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Ronnie VanderLinden Takes Over as WDC President

The diamantaire and industry leader succeeds Feriel Zerouki and said he will focus on being a “champion” for natural diamonds. Antwerp, Belgium—Ronnie VanderLinden is the new president of the World Diamond Council, the organization that acts as the industry’s official representative in the Kimberley Process. VanderLinden, a longtime leader in the diamond industry and owner […]

The Kimberley Process Session Focused on the “3 Cs”

The Kimberley Process (KP) intersessional meeting was held in Mumbai from May 11 to 14 around themes uniting the industry, such as compliance with international standards and consumer confidence. However, certain more sensitive issues aimed at broadening the definition of “conflict diamonds” have yet to gain the desired traction. The meeting was chaired by India’s […]

India’s Lab-Grown Diamond Exports Surpass Naturals by Volume

India’s diamond sector has reached a notable milestone, with lab-grown stones exceeding naturals in export volume, as reported by industry analyst Edahn Golan. In both March and April 2026, shipments of lab-grown diamonds (LGD) from India surpassed those of natural diamonds, marking what Golan describes as “a major shift, arguably a tectonic one, but not a doomsday scenario” for […]

Rapaport Intelligence Report: Low Colors in High Demand

Larger diamonds with J grades and down are gaining popularity among wealthier US consumers. What’s driving the craze? Large diamonds in low colors are a hot market in the US. The Rapaport Intelligence Report asks why. The trend represents an important shift in how higher-end consumers perceive diamonds. Those seeking 2.50-carat and larger goods are […]

Do Jewelry Consumers Care About Traceability?

Despite the buzz over digital diamond tracking, today’s customers value honest conversations more than flashy devices. The diamond industry, which is notoriously averse to change, is facing a new challenge when it comes to documenting a stone’s provenance: a lack of interest from customers. A 2024 report from McKinsey & Company declared that “diamond producers should continue […]

The Diamond Disconnect

The contrast between the performance of the retail jewelry sector and diamond mining revealed in the recent round of earnings is striking.  At retail, Watches of Switzerland said its Roberto Coin business delivered an excellent US holiday season. Swatch Group noted that Harry Winston had a record month in December, while Birks Group reported comparable-store […]

Antwerp Sightholders Back Gareth Penny’s De Beers Bid – Sources

Belgian diamond companies Diarough and Pluczenik have joined former De Beers CEO Gareth Penny’s bid for the miner as the deadline nears for making an offer, Rapaport News has learned. The two Antwerp-based manufacturing and trading businesses would provide a financial investment in return for a stake in De Beers, sources with knowledge of the matter told Rapaport […]

Five Major Suppliers Push Rough Supply into Uncharted Territory

Angola’s declaration of its 2025 diamond production and exports highlights just how much the rough market has changed.  Today, five groups shape the diamond market: De Beers, Alrosa, Angola, Okavango Diamond Company and the tender houses. That marks a clear shift from its historic structure.  De Beers (in)famously controlled supply for about a century, largely […]

Alrosa Invests in Growing Russia’s Diamond-Cutting Sector

Alrosa CEO Pavel Marinychev met with members of the Smolensk regional leadership to discuss expanding the country’s diamond-cutting industry, as well as launching a training program. The meeting with Smolensk region Governor Vasily Anokhin and Deputy Chairman of the region government Pyotr Ilyukhun took place at natural-diamond cutting factory Kristall, which belongs to the Alrosa […]

South Africa Tightens Rough Rules to Boost Local Manufacturing

Guidelines require producers to offer reasonable prices and assortments. South Africa’s diamond regulator has introduced new guidelines requiring rough producers to offer their goods to local buyers on more attractive terms. Miners in the country already have to make 10% of their run-of-mine rough available for the State Diamond Trader (SDT) to purchase. After that, […]