Reprinted with permission by the Diamond and Gemstone Bourse, Idar-Oberstein, Germany
Insiders always know when De Beers takes regulatory measures. The big stocks of rough diamonds are the reserves which will continue to be used to ensure that the market is kept under control in future. The cancellation of the agreement on the marketing of its diamond output by the new Government of Zaire will certainly not have any impact on prices. For the most part, the mines in Zaire extract industrial diamonds. The price of better quality rough diamonds for jewellery use remains firm.
The market for cut diamonds continues to show wide differences in sales between the regions. The countries of Asia and North America report good sales and firm prices. The expectation is for sales to rise further on these markets. In Europe, the picture differs greatly. Here too prices are firm against the background of a rising trend. The sharp rise of the US$ has already brought noticeable price increases in Germany.
The situation remains unchanged for lapis lazuli, agate, malachite, tiger-eye, turquoise and rhodochrosite.
Demand for lapis lazuli continues to be buoyant. Supplies of rough stones are good but the finest grades are hard to come by. Often the rough material has small cracks if it was obtained by explosive extraction.
There are no shortages and the normal demand for all kinds of coloured agates can be satisfied. Natural agates with elegant patterns are harder to find as large individual stones.
The moderate demand for malachite can be met readily. However, large pieces of rough material of good quality are very hard, if not impossible, to come by, e.g. to make bowls.
Demand is weak and can be satisfied easily.
Demand for this jewellery stone is moderate but tends to increase somewhat in the summer months. Even then, it can still be easily satisfied. Caution is necessary, particularly when buying finished items from abroad as the stones will often have undergone all kinds of treatment.
As no new raw material is on offer, demand has to be met from existing stocks. In the long run there might be supply problems.
There has been little significant change in respect of opals since our last market report.
The production of light coloured opals practically came to a standstill last year in Southern Australia. Demand for the rough stones is strong and quite impossible to satisfy. Prices are comparatively very high and demand for cut stones is being met for the most part from old stocks.
Both output and demand for boulder opals remain very stable. However, some price ranges and qualities are in very short supply. Ample quantities of black opal are on offer at stable prices but there are still shortages of red or reddish stones.
Only a small amount of material suitable for facet cutting was on offer in Mexico last year. Demand for polished stones was lively and could only be satisfied from old stocks. Opalescent stones are readily available in small sizes, but practically no pieces of more than 8 carats are being produced.
The popularity of this stone is rising. Demand for fine polished aquamarines (Santa Maria colour) still exceeds supply of rough stones many times over. On the other hand, larger volumes of lighter material are available on the market. Demand is good and prices favourable. Nigeria continues to be the principal supplier of rough stones. Small sizes, including some with better colouring, are available from Zimbabwe.
A few very fine tsavorites are reaching the market from Kenya, but unfortunately only in small sizes. This new find has an intense poisonous Green colouring which greatly resembles Sandawana emeralds. Few tsavorites from this new find have enabled stones of more than one quarter of a carat to be cut. Demand for regular green stones of up to 0.50 carat is good and can be satisfied by ongoing deliveries of rough stones. Small stones of more than one carat continue to be rarities. On occasion, fine rough stones from Tanzania are reaching the market in very small quantities.
Supplies are good except for finer quality material for calibrated stones. Here the market could take still larger quantities. Demand continues to be buoyant.
The new material from Pakistan has been well accepted by the market. Unfortunately the quality of the rough stone has tended to deteriorate. The price of existing stones remains constant with demand holding up well.
For Paraiba tourmalines, the situation remains unchanged. Prices are high and demand strong. Demand for fine calibrated green tourmalines has become slightly firmer. For all other colours, supply and demand are in balance.
The quality of the available rough stones is still not good enough. Demand for fine, larger stones therefore cannot be fully satisfied.
Return to main page of Gemology World