ALROSA To Hold Auction Of Large Diamonds In Israel

Alrosa 83.5 carat rough diamond

Alrosa the world’s largest diamond miner, will hold an auction for the sale of special size rough diamonds weighing over 10.8 carats in Israel from August 19 to September 6.

The company will auction 202 gem quality rough diamonds with a total weight of 3,165 carats. About 100 companies from Israel, Belgium, India, Hong Kong and Russia were invited to participate in the auction.

“The end of summer is traditionally a good time for auctions the demand for rough diamonds is growing. It is also relevant for Israel where our goods are always in demand and most local companies specialize in large size rough diamonds. According to all these factors we made changes to our plans and increased the number of stones for the sale. Now we look forward to a high demand for our diamonds and good results of the auction,” said Evgeny Agureev, a Member of the Executive committee, Director of the USO ALROSA.

Under Russian law, diamonds of special sizes weighing over 10.8 carats can only be sold at auctions.

ALROSA will hold another auction in Israel in November.

Source: IDEX Online

Mouawad Group Buys 51.38 Carat Dynasty Diamond From ALROSA

51.38 Carat Dynasty Diamond

The Mouawad Group has acquired the 51.38 carat Dynasty diamond, the central diamond in a collection offered for sale by ALROSA.

The total revenue from the sale of the Dynasty collection amounted to about $10 million.

Fred and Pascal Mouawad, co-guardians of the jewelry firm, said: “We’re very proud of this important acquisition. We will add it to our repertoire of historic diamonds. What attracted us to the Dynasty is not only its exceptional quality but the transparency of its history and the fact it’s the largest and most valuable diamond ever sold by ALROSA. It’s a rare gem with a remarkable record.”

ALROSA sold the Dynasty diamond at a public auction on its electronic trading platform on August 2. The miner said that the Dynasty stone, a traditional round brilliant-cut diamond, D color, VVS1 clarity was the best quality large diamond ever manufactured in Russia, and also the most expensive stone ever sold by ALROSA.

The Dynasty collection consisted of five diamonds manufactured from a 179-carat rough diamond. It took a year and a half to create the collection which was manufactured by the firm’s cutting and polishing division.

ALROSA held the first auction for the sale of the collection last November where four of the five stones were sold with final prices coming in at about 30% over reserve prices on average, the miner said.

Source: IDEX

Russia’s Alrosa says diamonds sales at $559.5 million in March

Alrosa Rough Diamonds

Russia’s diamond miner Alrosa said on Tuesday that its sales of rough and polished diamonds totaled $559.5 million in March.

There was a slight seasonal cooling off in demand in March,” Alrosa Deputy CEO Yury Okoemov said, according to a company statement.

Alrosa’s total diamond sales in the first quarter 2018 amounted to $1.606 billion, the company said.

Diamond Producers Association launches India operations

Diamond Producers Association

The Diamond Producers Association announced the launch of their operations in the country to build confidence among consumers.

India polishes 85 90 percent of the diamonds today accounts for only seven  percent of the global polished diamond consumption. DPA believe this is a huge opportunity to build the India market by promoting the integrity and reputation of diamonds and ensuring the sustainability of the industry.

DPA has reached out to 3,000 retailers and will offer training and education in diamonds.  DPA will expand training across the country.

The DPA is an alliance between ALROSA, De Beers, Dominion Diamond, Gem Diamonds, Lucara Diamond, Petra Diamonds and Rio Tinto. These are the leading diamond miners globally. Which together produce over 75 percent of the world’s rough diamond production.

DPA is also working with the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council to build trade relationships and best trade practices.

 

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If I buy a certified diamond, how do I know that the diamond in my ring is the one described on the diamond certificate or diamond grading report?

There are a number of ways to verify that your diamond matches the diamond certificate it is purchased with. If you purchased a diamond that is laser inscribed, ask your jeweller to show you the laser inscription under magnification. This way, you will always be able to identify the diamond as your own.

