Though August tends to be a slow month for polished diamond imports into Japan, compared to last year, imports increased. Japan imported in August 171,733 carats of polished diamonds worth $63.8 million, rising 38.7 percent in value.

The seasonal dip behind, Belgium's polished diamond exports rebounded in September. Belgium exported 731,221 carats of polished diamond worth $1.64 billion, tripling in value compared to August.

With low demand for polished diamonds and pricing uncertainty dogging both rough and polished markets, the smaller diamond cutting and polishing firms in India may close early for vacations — and stay closed longer.

Dr Mark Bristow is Rockwell Diamonds Inc. non-executive Chairman, replacing David Copeland who has stepped down, the diamond miner announced Monday.

Botswana exported $594.3 million worth of polished and rough diamonds in July, shooting up 371.3 percent year-over-year, based on figures released by the Bank of Botswana.

Antwerp's traders created a half billion dollar overhang in August after their exports were slashed to 40 percent of their usual levels, based on figures released Tuesday by the AWDC.

Japan imported $65.4 million worth of polished diamonds in July, rising 15.6 percent compared to July 2010. The rise reflects soaring polished prices as well as a renewed appetite for the luxury item.

Even tough Belgium eased its rough diamond imports in August, imports still far exceeded demand, resulting in many of the goods remaining in the trading center in August.

Y.Y. Lawrence Ma has been elected for a two-year term as President of the Executive Committee of the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong. Sik Wah Leung was named honorary life president.

De Beers and the Canadian diamond producers will maintain their current prices and supplies until the end of the year, the president of the Israeli diamond exchange claims, hinting that prices of rough diamonds won’t increase.

The recent reports of possible rough diamond shortages due to no major resource discoveries may have been premature. A new source may have been found with only one shortcoming – its distance from any manufacturing center.

As Japanese consumers increase their purchases of high-ticket items, the country's imports of diamonds also reflect a less for more trend. Polished diamond imports in June increased 18.1 percent in value while retreating 37.4 percent by volume compared...