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
Child protection needs more than prevailing laws

The rise in defilement and missing persons cases, particularly over the recent festive period, points not merely to a failure of policing, but to a profound and widespread societal crisis. Whilst the Police chief’s plea is rightly directed at parents, the root of this emergency runs deeper, demanding a collective response from every corner of our community. Marathe’s observations paint a picture of neglect with children left alone for...

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