EditorsSep 15, 2025
Skipping the Necklace, Embracing Snakes: The Best Jewelry From the 2025 Emmy AwardsAssociate Editor Natalie Francisco shares eight of her favorite jewelry looks from the 77th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, held Sunday night.
SourcingFeb 01, 2016
De Beers ‘encouraged’ by first sales of the year
The diamond miner and marketer said rough diamond sales totaled $540 million in its first sales cycle of the year, more than double the $248 million recorded at the end of 2015.
After a dismal ending to 2015, De Beers saw its rough diamond sales increase 118 percent in the first sales cycle of the year. Seasonal demand in the U.S. helped push polished diamonds through the pipeline, stimulating demand for rough.
Gaborone, Botswana--Rough diamond sales have shown signs of recovery so far in 2016, figures released last week by De Beers show.
Accounting for both sightholder and auction sales, De Beers reported that its rough diamond sales totaled $540 million in January. That is more than double the $248 million in sales recorded in the final sales cycle of 2015.
A “positive” holiday season in the United States, combined with the fact that manufacturers and polishers bought less rough in the fourth quarter and slowed manufacturing, helped to push some of the polished diamonds through the backed-up pipeline. This, in turn, meant more companies needed to buy rough during this first sales cycle of the year.
In a statement included in De Beers’ sales news release, CEO Philippe Mellier said he was “encouraged” by the results and noted that the company will “keep working closely with our customers to deliver sustainable improvements in the diamond industry in 2016,” a year in which there is expected to be volatility in the marketplace.
It is believed that this is the first time in its 128-year history that De Beers has disclosed rough diamond sales data on a cycle-by-cycle basis.
As Mellier noted in his speech during parent company Anglo American’s investor day in December, De Beers has started releasing the cycle-by-cycle sales figures so the market doesn’t “rely on rumors” when it comes to rough diamond prices.
When asked what rumors Mellier was addressing specifically in his speech, De Beers spokesman David Johnson said it was the reports in the trade press “speculating” on what they believed the company’s rough diamond sales to be, reports that could be “significantly different” from the actual results.
Rapaport (Diamonds.net) is one example of trade website that regularly published estimated figures on De Beers’ sightholder sales.
Mellier also said that the release of the cycle-by-cycle figures was part of an effort by De Beers to increase transparency, noting in his speech that “you (meaning Anglo American investors) have been asking a lot of questions about how we are doing and you wanted to understand a little bit more (about) our business.”
There are limits, however, to how much information De Beers is willing to disclose.
The figures released last week did not include year-over-year comparisons, and Johnson said Monday that De Beers will not break down the sales value by channel, i.e. sightholder sales vs. auction sales, because it does not want
to share information about its operations that could be beneficial to its competitors.
More on Sourcing
The Latest
SurveysSep 15, 2025
Resilient Shoppers to Boost Holiday Retail Sales, Says DeloitteIt’s predicting a rise in retail sales this holiday season despite economic uncertainty and elevated inflation.
EditorsSep 12, 2025
Out & About: Mining Sapphires in Rock Creek, MontanaAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore headed out West for a visit to Potentate Mining’s operation hosted by gemstone wholesaler Parlé Gems.
Brought to you by
reDollar.com Is Rolling Out the Next Level Jewelry, Diamond & Watch Consignment ProgramWith their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.
TrendsSep 12, 2025
Piece of the Week: Arunashi’s Fordite and Rhodolite EarringsFordite is a man-made material created from the layers of dried enamel paint that dripped onto the floors of automotive factories.
Weekly QuizSep 12, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsSep 12, 2025
Al Gilbertson Wins 2025 Robert M. Shipley AwardGilbertson has worked as a researcher, jeweler, lapidary artist, appraiser, and business owner throughout his decades in the industry.
Policies & IssuesSep 11, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case in November A decision likely won’t come until January 2026 at the earliest, and the tariffs remain in effect until then.
Brought to you by
Rallying Call for the Jewelry Industry on Tariffs and Other Key IssuesJewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.
MajorsSep 11, 2025
Tabayer Opens Nordstrom Shop-In-ShopLocated in the revamped jewelry hall at the retailer’s New York City flagship, this opening is Tabayer’s first shop-in-shop.
SourcingSep 11, 2025
Need to Sell More Natural Diamonds? De Beers Has an App for ThatThe new, free app offers accessible educational content, like games and podcasts, for U.S. retailers.
MajorsSep 10, 2025
Stuller to Swap Gold Scrap for Full Credit to AccountAs the gold price rises, the manufacturer is offering a 100 percent payout through Sept. 30 for gold clean scrap.
SourcingSep 10, 2025
Tech Meets Style in the New Loewe x Jacob & Co. HeadphonesJacob & Co. partnered with the German technology company on two pairs of headphones, one set with diamonds and the other with sapphires.
TrendsSep 10, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Archival Jewels Bring Life to ‘Frankenstein’Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 “Frankenstein” will feature 27 jewels and objects from the storied brand, including pieces from its archives.
MajorsSep 10, 2025
24 Karat Club of New York’s Banquet to Return to Waldorf AstoriaThe Waldorf Astoria New York’s grand reopening this past summer means a homecoming for the industry group’s annual event.
SourcingSep 09, 2025
Anglo American to Merge With Canadian Copper Miner Anglo plans to merge with Teck Resources Ltd. to form Anglo Teck. The deal changes nothing about its plans to offload De Beers.
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
‘The Mellon Blue’ to Return to Auction, This Time at Christie’s The 9.51-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, which set two world auction records at Sotheby’s in 2014, is estimated to fetch up to $30 million.
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
Phillips Names Dianne Batista Head of Jewels, New YorkThe industry veteran joins the auction house as it looks to solidify its footprint in the jewelry market.
MajorsSep 09, 2025
MJSA Education Foundation Announces 2025 Scholarship WinnersThe nonprofit awarded four students pursuing a professional career in jewelry making and design with $2,250 each.
IndependentsSep 08, 2025
Take a Look Inside the New Korman Store in AustinThe Texas-based jeweler has also undergone a brand refresh, debuting a new website and logo.
MajorsSep 08, 2025
MJSA Is Officially Now Under JA’s UmbrellaThe two organizations have finalized and signed the affiliation agreement announced in May.
AuctionsSep 08, 2025
Sotheby’s To Auction ‘Exceptional’ Collection of JAR, Suzanne Belperron JewelsThe single-owner sale will headline Sotheby's inaugural jewelry auction at the Breuer building, its new global headquarters, this December.
Events & AwardsSep 08, 2025
27 Can’t-Miss Converge Sessions, Events From sunrise yoga to tariffs talks, these are some events to check out at the upcoming inaugural event.
ColumnistsSep 05, 2025
Peter Smith: A Lasting Lesson From Maurice Tempelsman Smith recalls a bit of wisdom the industry leader, who died last week, shared at a diamond conference years ago.
CollectionsSep 05, 2025
Piece of the Week: Jamie Turner’s ‘Victoria’ Necklace The “Victoria” necklace features a labradorite hugged by diamond accents in 18-karat yellow gold.
Policies & IssuesSep 05, 2025
Trump Takes Tariffs Case to the Supreme Court Two lower courts have moved to block the import taxes, which will remain in place as the legal battle continues.
WatchesSep 05, 2025
Patrick Mahomes Is the New Hublot Brand AmbassadorThe Kansas City Chiefs quarterback shares Hublot’s dedication to pursuing greatness, the Swiss watchmaker said.
