In a departure from other shows over the past year and more, the September show in Hong Kong saw a decent amount of business, and many exhibiting diamond firms reported a rise in transactions compared to previous shows. There is a good reason for the change, and it does not necessarily serve as a positive sign for the diamond industry.
During De Beers’ Sight last week, the company raised prices by 2-4% on average, according to traders. Sightholders that chose to sell rough diamonds from the Sight reportedly sold them for higher premiums. Premiums on 4 grainers (1 carat rough diamonds) and larger are up to a reported 8%-15%. Some goods are selling for list price, or up to 3% above list price. With few exceptions, the rough diamond market is generally strong - some even described it as “hot”. The exceptions are boxes of -7 rough diamonds and the cheap goods, which are hard, if not impossible, to move. Considering that consumer demand for polished diamonds is not rising, we are faced with a mystery: what is fueling demand for rough diamonds?
Here is a summertime conundrum to contemplate: Which forces drive business activity besides the obvious: buying, adding value and selling at a profit? There are other forces at work in the diamond industry, and they have a potentially devastating effect.
Fancy color diamonds include yellow, blue, pink, green, red, and a few others. The color of most diamonds comes from trace particle impurities that are present in the carbon lattice structure of the stone as it grows below the Earth. The most common trace element in diamonds is nitrogen, which imparts a yellowish or brown tint to the diamonds, depending on its concentration. Diamonds with nitrogen impurities are called Type Ia diamonds, and represent about 98% of all gem-quality natural stones in the world. Even D-color diamonds can have trace amounts of nitrogen, but the concentration is so small that it cannot be detected without sophisticated lab equipment.
After considering the techniques that diamond exploration companies use to identify kimberlite pipes, we know that while technology and know-how have improved steadily, it is still true that only about 1% of kimberlite pipes will eventually yield an economically-viable diamond deposit. Finding a kimberlite field is by no means a guarantee of success, and a lengthy and expensive process of testing and drilling must be undertaken to test the viability of a pipe once it is discovered.