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Retail Diamantaires

When it comes to profit margins, the middle man always gets squeezed. From a diamond ‎industry perspective, this is easily assessed with a quick look at the financial statements ‎of companies operating in the various sectors along the pipeline.

Walking the Line in the Name of Others

A new Nintendo strategy game, soon to be released is made of common motifs: a somewhat real background, a series of activities to build your position – and behaviors that are unacceptable in the real world.  Like many other such games, “Diamond Trust of London” builds on and preserves existing stereotypes. Unlike most other such games, […]

The Darwin Principal

Gemologist extraordinaire Antoinette Matlins asked the following question in a forum this week, “Is the world of diamonds as you’ve known it about to change forever?” The answer is of course yes.

Who’s Hoodwinking Who?

A recent TV news program reported a bankruptcy at the Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE). The reporter had very little information about the event, but finished the report with the statement, “This case too will be concluded behind closed doors… as usual with the diamond industry.” The only thing missing was a knowing wink that says, […]

Rough Economies

Two trends have emerged at the start of the second quarter that will likely influence ‎diamond trading for the remainder of 2012. One, rough prices have increased while the ‎polished market continues to tread cautiously. Two, growth is being spurred by demand ‎in traditional markets while the emerging markets are relatively restrained, thus reversing ‎the […]

Hanging in the Balance

The diamond industry ended the first quarter of 2012 with a sense of relief. Trading has ‎been steady but cautious and prices in March were relatively firm. While business has not ‎been booming, it could have been worse. The preceding third and fourth quarter of 2011 ‎certainly were.

Welcome to www.rubel-menasche.com!

April 2012 marks the beginning of a new era for Rubel & Ménasché. Welcome to www.rubel-menasche.com, the Parisian diamond specialist’s brand new website, which is designed not only to introduce the company and reflect its image, but also as a source of information for industry professionals.

The Inevitable Change of Spring

Winter is over and spring is in full bloom. It’s a time of renewed growth, fresh beginnings and many changes. In London last week, DTC held the last Sight of the previous contract period. A new Sightholder roster is out, and with it a change in venue is around the corner. Most of the Sightholders […]

Rio’s Diamonds on the Block: The Breakup, Disintegration and the Eastern Allure

Is the diamond mining sector disintegrating? As the BHP Billiton diamond division goes through another round of bidding, Rio Tinto has announced that it too may offload its diamond division. The two are the second- and third-largest diamond miners, and the possible ownership change raises many questions, and concerns, in the diamond industry. First, how will […]

DTC March Sight Estimated at $520M

De Beers Raises Prices Slightly… De Beers raised prices slightly at the Diamond Trading Company (DTC) sight this week as the mining company has curbed its rough supply in the first quarter of 2012. The March sight had an estimated value of $520 million with prices up an average 2 percent to 3 percent.

Don’t Knock it If You Don’t Get it

I’ve become used to seeing inaccuracies about the diamond industry in articles in the general press. While someone who writes about a wide range of topics might misunderstand a fact or two that is not what you expect from analysts who opine on the merits of a Wall Street product, for a living, for example. […]