 at Monday’s open, for a market capitalization of approximately C$83.7 million ($58.5 million).

Formerly known as Golden Share Resources, the company announced last month that it is acquiring Lipari Diamond Mines (LDM) and its assets in Angola and Brazil through an RTO, following which LDM shareholders would own nearly all (96.7%) of the combined company’s shares.

Prior to closing the transaction, LDM raised approximately $3.62 million through a private placement of subscription receipts to support the future development of its two diamond assets.

In Angola, Lipari owns a 75% equity interest in Tchitengo diamond project, encompassing 30 known kimberlite deposits. The Tchiuzo kimberlite represents the most developed, having already been taken to pre-feasibility by Sociedade Mineira de Catoca and ALROSA in 2013 after spending a reported $35.6 million.

In an earlier news release, CEO Johnson said the company has planned a bulk sampling program at Tchiuzo to follow up on the confirmatory drilling completed by LDM last year. This is targeted to produce a representative parcel of rough natural diamonds for evaluation and making a production decision.

Lipari also owns 100% of the Braúna diamond mine located in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Since entering commercial production in July 2016, the mine has produced nearly 1.2 million carats of natural rough diamonds from 6.54 million tonnes of kimberlite mined, for an average production grade of 18.2 cpht. Operations are now focused on the transition of the mine from an open pit to an underground operation.

According to Johnson, the mine is ramping back to full capacity, with the transition to underground mining largely completed. “Our first sale of diamond production from our underground operation is expected in April,” he added.

Source: Mining.com

Botswana’s Economic Outlook Now Negative, says S&P

Botswana's economy is heavily reliant on diamonds.

Botswana’s economic outlook has been downgraded from stable to negative by S&P Global Ratings (S&P) on account of low demand for diamonds.

It forecasts a steep rise in government debt unless there is a substantial increase in diamond prices or significant fiscal intervention.

Botswana’s economy is heavily reliant on diamonds. They account for around 80 per cent of its export earnings and a third of total budget revenues.

De Beers and the Botswana government finally reached agreement last month on the long-term mining and rough sales deals, but sales by their joint venture, Debswana, were down by 52 per cent for the first three quarters of 2024, and there a few signs of a sustained recovery in demand.

Despite downgrading its economic prospects, S&P left Botswana’s long-term foreign and domestic currency sovereign credit rating unchanged at BBB+ and its short-term rating at A-2.

“The negative outlook is on account of S&P’s expectation that weak global demand for diamonds and depressed prices will continue to suppress Botswana’s exports and fiscal position, therefore, delaying government’s fiscal consolidation agenda and the rebuilding of buffers,” said the Bank of Botswana in a statement.

It highlighted the fact that S&P said the newly-elected government’s commitment to reducing unemployment, diversifying the economy and increasing social support, while maintaining fiscal prudence, also had a positive impact to the ratings.

Source: IDEX

New Diamond Verification Device Introduced Natural Vs. Lab Grown Diamonds

A new device, the DiamondProof, can rapidly and reliably distinguish natural diamonds from laboratory-grown diamonds and other diamond simulants.

One of the most common misconceptions in the ongoing debate between natural and non-natural diamonds is that it’s impossible to tell the difference between the two. Research shows that almost half of consumers are unaware that laboratory-grown diamonds (LGDs) can be detected from their natural counterparts. For consumers who are investing in diamonds and diamond jewelry, this means there is perhaps a lack of assurance that they are getting what they think they are paying for. This spring, with the introduction of a new verification device, the DiamondProof, to retail stores for the first time, consumers will be able to make informed purchasing decisions and distinguish natural diamonds from non-natural diamonds, like LGDs and other diamond simulants, with a zero percent ‘false positive rate’.

Developed by the De Beers Group, the DiamondProof technology can detect the distinct chemical compositions of natural diamonds, allowing for precise and rapid identification. Early adopters of the DiamondProof include some of the largest jewelry retailers in the U.S., and the device will also be available in several independent retail outlets to ensure that any diamond consumer can try out the technology and gain assurance on their jewelry, or diamonds they are planning to purchase. The first DiamondProof prototype instrument was unveiled last June at the JCK show in Las Vegas, the premier jewelry expo for retail professionals. Many quickly jumped on board and ordered the device for their stores, noting the ability to rapidly and easily screen both loose diamonds as well as stones set in jewelry. “Natural diamonds and lab-grown diamonds are two fundamentally different products. Natural diamonds are rare, one-of-a-kind miracles of nature that come to us from the earth through heat, pressure, and time.” notes CEO of De Beers Brands Sandrine Conseiller. “This incredible journey is what makes them the ultimate marker of life’s most profound emotional moments. Consumers should be able to have confidence in such a meaningful purchase, and DiamondProof allows retailers to offer them greater peace of mind. We are in a new era of transparency at retail, and customers deserve to know what they are buying.”

