This year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
Polished Diamond Prices Drop Again in June
Weak Las Vegas and Hong Kong shows and sluggish overall demand, despite a “steady” U.S. performance, brought polished prices down last month.

New York--Following declines in May ahead of the Las Vegas shows, polished diamond prices were down again last month, the Rapaport Group said in its monthly diamond price report.
The RapNet Diamond Index for 1-carat, GIA-graded diamonds fell 0.5 percent in June. Meanwhile, RAPI for 0.30-carat diamonds dropped 1.6 percent and RAPI for 0.50-carat diamonds slid 0.4 percent.
Prices for 3-carat diamonds declined 2.4 percent.
The Rapaport Group said sentiment softened in June after relatively weak Las Vegas and Hong Kong shows. Overall demand was sluggish but offset slightly by “steady” U.S. demand.
Brexit, the upcoming presidential election in the U.S. and continued weakness in China’s luxury sector also are fueling uncertainty.
In the second quarter of the year, RAPI for 1-carat diamonds fell 0.7 percent, offsetting some of the gains made in the first three months of the year, RapNet said. According to them, diamond markets slowed during the quarter, with some buyers pushing for deeper discounts.
The group added that polished inventory continued to increase as prices were under pressure.
Rough trading, meanwhile, was steady in June but slowed after the De Beers sight.
The company said rough diamond sales for its fifth sales cycle of the year were $560 million.
This is down from the $636 million sold in the fourth quarter, which also saw a decrease from the prior sales cycle and marked the first drop since the company started disclosing its rough diamond sales data on a cycle-by-cycle basis.
“Sales in the fifth cycle of the year were somewhat lower than in the fourth cycle, in line with our expectations and typical seasonal demand patterns,” CEO Philippe Mellier said. “Rough diamond demand and polished prices remain stable, reflecting steady consumer demand, but we maintain a cautious outlook.”
The Latest

As an homage to iconic crochet blankets, the necklace features the nostalgic motif through a kaleidoscope of cabochon-cut stones.

Discover the dozen up-and-coming brands exhibiting in the Design Atelier for the first time.

When investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.

The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.


Two existing executives have been given new roles.

Meredith Tiderington, an electrical engineering student, was selected for the award.

More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.

It will quit assigning the stones specific color and clarity grades in favor of applying “new descriptive terminology.”

From design trends to sustainability, here’s a roundup of can’t-miss education sessions at JCK Las Vegas.

The Jewelers’ Security Alliance offers advice for those attending the annual trade shows.

Her new role is director of strategic initiatives.

The designer is embracing bold pieces with weight to them in “AU79,” a collection she celebrated with a creative launch party.

On an earnings call, CEO J.K. Symancyk discussed what’s working for the company and how it’s preparing for the potential impact of tariffs.

The index partially rebounded after months of decline, due in part to the U.S.-China deal to temporarily reduce import tariffs.

The actress stars in the latest campaign set in Venice, Italy, and is set to participate in other creative initiatives for the jeweler.

The company has joined other labs, including GIA and Lotus Gemology, in adopting the Chinese term for "jadeite jade."

Located in Bangkok, the laboratory is Gemological Science International’s 14th location worldwide.

Those born in June have a myriad of options for their birthstone jewelry.

The diamond industry veteran has been named its senior sales executive.

The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.

Between tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.

Designed by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.

However, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.

The pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.

Sponsored by Stuller

It was featured in the miner’s latest sale, which brought in $24.8 million.