(IDEX Online News) – The flat price trend of round polished diamond in the past few months may finally be changing. While prices were stable though most of May, in the last few days of the month – and into June – prices started to edge up just before the Las Vegas shows started.

 

The full analysis of the polished diamond prices is available to IDEX Online Research subscribers and IDEX Online members here.

 

The IDEX Online Polished Diamond Price Index edged up 0.7 percent to 140.3 on May 31 from 139.3 on May 1.

 

Source: IDEX Online

 

The Index averaged 139.6 in May, nearly flat (-0.1%) compared to April’s average (139.8) but up 5.7 percent year-over-year.

 

The slim month-over-month change is a seven-month trend. With the exception of December when prices increased 1.0 percent, the Index has been edging up and down by a few tenths of a percent.

 

Source: IDEX Online

 

For specific items, the picture is a little more complex. Round goods edged lower in May, while the under-priced square cuts caught the attention of buyers and are in increasing demand. As a result, one-carat Princess cuts made one of the largest month-over-month price increases – 1.4 percent.

 

Among the rounds, the 5-carat goods increased 1.6 percent in May as compared to April, continuing the increases seen in April, though at a much slower pace.

 

Prices of rounds from 1 carat to 4 carat have declined during the month.

 

Outlook

If the JCK Las Vegas show ends on a high note, and at publication time all indications are that diamond sales went well, prices of polished diamonds may start climbing upwards in the short-term. This is dependent on a number of factors, including how flexible wholesalers had to be with prices to conclude transactions. This leads to the Hong Kong show later this month. If demand continues there, prices will head up, especially considering that theses two shows cater to two different regions.

 

In the long-term, our outlook remains unchanged – rising demand against constricting supply pressing prices upwards.

The full analysis of the polished diamond prices is available to IDEX Online Research subscribers and IDEX Online members here. Click here for more information on how to subscribe or become a member.