Articles and News

Tickets On Sale For DEF GOOD Awards

New York, NY—Tickets for the third annual Diamond Empowerment Fund GOOD Awards are now on sale. The GOOD Awards recognize individuals and corporations for outstanding leadership in the area of good corporate citizenship, sustainability, and promoting opportunity in Africa. This year’s honorees are Forevermark, JCK, and Fred Meyer Jewelers.

The GOOD Awards will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 Thursday, January 9, 2014, at the Empire Penthouse Lounge, 230 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The event is cocktail attire. Music will be provided by renowned DJ M.O.S., whose celebrity clients include Bill Clinton and Kanye West. He has been featured in a breadth of national publications including the New York Post, Us Weekly, OK! magazine, Star magazine, the New York Daily News, and Gotham magazine, and was recently interviewed on ABC’s Good Morning America. 

DJ M.O.S.

Individual tickets are $275 or two for $500. A Green Diamond Package includes two tickets and a four-color full-page journal ad. DEF is a 501©3 and tickets are tax deductible (minus $110 each).

Click here for ticket, journal, and sponsorship information.

Certified Polished Diamond Prices Stable in November

New York, NY—Certified polished diamond prices were stable in November, supported by improving demand during the Christmas shopping season, according to the latest report from Rapaport. Diamond dealers were focused on supplying U.S. jewelers’ strong demand for lower-priced commercial quality diamonds as mainstream consumers tighten their holiday shopping budgets.  On the luxury end, Rapaport reports strong demand for fancy colors.

The RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI) for 1-carat certified diamonds was down 0.1 percent in November. RAPI for 0.30-carat diamonds rose 1.4 percent during the month, while RAPI for 0.50-carat diamonds increased 0.2 percent. RAPI for 3-carat diamonds declined 0.3 percent.

Rough diamond trading on the secondary market improved as De Beers reduced prices by about 3 percent to 5 percent at its November sight, which closed with an estimated value of $480 million. The final sight of the year, scheduled to take place from December 9 to 12, is expected to be relatively large as sightholders have deferred taking goods from previous sights until the end of the year. Large stone rough tenders continue to garner strong demand and prices. 

Global diamond markets are being driven by the holiday season, although trading remains below levels witnessed in previous years. The positive momentum is expected to continue during December and January buoyed by last minute U.S. Christmas demand and steady Far East demand in preparation for the Chinese New year that begins on January 31. 

Separately, Rapaport Group chairman Martin Rapaport earlier this week penned an editorial titled "Sinthetics" about the recent influx of undisclosed synthetic diamonds into parcels of naturals. Echoing similar thoughts presented at a panel discussion during the 2013 Centurion Scottsdale show last February, Rapaport warns the diamond trade to sample test diamonds before delivery to retailers to keep the chain of integrity intact.