DCLA also performs a verification service, for both DCLA certified diamonds and for diamonds certified by other internationally recognised laboratories. Bring  or send your diamond, together with the diamond grading certificate, to the DCLA laboratory and the diamond will be conclusively matched against the certificate. DCLA can then cold laser inscribe the diamond with either the diamond grading certificate number, or with a personalised message.

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How do I know that my diamond certificate or diamond grading report is from an independent laboratory ?

Ask the jeweller if the diamond certificate comes from an independent diamond laboratory or if it produced by a diamond merchant or retailer, then do your research. Make sure the certificate is issued by the DCLA or another highly respected diamond grading laboratory; DCLA is the only diamond grading laboratory worldwide to offer a full-replacement Diamond Grading Guarantee.

$2.1 billion in diamonds from Russia for Indian companies

Twelve Indian diamond companies including Kiran Gems, Asian Star and Rosy Blue India, have signed three year contracts with ALROSA at the World Diamond Conference,

Each of the companies signed separate contracts with ALROSA and will buy rough diamonds worth USD 2.1 billion or about USD 700 million per year for a period of three years. This will assist the companies save considerable amount of commissions.

Pink star default

Inventory at Sotheby’s rose significantly due to acquisition of the Pink Star, renamed the Pink Dream the 59.60 ct, internally flawless, fancy vivid pink diamond which was sold to diamond cutter Isaac Wolf in November for $83,187,381 USD. The reason Sotheby’s acquired the rare stone is due to Wolf’s default.

Sotheby’s are quite comfortable with their valuation and comfortable in owning it at this price. Sotheby’s is currently pursuing a resolution with the buyer, while also considering other alternatives against the default.

European Union diplomats are touring the controversial Marange diamond fields.

REVENUE FROM DIAMONDS IS SET TO CONTRIBUTE US$600 MILLION TO FISCUS THIS YEAR.

The diplomats will visit four companies, Mbada, Marange Resources, Diamond Mining Corporation (DMC) and Anjin. They will also visit the ZRP Diamond Base.

Diamonds from Marange have courted controversy amid calls by civil society organisations that there is no transparency in the marketing of the gems.

Finance minister Tendai Biti has been complaining that Anjin has not been remitting money to treasury. Anjin is a joint venture between the Chinese and the Zimbabwe Defence Industries.

Biti has said despite claims that the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) owns Anjin, the state entity had no equity in the diamond producer.

 

No Credit, No Cry

A hot-button topic in today’s diamond industry is the practice of extending credit to customers.

In several impassioned “State of the Diamond Industry” addresses, Rapaport Group Chairman Martin Rapaport said the jewelry industry cannot extend credit to customers anymore, and made clear his feelings on buying diamonds on credit (‘credit memo’).

“I’m going to blast the hell out of credit,” Rapaport said before launching into his tirade. “It makes me want to throw up.” He said that we simply cannot sell to people on credit anymore, and that diamonds at all levels of the trade must be sold to “real” buyers who actually have the money to pay for them.

“You need real people with real money,” he said. “We can’t memo our way out of the recession.”

“If you don’t have the money and are not a player we love you, but you’re not a player.”

The diamond market relies too heavily on credit to finance the jewelry sector, and hurts it when stores file for bankruptcy as happens all too frequently in today’s economy.

“Just say no to memo and encourage cash purchases”. The jewelry industry must avoid those who are not financially capable of buying stones and paying their debts.

“You don’t have money, go screw yourself. That’s the bottom line,” Rapaport said, a statement that drew a hearty round of applause from the audience.

DCLA would like to help legitimate industry members protect their money and time by limiting bad payments and default debtors. As a central hub in the Australian market, DCLA is happy to verify and give good credit information to industry members.

Diamond dealers and jewellers are also welcome to call and receive information on companies or individuals having defaulted on a payment.

Also, please note that DCLA will be closing all customer credit accounts outstanding for a period greater than 60 days.