Mmegi

Lab groans: Synthetics’ price collapse offers hope for naturals

Real deal: Natural diamonds appear to be slowly recovering from their slump last year PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Real deal: Natural diamonds appear to be slowly recovering from their slump last year PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO

In January lab-grown diamond producers saw their revenues dip for the first time since their creations exploded onto the scene a few years ago. Sales are still strong, but cynics say collapsing prices confirm that the lab-growns are ‘shiny trinkets’ far removed from the real deal. Staff Writer, MBONGENI MGUNI, reports

Too much of a good thing? Or from the perspective of some natural diamond producers, good riddance to bad rubbish?

The latest data coming out of the retail jewellery sector indicates that lab-grown diamonds are facing their moment of truth, a crash in prices so deep that their even soaring sales are unable to prevent a squeeze on revenue.

Editor's Comment
Don't let FMD outbreak drag on

Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do. The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door...

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