The European Union has delayed its deadline for implementing a “robust” traceability mechanism for rough diamonds by six months.
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![From left to right, industry leaders Ronnie VanderLinden, David Bonaparte, Matthew Swibel, Dave Meleski, and Jon Bridge (not pictured), visited the U.S. Capitol last week to meet with lawmakers to discuss import restrictions on Russian diamonds. Jewelers of America advocacy trip DC 2024](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/86b97037eeeb45710cf90d34afdd5566.jpg)
The group met with lawmakers to raise awareness about the financial, operational, and supply chain harms posed by an EU proposal.
![Graphic for Sarine Tracr webinar on G7 ban on Russian diamonds](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/8616716104892a813c53120e0d6021e7.jpg)
Sarine Technologies and Tracr will hold a free webinar Wednesday on what retailers need to know about the new rules.
![U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently issued new guidance on importing diamonds into the United States under the current Russian diamond ban. U.S. Customs and Border Protection logo](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/13d023e669f70d9b1ba5e41cfb1507c9.jpg)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has released new guidance as the G7’s effort to restrict the circulation of Russian diamonds ramps up.
![Guzema Freedom heart pendant for Ukraine](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/70c20c878ff0f61e9520a1b717997dc2.jpg)
Ukrainian jewelry designer Valeriya Guzema’s charitable “Freedom” collection is inspired by hope for the country’s future.
![On Wednesday, the European Union added PJSC Alrosa, which is partially owned by the Russian government, and its CEO Pavel Marinychev to the list of entities it has sanctioned in the wake of Russian’s invasion of Ukraine. Stock image of diamonds](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/a4fecf73562b087681b24f3142f2c452.jpg)
The European Union also has sanctioned the diamond mining company’s CEO, Pavel Marinychev.
![The European Union will ban the import of diamonds “mined, processed, or produced” in Russia beginning Jan. 1, part of a fresh round of sanctions designed to impede Russia’s ability to continue to fund its war in Ukraine. Stock image of multiple European Union flags](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/10adca00c9a8b11f26c6f4fd3755d2d9.jpg)
The EU also provided details on the carat weight threshold, and how it will track rough diamonds.
![Inesa Kovalova’s Links pin](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/58b987d7ecf1482ed2a9f2d986d88469.jpg)
Centered on a sunny heliodor, the “Links” pin was designed by Ukrainian jewelry artist Inesa Kovalova.
![Diamonds “mined, processed or produced” in Russia will be prohibited from entering G7 nations beginning Jan. 1, 2024. In March, tighter restrictions will go into effect. Rough diamonds from Alrosa](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/4eb4ea5ff2e735cd974125216cb3a6d8.jpg)
It provides a timeline for the implementation of new restrictions, but no details.
![Diamantaires in India currently face a number of challenges when it comes to natural diamonds, including a post-pandemic decline in consumer demand. Stock image of diamonds](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/0cb45286b6e2b01ffec79c04f88d12b3.jpg)
Economic slowdowns, geopolitical tensions, and the rising popularity of lab-grown diamonds are clouding the outlook for mined diamonds.
![JSC AGD Diamonds and its Belgian subsidiary, Grib Diamonds, are the latest diamond companies with Russian ties to appear on an OFAC list of sanctioned entities. Stock photo of Russian diamonds from Alrosa](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/b24245e39d444e4769a4fade301c0f79.jpg)
Grib is the Belgium-based subsidiary of Russian company JSC AGD Diamonds, which also was sanctioned.
![Alrosa’s new CEO, Pavel Marinychev, was included in the U.S. government’s latest round of sanctions on Russia. He was appointed CEO of the company in May after serving as head of Alrosa subsidiary JSC Almazy Anabara. Pavel Marinychev new CEO Alrosa](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/63a9a77a8f83c1b9c980867772731612.jpg)
Pavel Marinychev was appointed as leader of the diamond mining company in May.
![On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against Midas Resources SARLU, Diamville SAU, Industrial Resources General Trading, Limited Liability Company DM, and Andrey Nikolayevich Ivanov. The department alleges these four companies and one individual are involved in illicit gold dealings that help fund the Wagner Group. (Stock photo) Stock photo of gold bars](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/4a6d0e42e1990fec894562854cd62d3a.jpg)
OFAC sanctioned four companies it claims are helping fund the Wagner Group, the organization that just attempted a coup in Russia.
