A pink topaz Belle Époque pendant-brooch and a Victorian Egyptian Revival choker were also highlights at a recent Anderson & Garland sale.
To Start the Year, De Beers’ Sales Rise 32%
The diamond miner and marketer sold $720 million in rough at its first sales cycle of the year.

Gaborone, Botswana--Rough diamond sales through Jan. 23 were up 32 percent year-over-year, De Beers Group said Tuesday.
In the first sales cycle of 2017, which includes both auction and sightholder sales, the diamond miner and marketer reported provisional sales of $720 million, compared with $545 million in the first sales cycle of 2016.
Commenting on the results, CEO Bruce Cleaver said demand was “good” across the majority of the company’s assortment of diamonds, also noting that the early part of the year is typically when rough demand is strongest. (In 2016, De Beers’ strongest sales cycle was the third; see chart below.)
Also contributing to the increased demand was the longer gap between the final sight of 2016 and the first sight of 2017.
In India, some diamond polishing operations reopened, which helped boost demand for smaller, lower-quality rough diamonds. Still, Cleaver said De Beers maintains a “cautious” outlook on the market, which is still trying to adjust to the government’s demonetization policy.
The policy banned the widely used 500 and 1,000 rupee notes in an effort to combat terrorism and corruption but has hurt India’s smaller and mid-sized diamond cutting companies, many of which deal in cash. Both De Beers and Alrosa noted the negative effects of the policy when reporting their year-end results in December.
In releasing its results for the first sales cycle of the year, De Beers also revised its provisional figure for the final sales cycle of 2016 upward, from $418 million to $422 million.
Here is the final chart of De Beers’ sales for 2016, plus the figure for the first sales cycle of this year.
De Beers’ strong start to the year follows the December report from Rapaport Group in which diamond dealers expressed optimism for the year ahead following a holiday season that was good for some--but not all--jewelers.
A number of independent retailers told National Jeweler they had their best Christmas in years while Signet Jewelers Ltd. struggled due to declining mall traffic and website troubles, and Tiffany & Co. said it took a hit because of Trump Tower.
The Latest

The charm is a celebration of springtime as April showers bring May flowers with the piece’s cluster of diamond raindrops.

The National Retail Federation expects retail sales growth to return to pre-pandemic levels as consumers continue to face inflation.

Bench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.

The 4-carat, old mine brilliant-cut diamond engagement ring was co-designed by Willis and New York City-based brand Karina Noel.


The multisensory experience, open April 8-13, will feature the brand’s silver creations among dream-like scenes of natural landscapes.

The virtual event will take place April 7 at 3 p.m.

Natural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.

The pieces in “Animali Tarallo” portray animals from stingrays to elephants through portraits and interpretations of their patterns.

Parent company Saks Global said the iconic location will be open through the holiday season as it decides what to do with the space.

Ronald Winston, son of Harry Winston, donated the diamonds to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

The educational event will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, this May.

The independent jeweler first opened its doors in 1888.

The layoffs come amid the TV shopping channel’s efforts to restructure and focus on live shopping through social media.

The debut event will take place in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood this fall.

The roundtable will take place May 17 ahead of the trade show’s welcome dinner.

The “Peanuts x Monica Rich Kosann” collection features the comic strip’s classic vocabulary across 10 bracelet designs.

Three industry experts dive into the complexities of the material often marketed as an “ethical” alternative for metal in jewelry.

Diamonds are not only one of the most prominent gemstones, but the birthstone for those born in April.

The Utah-based company known for making wedding bands has acquired Doubloon Golf.

The longtime luxury executive led one of LVMH’s watch brands, TAG Heuer, for 12 years before taking over Bulgari in 2013.

Authorities said the robbers fled with jewelry and 70 Rolex watches, later taking pictures of themselves posing with big stacks of cash.

Lotus Gemology founder Richard W. Hughes has translated Heinrich Fischer’s 1880 book “Nephrit und Jadeit” from its original German.

The ring's design features contrasting lines influenced by work from architecture-inspired photographer Nikola Olic.

The Conference Board’s index fell as consumers continued to worry about the impact of tariffs, the labor market, and the price of eggs.

However, two medieval jewels surpassed estimates at Noonans Mayfair’s recent jewelry auction in London.

The Oscar-nominated actor debuted in the campaign for the new “Top Time B31” collection, which introduced Breitling’s Caliber B31.