Sentiment improves, with wholesale jewelers busy
filling Christmas orders. Record $25.3B Alibaba Singles’ Day (11/11) sales
signal strong mobile buying for upcoming holiday season. Polished trading
stable. Rough market cautious, with low profitability after $455M De Beers
sight. High polished inventory sinks Sarine 3Q sales -35% to $11M. Geneva
auctions disappoint. Christie’s sells $106M (75% by
lot), with emerald, 163ct., D, FL Art of de Grisogono going for $33.7M
($206,266/ct.). Sotheby’s sells $79M (87% by
lot), with 33.63ct., fancy light pink, VVS1 diamond fetching $12.8M
($381,154/ct.). Raj Pink fails to sell. Peace Diamond arrives in New York ahead
of Dec. 4 auction.
Fancies: Curved fancy shapes in good demand.
Ovals are strongest category, followed by Pears and
Cushions. Some squares — Emerald and Radiant — are okay, but Princess still
weak. Oversizes selling well. Steady demand for fine-quality 6 to 10 ct. Ovals,
Pears and Emeralds, with limited supply. US demand supporting market for
commercial-quality, medium-priced fancies under 1 ct. Far East demand improving
as consumers seek fancy shapes at better prices. Off-make, poorly cut fancies
illiquid and hard to sell, even at very deep discounts.
United States: Steady market, but dealers concerned about low profit margins.Better
to trade polished than manufacture rough. Good demand for 1 ct., G-J, VS-I2
diamonds. Engagement-ring market steady, with average spend +25% in last five
years to $6,351, according to The Knot. Rising expectations for retail holiday
season.
Belgium: Antwerp busier than last week. Steady trading, with sellers managing
expectations of demanding buyers. Robust interest in 0.30 to 1 ct., G-J, VS-SI
(3X, no-fluorescence) diamonds. VVS weak. Rough market stable, but low premiums
on secondary market. African Diamond Conference and Rough Diamond Days events
attract attention and support Antwerp’s claim as rough-diamond trading center.
Israel: Positive sentiment as trading improves from last month. Stable US demand,
with dealers filling holiday orders. A lot of goods sent out on memo. Steady interest
in 1 ct., F-J, VS-SI2 diamonds. 2 ct. SIs moving well. Dealers cutting costs to
improve margins. Large-stone rough market stable.
India: Trading returning to normal after Diwali, with dealers filling US and
Chinese holiday orders. Steady market for 1 ct., G-J, VS2-SI1 (3X,
no-fluorescence) diamonds. Rough demand stable, despite high polished inventory
levels. Factories ramping up polished production after Diwali break. Gold
jewelry demand slow in 3Q due to new GST tax system, World Gold Council
reports. Diwali sales average.
Hong Kong: Positive outlook as retail improves ahead of Christmas and Chinese New
Year. Positive sentiment after Alibaba’s record online Singles’ Day sales.
Jewelers preparing omni-channel offering for holiday season. Good demand for 1
ct., D-H, VS-SI1 (3X, no-fluorescence). Fancy color diamonds gaining
popularity, especially pinks and blues.
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