![Pavel Marinychev, who has headed Alrosa subsidiary JSC Almazy Anabara since 2016, is the new CEO of Russian diamond mining company Alrosa. New Alrosa CEO Pavel Marinychev](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/6312360af153d889ecada645ac7a7562.jpg)
Sergey Ivanov Jr., who is under U.S. sanction, is out, replaced by Almazy Anabara CEO Pavel Marinychev.
![An external view of the Venus Jewel factory in India. Regarding current U.S. sanctions on Russian diamonds, Venus Jewel partner Devansh Shah said the company has been able to identify the origin of its diamonds for a number of years so it is, “easy for our customers to choose based on their preferences.” 20230315_natural diamond industry Venus facility.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/3fee6838151f7ea2e80db33d67f7bb4f.jpg)
The mood among diamantaires is fairly optimistic despite the challenges brought about by sanctions and a cloudy economic outlook.
![Vipul Shah is the chairman of India’s Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council. 20230315_GJEPC Chairman Vipul Shah.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/55763f1242ef1e0a2da5026105b69fd4.jpg)
Shah talks with National Jeweler about diamond demand, lab-grown, and why it’s difficult to make predictions about the U.S. market.
![On Feb. 24, the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, leaders of the G7 nations announced their ongoing support for Ukraine and their intentions to make it more difficult for Russia to continue to fund the war. Limiting Russia’s ability to profit from its diamonds is one of the areas G7 leaders likely will address. 2021_Alrosa rough.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/33b42ac1e426843f2587333fb207e101.jpg)
New regulations could block the pathway that allows diamonds cut and polished outside of Russia to enter the United States.
![From natural diamond supply to lab-grown diamond prices and future drivers of market growth, Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff shares four predictions for the diamond market. (©De Beers Group/Photo credit: Ben Perry @ Armoury Films) 2021_De Beers polished in tweezers.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/47e1f5aafbc2fcce1f3bcf0dccd4aa7d.jpg)
Experts and Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff share views on natural diamond prices, lab-grown supply, and diamond jewelry sales in 2023.
![20221215_year-end webinar header.png](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/01f40a284e288ee61d8bf19af953c784.png)
In the final “My Next Question” of 2022, National Jeweler’s editors discuss the year’s top stories and reveal their predictions for 2023.
![Sergey Ivanov Jr., Alrosa’s CEO since 2017, is reportedly poised to leave the mining company to take a job with an investment firm. 20221202_Sergey Ivanov.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/6993acc5e9fe197f066cee2957862caa.jpg)
According to Russian news sources, the sanctioned head of the diamond company is leaving to take a job with an investment group.
![Colored gemstone wholesaler Nomad’s has launched a four-day auction of stones, with 100 percent of proceeds donated to help aid Ukraine. 20220824_Nomads-Ukraine-auction.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/769a360e1bfd03ca61fb1b5b7c1f5cc7.jpg)
The colored stone company will donate 100 percent of the proceeds to a charity that supports the country.
![De Beers Group now plans to mine up to 34 million carats of rough diamonds in 2022 due to ongoing sanctions on Alrosa and continued development of tools like its Tracr blockchain platform. (©De Beers Group/Photo credit: Ben Perry @ Armoury Films) 2021_De Beers rough Kimberley.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/882640fdbb7682501cf636b1f9337b25.jpg)
The company upped its 2022 production guidance despite warning of a potential slowdown in diamond jewelry sales. Here’s why.
![The U.S. Treasury announced Tuesday that gold of Russian origin cannot be imported into the United States, effective immediately. 2022_Gold-bars.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/d80ef4790553416e3cf6fe098efc8dfb.jpg)
The U.K, Canada, and Japan have also banned the import of gold originating from Russia.
![The sun sets over the open pit of De Beers’ Gahcho Kué diamond mine in Canada. In operation since 2016, it is one of the world’s newest diamond mines and one of the main reasons global diamond production spiked in 2017. (Photo credit: Ben Perry/Armoury Films, ©De Beers Group) 20220523_Gahcho Kue mine.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/8dcca82584dce814275ca7b6ee348c28.jpg)
The 2008 economic crisis, COVID-19, and sanctions on Russian goods have set the stage for an interesting decade for natural diamond supply.
![20220422_Webinar.jpg](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/16aeb3644636c925a23bb71c329f1afc.jpg)
Jewelers of America's David Bonaparte and Jewelers Vigilance Committee's Tiffany Stevens discuss how to navigate the Russia-Ukraine crisis.