Historic Mine Shuts, Five Workers Feared Dead
(IDEX Online) – The historic Ekapa diamond mine, in Kimberley, South Africa, has closed with immediate effect – a week after five miners were trapped deep underground by a mud rush and water flood. Rescue attempts have failed and the miners are now presumed to have died. Ekapa had been mined continuously for the last […]
$25m Cash Injection for Meya Mine
(IDEX Online) – Meya Mining Company has secured a $25m facility that will bring it closer to starting commercial production at its mine in Sierra Leone’s Kono District. It has agreed terms with the pan-African banking group Ecobank. The capital will allow Meya to accelerate its transition from early development to full commercial production, funding […]
Anglo Slashes De Beers’ Value from $4.1 bn to $2.3 bn
(IDEX Online) – Mining giant Anglo American has almost halved the book value of De Beers to $2.3bn, as the ailing diamond miner reported losses of $511m for 2025 (from $25m in 2024). Anglo blamed “ongoing challenging rough diamond trading conditions” as well as a lower average rough price index and stock rebalancing initiatives. It’s […]
Chaos and Uncertainty over US Tariffs Flip-Flop
(IDEX Online) – The diamond industry is facing chaos and uncertainty after U.S. tariffs were struck down by the Supreme Court – only to be immediately re-introduced by President Donald Trump using different legislation. On Friday (20 February), the Supreme Court ruled that Trump had exceeded his presidential powers in imposing reciprocal tariffs, and that […]
Slight Slip for India’s Polished Exports
(IDEX Online) – India’s polished diamond exports dipped by 3.6 per cent year-on-year in January, following on from modest growth (+2.7 per cent) in December 2025, and a 38 per cent surge in November. The slight dip in January reflects the usual post-holiday pause in demand from US retailers, but that is set against an […]
Halle Berry Follows Celebrity Trend for Vintage Diamonds
(IDEX Online) – Halle Berry shifted the focus back to vintage diamonds with her latest engagement ring. The US actress, producer, and former beauty queen showed off her bezel-cut diamond on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, as she confirmed her engagement to the singer/songwriter Van Hunt. Berry, 59, is the latest celebrity to opt […]
Okavango Aims for Stability with More Contract Sales
(IDEX Online) – Botswana’s state-owned Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) is moving away from auctions and tenders and now aims to sell half its rough allocation through contract sales. They offer more predictable revenues, especially when global demand is so weak. ODC started pilot contract sales – which operate much like De Beers’ sights – last […]
Average US Natural Diamond Engagement Ring Price Hits $7,346
(IDEX Online) – The average price for a natural diamond engagement ring in the US rose 9 per cent to $7,346 last year, according to the Natural Diamond Council (NDC). Its new report, Natural Diamond Trends: A 2025 Overview, says the average carat weight rose 5 per cent to 1.16 carats. Round brilliant diamonds dominated […]