The Diamond Press | Diamond Industry

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Pressing Matters: Optimism Amid Trade Advocacy

January 2026 News Roundup

The Way Forward For Natural Diamonds

India Must Follow Antwerp’s Diamond Playbook

Diamond Market Recovery or Continued Pressure?

10 Predictions for the Diamond Industry in 2026

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News In Brief

Anglo American is reviewing the carrying value of De Beers ahead of its full-year results on February 20, citing continued weakness in the diamond market...

De Beers rough sales rose 10% to $2.98 billion in 2025, supported by a 17% increase in sales volume to 20.9 million carats despite a 7% drop in the average price to $142 per carat...

The United States and India have agreed to a trade deal that will lower US import tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 25%, President Donald Trump said…

Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB) appointed Serty Leburu as managing director, making her the first woman to hold the role…

International Gemological Institute (IGI) has acquired American Gemological Laboratories (AGL)…

Birks Group reported a 12% year-on-year increase in sales during the November–December holiday period…

Swatch Group reported sales fell 7% to CHF 6.28 billion ($8.12 billion) in 2025...

Swiss watch exports fell 1.7% to CHF 25.6 billion in 2025, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry reported...

International Gemmological Institute (IGI) reported revenue rose 21% year on year to INR 3.2 billion ($34.9 million) in the fourth quarter...

India has reduced its import duty on natural polished diamonds from the European Union to 2.5% from 5.5% under a new trade deal...

Full story here

Spotlight

India Must Follow Antwerp’s Diamond Playbook

The recent trade deal between the EU and India laid bare the differing approaches to the diamond trade taken by two of the industry’s largest centers. Once again, Antwerp leveraged its position to secure favorable terms in the negotiations. Under the agreement, India reduced its tariff on imports of natural polished diamonds from the European Union to 2.5%, down from 5.5%. “This tariff reduction is the result of intensive lobbying efforts by the Antwerp World Diamond Cent

10 Predictions for the Diamond Industry in 2026

The diamond market enters 2026 in a state of flux after three punishing years from 2023 to 2025, with sustained pressure across mining, manufacturing, and retail. It does not take a futurist to see that many of the forces behind the downturn remain firmly in place. The question now is how those dynamics evolve as the industry searches for greater stability. To open the year, The Diamond Press sets out 10 developments and themes that are set to define the diamond trade in

Tough Love for Botswana

At last, someone has advised the Botswana government not to raise its stake in De Beers. As Anglo American prepares to divest from its 85% share in the diamond company, Botswana has signaled its interest in buying some or all of that stake, adding to the 15% it already owns. Until now, it seems that most of those with the president’s ear have entertained the notion that increasing the government’s stake in De Beers is a good idea. Yet Botswana is heading for its third str

Diamond Trade on Notice as Russian Sanctions May Ease

The diamond industry must brace itself for another shakeup as restrictions on Russian supply may be lifted sooner than anticipated. Alrosa’s reintroduction to the market should now be considered an imminent possibility, after President Trump presented a 28-point draft proposal in Kyiv to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. The plan, developed with Moscow’s input, maps out phased and selective sanction relief, a path for Russia to rejoin the G8, and broader US-Russia economic coope

Diamond Marketing Requires Urgency

The Natural Diamond Council (NDC) is close to receiving the funds pledged under the Luanda Accord signed in July. Two separate commitments came out of that meeting in the Angolan capital. The first was a structural one, with signatories agreeing to establish a mechanism that allocates 1% of rough-diamond sales to the NDC. The aim is to support the council’s budget from next year (2026) onward, and create a more stable way for the industry to fund consumer-facing marketing f

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Pressing Matters

Optimism Amid Trade Advocacy for Diamonds

February is a slightly strange month. It’s a day or two shorter than the rest, which gives it a sense of ease, as though it passes a little more seamlessly. That said, it’s an important month for the diamond industry. By now, we have a clearer view of how the holiday season played out, and jewelers have a better handle on their inventory requirements. Valentine’s Day also looms on the 14th, with the National Retail Federation (NRF) expecting record spending , including arou

Deglobalization and the Case for Fewer, Better Diamonds

Watching events unfold at the World Economic Forum in Davos, one major theme has already emerged in 2026: the era of globalization is over. That presents another challenge for the diamond industry, although it’s not necessarily a new one. The trade benefited greatly from globalization in the 2010s, as the expansion of China’s jewelry market was driven by the belief that the country could transition toward a US-style, consumer-led economy. That dynamic meant more diamonds we

What Gives A Diamond Its Value

What gives a diamond its value? Is there something intrinsic in the physical product itself, or does value mostly come from how the industry positions it? I put that question to a group of industry professionals during a panel discussion on The Way Forward for Natural Diamonds at the VicenzaOro show on Sunday. As moderator, my aim was to use the idea of value as a way into a broader conversation about how we engage today’s consumer. The answers leaned heavily on emotional

A Diamond Is Forever, Repositioned

Did you watch the Golden Globes last night? Well, neither did I. What I did get was a press release from “A Diamond Is Forever” about the natural diamond jewelry highlights on the red carpet. I know, right. Who or what is A Diamond Is Forever to be sending me press releases? Isn’t that a slogan, the line that capped off some of De Beers’ most nostalgic marketing campaigns? You may or may not have noticed the subtle introduction of the A Diamond Is Forever Instagram acco

One Year Anniversary

In any business, it’s important to recognize milestones, not necessarily as a reason to celebrate one’s accomplishments, but to take stock and reset the benchmarks from which to build. This week marks one year since I launched The Diamond Press. The objective today is the same as it was then: to build a community around clear, insightful analysis of the diamond industry. Looking back, the first year comes with mixed feelings. The community has grown steadily. Traffic to T

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Videos

Adapt or Die: The Diamond Industry Must Pivot to Value