(IDEX Online) - Prices showed signs of stabilizing during April, with an even mix of increases and decreases in many sizes, especially fancy cuts. Overall there were more clusters of price rises than we have seen of late.

It's too early to positively identify a clear upward trend, but the "end of the lab grown boom" is arguably having an impact. Lab grown prices are now so low - in some case just 10 per cent of natural - that many jewelers are opting not to stock them in inventory and are only buying them on consignment.

In addition the G7 sanctions, in place since 1 March, are now starting to bite, and to slowly push up prices.

They have effectively restored the De Beers monopoly, although its rough production is down by almost a quarter so far this year (as is Rio Tinto's) and rough sales remain sluggish (down 18 per cent on last year). Meanwhile polished exports from India fell by 27 per cent during March to $1.2bn.

Rounds

A more mixed picture than we have seen in recent months, with lower activity overall in goods under 0.5-cts, but plenty of movement elsewhere. Among 1.00-cts to 1.99-cts D-color goods (IF-VS2) prices all rose, while among G-color they all fell. Goods under 0.29-cts saw prices fall, primarily among L and M colors. Elsewhere there were more clusters of price increases than of late in all goods over 1.50-cts.

 

Fancies

Fancies fared much the same as rounds during April, with a fairly even mix of increases and decreases. In previous months price drops have dominated. Much of the activity was among goods over 2.00-cts, with many prices rising, and many falling. As with rounds, 1.00-cts to 1.24-cts saw a small number of increases and decreases, mostly among I+ and SI1+. Notable price drops in goods under 0.29-cts in L-M.

 

Rounds

0.18-0.22 ct. L-M / IF-SI3 -6-12.5%

0.23-0.29 ct. L-M / IF-SI3 -5.5-10%

0.30-0.39 ct. N / SI1-I1 +8.5-11%

0.40-0.44 ct. D / IF-VVS2 -2-6%

0.45-0.49 ct. D-E / IF-VVS2 -3.5-4.5%

0.50-0.69 ct. D-F / IF-VVS2 -3.5-6%

0.70-0.79 ct. D-I / IF-VS2 -2-5%

0.80-0.89 ct. D-I / IF-VS2 -2-5%, D-E / SI2-3 +2%

0.90-0.99 ct. D-E / IF-VVS1 -1-4.5%, D-E / VVS2-VS1 +3.5-4.5%

1.00-1.24 ct. D-F / VVS2-VS1 +4-5%, F-I / IF-VVS1 -1-7%

1.25-1.49 ct. D-I / VVS1-SI1 -0.5-6%

1.50-1.99 ct. D-E / VVS1-VS2 +1-4.5%, D-I / SI1-2 -1-5%

2.00-2.99 ct. D-G / VVS2-VS2 +2.5-5%, G-N / IF-VVS1 -2-5%

3.00-3.99 ct. D-H / VVS1-VS2 +2-5%, E-H / SI2-3 -0.5-4.5%

4.00-4.99 ct. E-I / VS1-2 +1-4%, K-M / VS2-SI1 -1-2%

5.00-5.99 ct. D-F / SI1-I2 -1-5%, E-F / VVS1-VS1 +1-2%

 

Fancy Cuts

0.18-0.22 ct. L-M / IF-SI3 -6-12.5%

0.23-0.29 ct. L-M / IF-SI3 -5.5-10%

0.30-0.39 ct. N / SI1-I1 +8.5-11%

0.40-0.44 ct. D / IF-VS1 -2-6%

0.45-0.49 ct. D-E / IF-VVS2 -3.5-5.5%

0.50-0.69 ct. D-F / IF-VS2 -3.5-6.5%

0.70-0.79 ct. D-I / IF-VS2 -2-5% 

0.80-0.89 ct. D-G / IF-VS2 -1-5%, D-E /SI2-3 +2%

0.90-0.99 ct. D-E / IF-VVS1 -1.5-4.5%, D-E / VVS2-VS1 +1.5-4.5%

1.00-1.24 ct. D-F / VVS2-VS1 +4-5%, F-I / IF-VVS1 -1-7%

1.25-1.49 ct. D-I / VVS1-SI1 -1-6.5%

1.50-1.99 ct. D-E / VVS1-VS2 +1-5%, I-J / IF-VS2 -4.5-5.5%

2.00-2.99 ct. D-H / VVS2-VS2 +2.5-3%, H-N / IF-VVS1 -2-5%

3.00-3.99 ct. D-H / VVS1-VS2 +2-5%, E-G / SI2-3 -1-4.5%

4.00-4.99 ct. E-I / VS1-2 +1-4%, H-I / IF-VVS1 -2-2.5%

5.00-5.99 ct. E-F/ VVS1-VS2 +1-2%, D-F / SI1-I1 -1-4.5%