DIamond Market Review

Market sentiment has improved in the lead-up to the Thanksgiving and Holiday season. Demand for smaller commercial goods is mixed while larger better quality goods remains robust. High-end of the market is strong especially in the Special Diamond and Collectables segments with record prices being fetched on global auction markets. From a geographgic perspective Asian markets remain the strongest lead by Hong Kong and China, US market showing some signs of improvement and European market is mixed. Polished prices have stablized albeit at levels well below those reached this time last year.

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Market news

Affluent Americans Spent $16b on Fine Jewelry in Past 12 Months
National Jeweler reports that the "Mendelsohn Affluent Survey 2009 Annual Report", conducted by Ipsos Mendelsohn, reveals that affluent Americans are no longer as concerned about the economy as they were in January, and have spent a total of $16 billion fine jewelry in the past 12 months. According to the survey, 31% of affluent Americans bought fine jewelry in the past year, in addition to 46% upper-class Americans. Overall, 15.1 million affluent Americans spent $21 billion on fine jewelry and watches, while 500,000 are planning to buy engagement rings within the upcoming year.
(Adapted from Israeli Diamond Industry Portal – www.israelidiamond.co.il)

China: The Next Second Biggest Diamond Consumer
A growing huge diamond market is being created. Some say that China is the world's new biggest emerging market. That is true, just review the recent data: China has the highest number of youngest millionaires. The GDP keeps rising, and starting last week – it is the world's top exporter.

With a population of more than 1.3 billion people and mass and cheap production, the standard of living has increased exponentially; and with better living come luxury goods – diamonds and jewelry. It seems that China is taking over Japan's spot as the world’s second largest consumer of diamond jewelry, while Japan's jewelry and diamond market slumps.

With wedding diamond rings as the favorite for the younger population, Chinese imports of polished diamonds gained 12.7% over the first six months of 2009, hitting a record of $300 million. The new diamond rush overcame the local adoration of other jewelry, such as gold jewelry.

(Adapted from the Israeli Diamond Industry Portal – www.israelidiamond.co.il)

Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels in Geneva
The forthcoming sale of Magnificent Jewels in Geneva on 17 November 2009 includes a selection of exceptionally fine coloured diamonds, signed jewellery and jewels of historical significance and with impeccable provenance.

Highlights include a fancy vivid blue diamond, weighing 5.96 carats, a fancy pink diamond, weighing 6.63 carats and an extremely rare fancy vivid green diamond, weighing 2.52 carats – the largest fancy green diamond to have been offered at auction.

One of the important lots, from the Collection of Daisy Fellowes, is a rare and exceptional sapphire brooch by Cartier, 1940, designed as an iris. A highly important ruby and diamond necklace, property of Mary, Duchess of Roxburghe, dates from the 19th century. There is also a fine sapphire and diamond demi-parure from the collection of HIH Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna.

The auction also features signed jewels by Van Cleef and Arpels, Harry Winston, Cartier and Bulgari. The sale consists of over 400 lots and there is truly something for everyone, ranging from CHF 5,000 to CHF 5 million.
(adapted from Sotheby’s Catalogue – Magnificient Jewels 17/11/09)

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: