In India sentiments at the year and remained more or less stable for color diamonds, gems and jewelry. There has been no major news or activities to report that have affected the color diamond and jewelry business positively or negatively. With the US market showing steady signs of improvement, the numbers coming in for the 2013 holiday season reflected a steady demand and encouraged the overall positive atmosphere.
It is clear that there is still in demand across the globe were color diamonds and diamond jewelry. However, this increased demand is for low to mid-tier quality jewelry goods with a noted decline for high-end diamond material; a sign that the global recession has contributed to the type of the demands consumers want. Colin Shah, managing director of Kama Schachter explains, "diamonds only been in demand, whether in India or the international market, and that demand will only increase. In India, with fluctuating gold prices, there has been an increase in demand for lightweight diamond jewelry.
Consumers who purchase large diamonds prefer sizes 0.30 carats to 1 carat." He goes on to explain that he had noticed that brilliant round white diamonds have traditionally been a favorite in the diamond industry, however, color diamonds have been increasing in popularity. "In the international market, there has been some movement from white to color. Notice increased demand for colored diamonds in brown, pink and yellow. Fiamma, our new line of jewelry with pink color enhanced diamonds, has seen increased demand in our fashion jewelry collection." Shah also noted that
Shah also noted that India, for the most part, has been reluctant to embrace color diamonds and the countries consumers are more likely to care white diamonds with precious colored gemstones then they are to buy color diamonds. With regards to shapes diamonds, round has traditionally been the front-runner in terms of popularity. However, there is an increased demand for cushion cut diamonds as well as emerald cut diamonds.
Director of diamond cutting and diamond manufacturing company, Gold Star Diamond Pvt. Ltd., Sanjay Shah explains that demand was slow for better goods. The US market had strong demand for stones -2 carat to .50 carats sizes in G to K colors. As well as and in I2 and I3 clarities in white and white naats. There is some demand in white naats in the $350-$400 range. But the requests are for very specific sizes. With regards to the domestic Indian market, Shah noted that there was "some movement in northern India for pique goods below $200 but everything else is showing sluggish demand throughout the country. VS and VVS have negligible movement."
Abbishek Haritwal, managing director of Haritons Group concurred with Shah's observations and had this to say, "we noticed a steep rise in low-value flats and rose cuts set in silver jewelry, especially for the pre-Christmas export orders. Northern metropolitan areas in India are seeing a great push in flat and rose cut diamond sales are most of the ethnic style of Indian design, known as jadau, in wedding jewelry or offbeat designer pieces uses these stones.. Citing a trend he noticed at the Jaipur Jewllery Show, "95 percent of the booths were displaying flat diamond jewelry in either a 24 karat jadau look or with silver and 14 karat gold in Victorian and European styles."
http://www.novel-collection.com/Selling-Fancy-Color-Diamonds
The diamond and jewelry industry is looking forward to an upswing sales for the 2014 year. Ghanshyam Dholakia, managing director of Hari Krishna Diamond Exports Pvt. Ltd., predicts "there will be good demand for 30, 40, 50 pointers. As well as 1 carat and 1.50 carats diamonds in the D-H color. We will also live in a continued shortage of cushion and oval shapes. We also expect good demand for fancy shapes above 1 carat with nice makes.
http://m.diamonds.net/news-article.aspx?id=45753&s=magazine
An image of a polished GIA certified Pink Diamond
