There is a glimmer of light for U.S. traders as shoppers finally begin their holiday purchasing. Goods in 0.75 to 2.00 carat sizes, especially medium priced goods, saw increased demand. Not so in Antwerp, which has only a few specific orders, mostly for smaller goods of 1/6 and below, H+ / VS-SI, rounds.

 

The Israeli market is likewise at a near standstill with practically no buyers at what is traditionally a busy period in Ramat Gan. Traders in Mumbai are still reeling from the effects of last week's terror attacks, which are likely to reduce the already low number of buyers in the market even further. In the Far East, local retailers are providing the only orders at the moment, but even this is offering some welcome relief.

 

 

U.S.

The New York market has – fortunately – picked up somewhat as the December holiday month gets underway. Trading activity this week surpassed the previous week, as last minute shoppers and procrastinators begin to come alive for the holidays.

Those dealers with inventories are feeling an increased demand over the last week, especially in 0.75 to 2.00 carat sizes, with emphasis on the medium priced goods. Sizes smaller and larger than this range are still quiet and it seems we will have to wait until January to see what goods sold, and what goods will be ordered to refill inventories.

 

Rounds

 0.005-0.15 cts, D-J / pique, slow

 

0.005-0.15 cts, D-J / VS+, mediocre demand

 

 1/5, D-J / VS+, moving

 

 1/4-3/4, white / pique, picking up

 

 0.25-0.90 cts, D-J / VS+, good makes, selling

 

 1.00-2.00 cts, D-J / VS+, picking up

 

 1-5 cts, white / pique, slow

 

2.50+ cts, D-M / SI1+, good makes, certified, mediocre demand

 

Fancy Cuts

 Princesses, Radiants, Asschers and Cushions, 1-5 (mainly 3.00+) cts, D-K / SI+, slow

 

Marquises, Pears, Ovals, Emeralds and Hearts, 0.25-5.00 (mainly 3.00+) cts, D-K / SI+, mediocre demand

 

 

Antwerp

Trading levels remain low with only a few specific orders from jewelry manufacturers from mainland Europe, mostly for smaller goods of 1/6 and below, H+ / VS-SI, rounds. The game of waiting and seeing continues.

 

Rounds

0.005-0.15 cts, D-J / pique, mediocre demand

 

 1/5, D-J / VS+, slow

 

 1/4-3/4, white / pique, slow

 

 0.25-0.90 cts, G-K / VS+, good makes, very slow

 

1-5 cts, white / pique, including goods for treatment, mediocre demand

 

 1.00+ cts, D-L / SI1+, good makes, slow

 

Fancy Cuts

 Princesses, Radiants, Asschers and Cushions, 1-5 (mainly 3.00+) cts, D-K / SI+, slow

 

 Marquises, Pears, Ovals, Emeralds and Hearts, 0.25-5.00 (mainly 3.00+) cts, G-K / SI+, slow

 

Tapers and bageuttes, 1/10-1/6, D-I / SI+, mediocre demand

 

 

Ramat Gan

No change in the low trading levels, with practically no overseas buyers in the market. Traders say these are the times when the exchange used to be full of buyers from the major centers of the world. Israeli traders are now concentrating on trying to collect payments for goods they have sold in the past months, which is proving very difficult.

 

Rounds

 0.005-0.15 cts, across the board, slow

 

 1/5, across the board, slow

 

1/4-3/4, across the board, mediocre demand

 

0.70-0.90 cts, white / pique, including goods for treatment, mediocre demand

 

 1-5 cts, white / pique, including goods for treatment, very slow

 

 1.00+ cts, D-K / VS-SI, good makes, slow

 

Fancy Cuts

 Princesses, Radiants, Asschers and Cushions, 1-5 cts, D-J / VS+, slow

 

Pears, 2.00-3.00 cts, D-J / VS+, mediocre demand

 

 Marquises, Emeralds, Hearts and Ovals, 1.00+ cts, D-J / SI+, slow

 

 

Mumbai

The already suffering Mumbai market is expected to suffer even more from the recent terror attacts on the diamond capital of India as the already low number of overseas buyers are expected to fall even further. Traders are shocked by recent events, finding it hard to comprehend that the anyway difficult market conditions could further deteriorate.

 

Rounds

 0.005-0.15 cts, across the board, slow

 

 1/4-3/4, white / pique, slow

 

1/4-3/4, D-J / SI+, good makes, mediocre demand

 

0.80-0.90 cts, D-I / VVS, mediocre demand

 

 1-3 cts, white / SI to pique, slow

 

1.00-1.25 cts, G-H / IF-VVS2, good makes, mediocre demand

 

1-3 cts, D-L / VS+, mediocre demand

 

 4.00+ cts, D-M / VS+, slow

 

Fancy Cuts

 Emeralds and Stabbes (wide baguettes), 1/4-3/4, D-J / VS+, slow

 

 Pears, Marquises and Hearts, 1/4-3/4, F-J / VS+, slow

 

 Emeralds, Pears, Marquises and Hearts, 3.00+ cts, H-J / VS+, very slow

 

 

Far East

Although generally sluggish movement continues in Hong Kong, the local retail market is showing a slight pick up. Orders are slowly filtering through, albeit in very low numbers compared to last year. Traders hope this trend will continue and are seeing the local retailers as their only hope at the moment.

 

Rounds

0.005-0.15 cts, white / SI2 to pique, mediocre demand

 

 0.005-0.15 cts, D-J / SI1+, good makes, slow

 

 1/5, G-J / VS+, slow

 

1/4-3/4, across the board, mediocre demand

 

 1-5 cts, white / pique, slow

 

 1-3 cts, H-L / SI+, slow

 

 4.00+ cts, D-M / VS+, very slow

 

Fancy Cuts

Princesses, Radiants and Emeralds, 1-3 cts, H-K / SI+, mediocre demand

 

 Princesses and Emeralds, 1/10-1/3, H-K / VS+, slow

 

Marquises, Pears, Ovals and Hearts, 1.00-3.00 cts, H-K / SI+, mediocre demand 

Tapers and Baguettes, 1/10-1/2, H-J / VS+, mediocre demand