IDEX Price Report for 1 April: More Losses for Rounds and Fancies

Signet, the world's largest retailer of diamond jewelry, reported a 6.3 per cent fall in net sales for Q4 and cautioned that the recovery would be slow.

De Beers echoed that view as it announced a modest increase in rough sales at its second sight of the year ($430m, down 13 per cent).

"Consumer demand for diamond jewellery is growing in India but remains sluggish in China," said CEO Al Cook.

"Overall, we expect that the ongoing recovery in rough diamond demand will be gradual as we move through the year."

Meanwhile there's been turmoil in Antwerp, where traders now have to provide evidence that the goods they're importing are not from Russia.

They say delays of a week or more are disrupting their businesses, and they have lobbied the Belgian prime minister to intervene.

Highlighted changes

Rounds

2.00-2.99 ct. D-E / IF-SI1 -0.5-4%, H-L / VVS2-VS2 -0.5-4.5%

4.00-4.99 ct. D-F / IF-SI3 1-4%, H-M / IF-VS1 +1-3%

5.00-5.99 ct. D-G / IF-I1 -1-4.5%

Fancy Cuts

1.00-1.24 ct. D-H / IF-SI1 -2-6%

1.25-1.49 ct. D-G / IF-SI2 -1-5.5%

2.00-2.99 ct. D-F / IF-VVS2 -0.5-4%, G-N / I3 +8-18%

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