DIamond Market Report

The positive momentum experienced during the recent Holiday Season continues across the global diamond market. Polished prices remained steady during the Holiday Season however there is now considerable upward pressure on polished prices due to soaring rough prices, improved market sentiment and shortages of certain in-demand items on the market. Very strong demand for round and square diamonds 0.50ct-1.50ct, D-I color, VS2-I1 clarity. Increased demand for SI goods as some buyers shift out of VS goods due to rising prices. Larger better goods (+3.00ct) continues to firm. Good trading activity reported across all major trading centers albeit a slight respite in activity in the Far East as wholesalers commence the Chinese New Year holidays.

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Market news

Famed Blue Diamonds Not Related After All

The world famous Hope Diamond and Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond were not cut from the same stone, a National Gem Collection statement said. The latter is part of the Smithsonian Institution.

According a statement by Jeffrey Post, the National Gem Collection's curator, quoted by the Seattle Times, "there is an uncanny resemblance (between the blue diamonds), but they are different. They are not part of the same crystal or rough."

The two blue diamonds were examined under a variety of microscopes and lights at the Smithsonian to try and solve the centuries-old mystery of their possible-common origin. The Hope Diamond weighs 45.52-carats and the Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond weighs 31.06-carats. Both gemstones have a deep blue color.

The National Gem Collection had the opportunity to probe the diamonds after the Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond, which has not been on public display for more than 50 years, was lent to the Smithsonian for display, alongside the Hope Diamond.

"The tests supported the fact that they are extremely similar, in their color, in the way they phosphoresce. It's amazingly similar," Post said, adding that at the same time, the differences between the two blue diamonds became apparent under a diamond-view microscope. "The detailed pattern is different in the two," he said.
(source www.israelidiamond.co.il)

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IMF Predicts Favorable 2010 For Emerging Economies

A recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) report predicted that emerging and developing economies, which noted a 2.1% growth in 2009, are likely to see an estimated 6% growth in 2010, as well as accelerated economic growth in 2011, Engineering News reported.

The IMF's World Economic Outlook report stressed that sound economic frameworks and swift policy responses helped many emerging economies cushion the effects of the global financial crisis, allowing them to "quickly re-attract capital flows."

The IMF report further estimated that global output will grow by 4% in 2010, but qualified its projection by saying that advanced economies should expect a more sluggish, 2% growth.

According to the World Economic Outlook report's geographical segmentation, Africa is expected to see a 4.3% growth in 2010, Sub-Saharan Africa will see a similar growth, China’s economy is expected to add 10% this year, India is likely to experience a 7.7% growth in the next 12 months, Brazil's economy was forecast to add some 4.7% and Russian economy is likely to expand by 4.3% in 2010.

Nevertheless, and despite the overall favorable economical projections, the  International Monetary Fund's report warned that while global economic conditions have rebounded faster than expected, the world financial arena still faces several challenges.

The IMF said that while money markets seem to have stabilized, banks' lending practices are still expected to remain tight; and consumers and small to medium-sized companies are still likely to continue to face credit constraints in 2010.

Emerging economies, concluded the report, are also expected to continue experiencing growing inflationary pressure.
(source www.israelidiamond.co.il)

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Famous Diamonds

The "Star of America" Diamond

The Star of America is the largest Asscher cut D-color Flawless diamond in the world. The Portuguese Diamond, also an Asscher cut, is larger at 127 carats, but it is somewhat yellowish in color. It was discovered near the Orange River, South Africa, originally a rough stone of 225 carats. After nine months of cutting and polishing by the Graff company's craftsmen, into the 100.57-carat stone displayed below, to commemorate the launch of Graff USA.

The Star of America, on the right, and the La Favorite, on the left, weighing 100 and 50 carats, respectively. Both diamonds are D-color and both owned by Laurence Graff.
(source http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com

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From Our Inventory

We are honored to invite you to visit and register on our web site www.eliazdiamonds.com. We hope it will be helpful any time you would like to find suitable stones. If you feel any inconvenience with our search system, please contact dina@eliazdiamonds.com who will assist you.

The following is a sample of some of the diamonds we currently have on offer:

Name	Sh	Wt.	Col	Cla	Lab	Pol	Sym
B40-65749	BR	4.19	F	IF	HRD	EX	VG
B40-68251	BR	4.27	G	VVS2	GIA	EX	EX
B80-61442	BR	8.34	H	VVS2	HRD	VG	G
B99-67753	BR	18.57	I	VVS2	HRD	VG	G
MAY-175320	BR	9.05	J	VVS1	GIA	EX	EX
H80-12807	HS	8.26	F	VS1	GIA	VG	VG
P90-17434	PS	9.18	I	IF	HRD	VG	G
MAY-226391	EM	8.07	F	IF	GIA	VG	EX
E99-22901	EM	12.37	H	VS1	HRD	EX	G

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