This week, all eyes are on the Hong Kong's Jewellery & Gem Fair which opened on Monday. Trade in the U.S. was steady; 1.00-2.00 are still selling well. Antwerp had good demand as well, though it was not as strong as last week, attributed to the people attending the Hong Kong fair. Ramat Gan showed a slight drop, but prices for polished remain firm; here too, many local buyers are visiting Hong Kong. Mumbai trade showed slower movement; traders in Hong Kong are already reporting that high asking prices are deterring potential buys. Hong Kong is relishing its attention as many visitors are attending the jewelry fair, interested in making buys because of the time and effort spent at attending. However, prices remain an issue lowering the expected number of concluded deals.

U.S.

No significant change was seen over the past seven days in the US market, with trading levels and demand trends remaining stable. 1.00-2.00 carats continue to sell well, as do smaller goods of 1/10 and below in medium to top qualities. Increasing sales are seen for stones sized 1/5-1/2 carats.

Rounds

0.005-0.15 cts, D-J / pique, slow

0.005-0.15 cts, D-J / SI2+, good demand

1/10-1/2, D-J / I1-2, picking up

1/5-1/2, D-J / SI2+, demand up

0.75-0.90 cts, D-K / SI1-2, picking up

1.00 cts, G-J / SI+, good demand

1.00-3.00 cts, D-M / VS+, good demand

2.00-3.00 cts, D-K / SI1-2, picking up

Fancy Cuts

Fancy shapes, 1.00-3.00 cts, across the board, good demand

Cushions, Ovals, Emeralds and Asschers, 3.00-4.00 cts, D-K / SI+, selling

Antwerp

The Belgian diamond exchange showed some movement and decent demand levels for polished, although somewhat lower than last week, with many traders away at the Hong Kong show, and a significantly lower than usual presence of overseas buyers. For the most part, traders are optimistic about the demand levels picking up further in the near future.

Rounds

0.005-0.15 cts, F-J / pique, moving

0.005-0.15 cts, F-J / SI+, good demand

1/5, D-J / VS+, picking up

1/4-3/4, white / pique, mediocre demand

0.25-0.90 cts, G-K / SI+, good makes, picking up

1.00-2.00 cts, white / pique, including goods for treatment, moving

1.00-3.00 cts, G-L / SI1+, good makes, good demand, strong pressure on prices

1.00+ cts, fancy colors, mediocre demand

4.00+ cts, G-L / VS+, picking up

Fancy Cuts

Princesses, Pears and Emeralds, 1.00-3.00 cts, D-K / SI+, mediocre demand

Marquises, Radiants, Ovals, and Hearts, 1.00-3.00 cts, G-K / SI+, mediocre demand

Tapers and Baguettes, 1/10-1/6, D-I / SI+, picking up

Ramat Gan

The trading levels at the Israeli Diamond Exchange showed a slight drop compared to last week, as a lot of traders are away, participating at the Hong Kong trade show and there were practically no overseas buyers present. This said, prices for polished are holding firm. The general mood in the market remains optimistic.

Rounds

0.005-0.15 cts, D-J / pique, slow

0.005-0.15 cts, D-J / VS+, picking up

1/5, across the board, slow

1/4-1/2, white / pique, mediocre demand

0.25-0.90 cts, G-K / SI+, good makes, selling

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

1.00-3.00 cts, white / pique, including goods for treatment, good demand

1.00-3.00 cts, G-K / SI+, good makes, good demand

4.00+ cts, G-L / VS+, mediocre demand

Fancy Cuts

Princesses and Pears, 1.00-4.00 cts, G-J / SI+, mediocre demand

Radiants, Asschers and Cushions, 1.00-4.00 cts, G-J / SI+, slow

Marquises, Emeralds, Hearts and Ovals, 1.00-4.00 cts, G-J / SI+, mediocre demand

5.00+ cts, all fancy shapes, slow

Mumbai

The Mumbai diamond market showed comparatively slower movement than the previous week, possibly attributed to the high number of Indian traders away at the Hong Kong show. Initial feedback from the show is that Indian buyers present in Hong Kong are not able to buy many goods at the show so far, because they feel that asking prices are far too high, leaving them with no margin room when selling the goods downstream.

Rounds

0.005-0.15 cts, F-J / SI+, selling

1/5, H-J / VS, mediocre demand

1/4-3/8, white / pique, slow

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

1/2-3/4, white / pique, including goods for treatment, selling

0.80-0.90 cts, F-J / VVS, mediocre demand

1.00-3.00 cts, D-K / SI to pique, good demand, mainly by overseas buyers

1.00-3.00 cts, H-J / SI1+, good makes, good demand, against a shortage of supply

4.00+ cts, D-M / VS+, slow

Fancy Cuts

Emeralds and Stabbes (wide baguettes), 0.25-1.00 cts, D-J / VS+, demand up

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

Marquises, Pears and Hearts, 1.00-3.00 cts, H-J / VS+, mediocre demand

Princesses, 2.00-3.00 cts, H-J / VS, selling

All fancy cuts, 4.00+ cts, across the board, slow

Far East

All eyes are on Hong Kong this week with the big show already in progress. Diamond sales at the show started comparatively below the expectations the traders had expressed last week. Buyers and sellers are unable to conclude deals due to differences in prices, which according to buyers are too high and leave them no room to sell goods downstream with a profit. Of course, the exact outcome of the show will be known only next week, and in the meantime, traders present at the show are hoping that it will be worthwhile for them having come a long way.

Rounds

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

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

1/5, G-J / VS+, good demand

1/4-3/4, white / pique, mediocre demand

1/4-3/4, H-J / SI+, good demand

1.00-3.00 cts, H-L / SI+, good demand, pressure on prices

1.00-5.00 cts, D-J / pique, mediocre demand

4.00+ cts, D-M / VS+, mediocre demand

Fancy Cuts

Princesses and Emeralds, 1/10-1/3, H-K / SI+, selling

Princesses, Radiants and Emeralds, 1.00-3.00 cts, H-K / SI+, mediocre demand

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

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

All fancy cuts, 4.00+ cts, mediocre demand