Carat
Carat weight remains a defining factor in the value and appeal of diamonds and other gemstones, making it a key consideration for professionals across the jewellery trade. For UK jewellers, designers, and wholesalers, staying informed on how carat trends influence pricing, consumer demand, and supply chain decisions is essential. Jewellery Focus offers in-depth coverage on carat-related topics, including market analysis, consumer education, pricing strategies, and insights into the ethical sourcing of larger stones. Our reporting helps trade professionals navigate this critical aspect of the gemstone and diamond market.
-
May- 2017 -22 MayAuctions
Boot-sale diamond to be auctioned for £350,000
A diamond ring which was bought for £10 decades ago is expected to fetch £350,000 at auction. The owner, who does not want to be identified, bought it at a car boot sale at West Middlesex Hospital 30 years ago, believing it to be a piece of costume jewellery. It…
Read More » -
18 MayAuctions
De Beers to auction own polished diamonds for first time
De Beers has announced that it will auction polished diamonds manufactured from its own rough at its auction sales business for the first time in its history. It is piloting the sales of polished diamonds accompanied by its grading business, the International Institute of Diamond Grading & Research (IIDGR) and…
Read More » -
16 MayCurrent Affairs
GIA warns of ‘hybrid’ diamonds
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has warned of “hybrid” diamonds entering the supply chain after uncovering a natural diamond with a blue synthetic coating. Claiming that the stone was the first of its kind that the institute had encountered, it reported that a number of “unusual characteristics” gave away…
Read More » -
16 MayAuctions
Graff Diamonds acquires 323-carat diamond for £13.5m
British jewellers Graff Diamonds says it has acquired a 323.72-carat rough fragment of the Lesedi La Rona diamond. The rough diamond, which was mined in Botswana, was sold by Lucara Diamond Corp for $17.5m (£13.5m) last week to an undisclosed buyer. Graff Diamonds subsequently revealed that it had made the…
Read More » -
Apr- 2017 -13 AprilInternational
Diamond prices pick up after ‘disappointing’ first quarter
The diamond market was “significantly” weaker in the first quarter of the year when compared with previous figures, according to Rapaport. The report noted that retailers were “cautiously replacing their inventory”. It said that, although March had seen an improvement in prices, the Easter holidays had led to a slowing…
Read More » -
3 AprilNews
Diamond market improves after a slow first quarter
The diamond market showed improvements in March after Chinese demand at the Hong Kong exhibition was better than expected. The latest RapNet Diamond Index from the Rapaport Group found the price of 1-carat polished diamonds increased by 0.1% in March and was down 1.1% during the first quarter. There was…
Read More » -
Mar- 2017 -17 MarchCurrent Affairs
Sierra Leone pastor finds huge 709-carat diamond
A Christian pastor in Sierra Leone has discovered one of the world’s largest uncut diamonds. The 709-carat stone was found by Emmanuel Momoh in the Kono district. He handed it to to a local chief who then passed it on to Sierra Leone’s president Ernest Bai Koroma. The diamond is…
Read More » -
14 MarchEconomy
Hallmarking figures plummet in February
The total number of hallmarked items plummeted 24.8% in February, a decrease of 189,700 pieces when compared with the same month last year. Figures released by the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, showed there was a total of 576,610 articles hallmarked during the month…
Read More » -
Feb- 2017 -21 FebruaryEconomy
Gold drags down January hallmarking figures
Gold hallmarking has continued to fall at the start of 2017, dragging down overall hallmarking figures for the month of January. Figures released by the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, found there was a total of 266,613 gold articles hallmarked during the month –…
Read More » -
20 FebruaryAuctions
Jewellery from best-selling author Jackie Collins to go under the hammer
Jewellery owned by the late best-selling author Jackie Collins is set to be sold at auction later this year. The collection of jewels will include a 6.04-carat diamond and platinum ring estimated at $100,000 (£80,000)-$150,000 (£120,000); an Art Deco diamond, emerald, stone and platinum necklace at $40,000 (£32,000)-$50,000 (£40,000); and…
Read More »