The R&M “Lettre”

Lucara Diamond Corp.  recovered a 341.90-carat gem-quality diamond from its Karowe mine in Botswana, while processing fragmental kimberlite from the central and south lobe interface.

There is trouble ahead in Botswana, despite the country’s promise as a major diamond manufacturing sector. A number of companies in the country have either shut their doors or laid off staff since the end of last year.

Sometimes, connecting figures in ways in which they are not usually put together can highlight a great truth – a truth hiding in plain sight. Most people who follow the diamond industry already are familiar with the following figures.

The Dubai Diamond Conference, which takes place from April 21-22 at the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE), will be running a panel on industry financing.

Paris – With “excellent momentum” in the United States and Europe, LVMH recorded a 16 percent increase in first quarter sales, or 3 percent with comparable structure and constant exchange rates.

Chanel, which until now has resisted e-commerce for all of its products save makeup, has partnered with Net-A-Porter to sell a new fine jewelry collection during a three-week pop-up on the luxury e-commerce site.

After the 2008 financial crash, a De Beers research study found that consumers continued to spend during the holiday season, but more cautiously.

The National Bank of Fujairah (NBF) has announced its willingness to enter the diamond industry funding arena.

Many in our industry are wary of the NGOs, which don’t always paint the most flattering portrait of our industry. But some of them, particularly those based in African countries, often do their work under considerable threat.

New York – With demand weak both last month and in the first quarter of the year, the price of polished diamonds of all sizes were down in March, according to Rapaport’s RapNet Diamond Index.

Tiffany & Co. has appointed Anisa Costa to the newly created position of chief sustainability officer. 

London – The Responsible Jewellery Council has terminated the contract of CEO Ashish Deo, who has been with the organization for only eight months, and is transitioning to an executive director-led model.