“By rapidly and reliably identifying whether a diamond is natural, DiamondProof is instrumental in enhancing consumer confidence in natural diamond purchases. Consumers deserve clarity and having DiamondProof available in retail settings helps them make informed decisions while appreciating the unique value and story behind each natural diamond. With decades of leadership in synthetic-detection technology, we are committed to providing the level of transparency that consumers expect,” stated Sarandos Gouvelis, SVP, of Pricing, Product and Technology Development at De Beers Group. For anyone looking to evaluate and verify their diamond jewelry or looking for assurance in new diamond purchases, a major retailer near you will soon have a DiamondProof available.

Source: Seattlemedium

High-Value Recoveries Drive up Gem Revenue

Underlying EBITDA almost doubled to $29.7m and profit for the year increase from $1.6m to $8.1m.

Gem Diamonds saw revenue and profits increase in FY2024, as high-value recoveries more than made up for persistent downward pressure of the diamond market.

In its Full Year 2024 Results published today (13 March), the UK-based miner reported a 10 per cent increase in revenue to $154.2m, largely driven by the sale of 13 +100-cts diamonds from its Letseng mine, in Lesotho.

Underlying EBITDA almost doubled to $29.7m and profit for the year increase from $1.6m to $8.1m.

Exceptional sales included an 11 carat pink diamond that was sold for $45,537 per carat, a 63 carat Type IIa white diamond that was sold for $41,007 per carat (the highest per carat price of the year) and a 113 carat Type IIa white diamond that was sold for $39,345 per carat.

The number of carats recovered during the year fell 4 per cent to 105,012.

Clifford Elphick, CEO at Gem, said: “2024 was another challenging year for the diamond market with decreasing rough and polished diamond prices. Our relentless focus on factors within our control – cost containment, operational efficiencies and appropriate capital allocation, has yielded pleasing results.”

Looking to the future, the company expects the market to remain under pressure during the year, with signs of a modest recovery in diamond prices.

Source: IDEX

World’s Biggest Pearl on Display in Toronto

The world’s largest pearl – weighing 27.65kg and valued at $98m is currently being displayed at a secret venue in Canada.

The Giga Pearl belongs to Toronto-based artist Abraham Reyes and is being shown as part of his Beneath The Surface exhibition of pearls, diamonds, and other precious stones.

The pearl was created 1,000 years ago by a giant clam, the largest of all bivalve molluscs (soft-bodied sea creatures with a hinged shell).

It has been certified by the GIA as the world’s largest natural blister pearl and holds the Guinness World Record.

Reyes inherited the pearl in 2019 from a great aunt after his grandfather bought it from a fisherman in the Philippines.

“I wanted to educate people about it,” Reyes said. “A lot of people don’t know that these giant clams exist because they’re endemic in the South Pacific. So this is something fascinating for people here in Toronto.”

The location of the Giga Pearl is being kept private for security reasons.

Source: IDEX

Elizabeth Taylor’s Jewelry Highlights to be Auctioned

Jewelry from the collection of screen icon Elizabeth Taylor are to be sold at a Beverly Hills auction.

The highlight is a ruby, diamond, and gold necklace (pictured) with lion’s face design and matching earrings. Estimate $100,000 to $200,000.

There’s also a 1935 Art Deco emerald and diamond brooch – old mine-cut and European cut – mounted in platinum and gold, with an estimate of $20.000 to $30,000.

And a gold and diamond Star of David pendant necklace designed by Theo Fennell and marking her conversion to Judaism in 1959. Estimate $20,000 to $30,000.

They’ll be offered for sale at Bold Luxury: The Limelight Edit auction by Julien’s Auctions, on 27 March 27 at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, along with fashion and other items owned by Marilyn Monroe, Cher, Victoria Beckham and Amy Winehouse.

“Bold Luxury is not just an auction â€” it’s an invitation to step into the limelight and own a tangible piece of cultural history,” said Martin Nolan, co-founder and executive director of Julien’s Auctions.

Source: IDEX