India’s gross polished diamond exports totaled $2.22 billion in May, growing 14.2% from last year, according to preliminary figures released by the GJEPC. By volume, exports increased by 17.7% to 5.04 million carats.

Jewelers of America (JA) leaders and board members of JAPAC, the Jewelers of America Political Action Committee, will today (Wednesday) with U.S. legislators in Washington, D.C.

Leading Indian diamond manufacturer Venus Jewel is the first Responsible Jewellery Council member in India to achieve certification, meeting the ethical, human rights, social and environmental standards established by the RJC Member Certification System.

Fresh from exciting European soccer fans around the world with a successful UEFA Championship campaign, FC Barcelona Manager Pep Guardiola is lending a hand to support an Israeli medical cause. An official Champions League ball signed by Guardiola is up for auction organized by the Israel Diamond Exchange.

Eli Avidar, Managing Director of the Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies (IDI), has joined the President's Council of CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, the organization announced today (Monday). The President's Council, the highest governing body in the confederation, is responsible for making strategic decisions. It consists of the CIBJO officers and five other member representatives, each of whom is appointed by the President.

A fatal accident occurred on the morning of June 17 at Rockwell Diamonds Tirisano mine project'. According to a company release, an employee suffered fatal injuries at a conveyor belt installation on the mine. All operations at Tirisano were immediately halted and the Mine, Health and Safety inspectorate of the Department of Mineral Resources was notified and has been on site.

The IDEX Online Polished Diamond Price Index set a record Monday, crossing 142.25, the highest level the Index reached since its introduction in July 2004. Diamond prices have been rising sharply in the first half of the fiscal year, especially so in the second quarter, as the graph below shows.

Executives from leading diamond industry financer ABN AMRO met with Israel’s Supervisor of Banks this week, as they are mulling over the possibility […]

Diamdel sold 251 of the 256 rough diamond lots it offered at its recent auction. Demand for large goods, 2+ ct items, grainers and smaller goods increased compared to the previous auctions, while demand for Near Gem goods "has shown some deterioration," the company said. The company, a subsidiary of De Beers, does not disclose the total achieved value of its auctions.

Over 70 of the 120 bidders at the first online rough diamond auction held by Arjav Diamonds were small dealers who were able to successfully compete for rough against large operators, an Arjav spokesman told IDEX Online. “The fact that many of the stones had already been through process planning on the Sarin Galaxy machine was a great boon to many small operators who otherwise don’t have access to this kind of technology,” the spokesman said, noting that successful bidders were given the process-planning CD along with the stone.

One of the by products of the high attention testimony by British model Naomi Campbell, ended yesterday with a simple no guilty ruling Wednesday. Jeremy Ractliffe, the former head of Nelson Mandela's Children's Fund, was found not guilty of illegally holding illicit rough diamonds. Ractliffe received the diamonds from Campbell after she got them as a gift from former Liberian president Charles Taylor.

Rio Tinto’s inaugural participation in the Las Vegas shows was well received the company said Thursday. The diamond miner sought to support its clients by showcasing them in its boots as well directed visitors to clients' booth via a mobile application. On show at the Rio Tinto booth were a number of elements of its marketing mix, including pink diamonds.