RAPAPORT...
Antwerp
• 1 to 7 points: Everything’s moving. Rough goods in this category went up too much and polished did not keep pace with it. As typical U.S. market goods, piqués don’t follow the same trend.
• 20 to 50 points and 3-grainers: K-M colors are a little soft across the board. • 1 carat is pretty strong across the board. No availability in clean goods. Moving faster than 2-caraters in SI+, H+ goods.
• Fancy shapes: SI+ are strong, as is demand for 50-pointers+ in pears and hearts, but not so much in princess.
• Rough: The sky’s the limit!
China
• 10-per-carat, good make, VS+/H-I, are selling at approximately $630 to $660.
• 6-per-carat, good make, VS+/H-I, are selling at approximately $830 to $870.
• 4-per-carat, good make, VS+/H-I, are selling at approximately $1,040 to $1,080.
• 3-per-carat, good make, VS+/H-I, are selling at approximately $1,250 to $1,350.
• 10-per-carat, good make, VS+/I-J, are selling at approximately $560 to $610.
• 6-per-carat, good make, VS+/I-J, are selling at approximately $780 to $830.
• 4-per-carat, good make, VS+/I-J, are selling at approximately $920 to $1,200.
• 3-per-carat, good make, VS+/I-J, are selling at approximately $1,150 to $1,250.
• -1 point, SI/G-I, are selling at approximately $190 to $230.
• -2 points, SI/G-I, are selling at approximately $270 to $310.
• 3 to 7 points, SI/G-I, are selling at approximately $320 to $380.
• 10 points, SI/G-I, are selling at approximately $400 to $480.
• 15 points, SI/G-I, are selling at approximately $530 to $590.
Hong Kong
• Demand for large stones dominates. Stones of 5 carats and larger in all colors and clarities are very hot.
• Recent increases in the K-M prices in the Rapaport List might create some shifts in demand from the Indian buyers during the September show. But, overall, show exhibitors are expecting good results.
• Demand for 1-carat sizes remains stable but 2 carats are still weak.
• Setting sizes in Indian goods are beginning to be more in demand and should see an improvement, especially after the September show as jewelry manufacturers get new orders.
• Dossiers are moving well. 30 pointers, which were weak, are finding a new lease on life. 50 points and larger are still in good demand.
India• Rupee appreciation has led to a temporary halt on transactions, with traders in a wait-and-watch mode. There are shortages of goods across the board,
especially for collection goods.
• SI category is slower compared to better goods and lower piqué goods.
• There is very good movement across the board in -2 and melee category.
• Movement is stable for stars.
• 0.08 to 0.18 carats in VS1+ and I1-I2 are moving well.
• 1/5 and 1/3 sizes are moving well for lower-quality goods, mainly I1.
• 0.50 carats are stable overall, with better movement for SI category.
• 0.70 to 0.99 carats are moving more slowly than they used to and shortages for collection goods persist.
• Demand is stable for 1 carat+, with premium sizes doing very well in better-quality goods.
• Movement is average for 2 to 2.99 carats, with shortages in 2.60 carats+, VS+/I+.
• Demand is very good for 3 carats+ and shortages persist.
• In fancy shapes, marquise is selling very well and rough is commanding a premium due to shortages in supply and less production. Demand for princesses is comparatively weaker.
Israel
• Demand is high for clean goods and better F+ colors.
• Fancy colors in all sizes are popular.
• Demand is good for 1 carat, with decreased interest in 2 carats.
• 6 carats+ is hot.
• 2.5 carats+ pears and marquises are in demand, with good movement of 0.50- to 1.50-carat hearts.
Japan• Summer is gone, but no major movements are observed in the market.
• Larger stones are drying up in the market.
• As the yen is strengthening, diamond buying by foreigners has subsided.
• Japanese jewelry manufacturers are moving toward
traditional Asian materials such as coral, jade, pearls.
Russia• ALROSA’s 24th international rough diamond auction sold all 131 lots offered, consisting of 17,000 carats, for $38.4 million. The largest diamond weighed 229.11 carats and 12 were larger than 50 carats.
• Jewelry consumption in Russia increased 27 percent in the second quarter of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006, the World Gold Council (WGC) reported.
U.S. Retail• Earrings sell well, especially solitaires; pendants and bracelets follow.
• Carat size is usually 1 carat to nearly 2 carats, but starting size can be three-quarters of a carat.
• VS-SI for clarity, colors E-H, are less in demand among the more price-conscious.
U.S. Wholesale• Large rounds and princesses are in strong demand, but rounds are doing better.
• Small melees are doing very well.
• Modest demand exists for ovals.
• Some demand exists for yellow diamonds, half carat to 2 carats, in fancy yellows and pinks.
• Rough supply is tight, but keeping pace with demand.
Article from the Rapaport Magazine - October 2007. To subscribe click here.