(IDEX Online News) – After a slight decline in September following increases in July and August, the IDEX polished diamond price index showed a very slight increase in October.

 

The Index began the month at 119.44 and ended at 119.70.

 

 

Diamond Prices Show Multi-Month Decline

Polished diamond prices have declined since the middle of last year. The index is at one of its lowest point for more than three years as the graph below illustrates.

 

 

The graph of polished diamond prices since January 2014 shows a 9.3-percent decline to-date.

 

On a month-to-month basis, global polished diamond prices in October saw a decrease of 0.3 percent over September.

 

 

On a year-over-year basis, the average price in October showed a 2.0-percent decrease.

 

 

Diamond Prices by Size Decrease

On a month-to-month basis – comparing prices during October 2017 to September 2017 – there were five declining categories and one riser as seen in the graph below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On a year-over-year basis, there were four decliners and two risers. While the 2.0-carat and 4.0-carat categories rose, all the others declined, as can be seen in the graph below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over the longer term, the general trend is that 4-carat stones have shown the most price volatility, although 3-carat diamonds have displayed the steepest year-over-year decline since mid-2015, as the graph below illustrates. From December 2015 onwards, there has been relative price stability in 1-carat, 1.5-carat and 2-carat stones.

 

 

Outlook

 

October was a relatively quiet month due to the Jewish festival of Succot in the first half of the month, and the Diwali festival in the second part of October.

 

Diamond traders are looking forward to more stable trading in November and December, with demand expected from Europe and the United States ahead of the Christmas holiday, and also from the Far East ahead of the Chinese New Year.