The R&M “Lettre”

Unique large and color diamonds are poised to fetch strong prices on the auction circuit again this year.

Basel – The Swiss Gemmological Institute SSEF in Basel has become the latest laboratory to create a machine designed to distinguish lab-grown melee diamonds from mined.

Millionaire men more likely to buy jewelry and women cars; millennials most likely to buy jewelry.

In early February, we ran a story about a new program called Sustainable in Style. Created by Scottsdale, Ariz.-based diamond company Avilan, the program pairs independents designers–Sofia Kaman, Toby Pomeroy and Megan Thorne among them–with Avilan’s “eco ethical” Storied Diamonds, which are recycled, or previously owned, stones.

Diamond market overview Traders continued to report positive sentiment in the polished market.

By most accounts, the first quarter of 2014 was positive for the diamond industry.

Contrary to what many websites and articles are saying about secure long-term investments in diamonds, non-professionals should use caution in this segment of the investment market.

Some further thoughts stemming from last week’s post on Antwerp and Zimbabwe.

As I recalled the reports that I had recently read, I wondered whether I could have envisioned with certainty what 2014 would hold for the diamond industry. The truth is, it is very difficult to have “certainties” when it comes to diamonds.

Diamond market overview General sentiment in the polished market is positive with traders reporting healthy demand and strengthening prices.

De Beers is confident that its technology detects all synthetic diamonds. During a correspondence with Rapaport, De Beers head of technologies, Dr. Simon Lawson, refuted claims by Yossi Kuzi of EGL Hong Kong that De Beers DiamondSure™ and DiamondView™ systems did not detect a synthetic type IaAB diamond.

Let’s get straight to the bottom line: at any given moment, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and other grading labs will have some $1.5 billion worth of diamonds in their possession that are not readily available for business.