We Wish to Build Globally Relevant SKY Gold: Akash Talesara
Israel’s Diamond Industry Under Severe Pressure
Did Natural Diamond Ind. Misjudge LGD Threat?
Despite Collapsing Hike Odds, Rising Yields Kept Indian Gold, Silver Below Their Floors
Snap Shot: Most of the damage in the week ending 2 October landed before the good news arrived, and the good news then failed to repair it. August core PCE inflation, released on 30 September, rose 3.0% from a year earlier against expectations of 3.3%, helped partly by methodology changes at the Bureau of Economic Analysis. September payrolls on 2 October then added just 29,000 jobs against forecasts near 90,000, with unemployment at 4.2% and August revised down to 133,000
Despite Collapsing Hike Odds, Rising Yields Kept Indian Gold, Silver Below Their Floors
Snap Shot: Most of the damage in the week ending 2 October landed before the good news arrived, and the good news then failed to repair it. August core PCE inflation, released on 30 September, rose 3.0% from a year earlier against expectations of 3.3%, helped partly by methodology changes at the Bureau of Economic Analysis. September payrolls on 2 October then added just 29,000 jobs against forecasts near 90,000, with unemployment at 4.2% and August revised down to 133,000
Top News
GIA to Shut Down Israel Lab
Ramat Gan: The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has announced the closure of its laboratory in Ramat Gan, Israel, citing financial unsustainability. The lab, which began operations in August 2012, will shut down by the end of this year. Submissions will be rerouted to other GIA laboratories at no additional shipping cost, according to a GIA press release. GIA has
New Wastage Norms for Jewellery in India
Mumbai: India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has revised wastage norms and Standard Input Output Norms (SIONs) for jewellery , effective from 1st January 2025. DGFT had reduced the wastage norms drastically across all jewellery categories vide Public Notice No. 05/2024-25 on 27th May 2024, recognizing the impact of these drastic reductions, the Council promptly convened a stakeholder meeting
Gems Keep Giving Sends Funding Requests
New York: Gems Keep Giving (GKG), the global gemstone industry and trade initiative that supports communities in artisanal colored gemstone mining and cutting communities, calls upon industry members and players in the colored gemstone supply chain to bring suitable projects to GKG’s attention. “GKG is proud of its first project in Kamtonga, Kenya. In 2022, GKG completed a project to
India’s Gold Demand up by 18% in Q3
London: The World Gold Council’s (WGC) Q3 2024 Gold Demand Trends report reveals that total gold demand increased 5% year-on-year to 1,313t, a record third quarter. Total demand exceeded US$100bn for the first time on record, supported by strong investment in a record-high price environment. Global investment demand more than doubled year-on-year to 364t, driven by a shift in demand for gold ETFs primarily from Western investors. Globally, gold ETFs added 95t, marking the first positive quarter since Q1’22. Bar and coin demand fell 9%, but the year-to date total remains strong at 859t compared to the 10-year average of 774t. Central bank buying slowed in Q3 though demand remained robust at 186t. Year-to- date central bank demand reached 694t, in line with the same period of 2022. Gold prices continued to rise to record highs during the quarter reaching an average of US$2,474/oz, hampering global demand for gold jewellery. Total jewellery consumption was down 12%
Kirit Bhansali Applauds the Union Budget
Mumbai: India’s Finance Minister Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman has presented the Union Budget for 2026-27 which is hailed by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). Through an official Press Release its Chairman Mr. Kirit Bhansali says: “We thank the Government for a positive, growth-focused Budget that addresses key bottlenecks and gives fresh momentum to India’s gems and jewellery sector.
G&J Trade Welcomes the Union Budget
Mumbai: India’s Finance Minister Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman presented the union budget for 2026-27 yesterday in the parliament. Provisions of which are welcomed by India’s gem & jewellery (G&J) trade. Mr. Rajesh Rokde, Chairman, All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC): “The Union Budget 2026–27 reflects a stable and sensitive approach towards the Gems & Jewellery industry. The absence of
De Beers Group Debuts at India Art Fair 2026
New Delhi: De Beers Group, the world’s leading diamond company, makes its debut at India Art Fair 2026 with Voyage Through the Diamond Realm, an immersive experience in collaboration with textile artist Lakshmi Madhavan that celebrates natural diamonds as nature’s original works of art. The presentation will be on view from 5th to 8th February 2026 at NSIC Grounds, Okhla, as part of India
Antwerp Extremely Satisfied with India-EU FTA
Antwerp: The recently concluded trade agreement between the European Union and India provides for a reduction of India’s import duty on naturally polished diamonds of European origin, from 5.5% to 2.5%. This tariff reduction is the result of intensive lobbying efforts by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), in close cooperation with the European Commission. The measure represents a new boost for the Antwerp diamond industry and strengthens Antwerp’s attractiveness as a polishing centre. The reduced tariff is expected to have a positive impact on exports from Antwerp to India. “We are extremely pleased with the outcome of the long-awaited trade agreement between Europe and India,” says Karen Rentmeesters, CEO of AWDC. “Thanks to AWDC’s intensive and sustained lobbying, in close cooperation with the European Commission, India’s import duty on polished diamonds has been reduced from 5.5% to 2.5%. This is an important boost for the Belgian diamond sector and is expected to have a positive impact on exports of Antwerp-polished diamonds to India. Moreover, this measure strengthens our competitiveness as a polishing center: diamonds polished in Europe will now be able to enter India at a more favourable tariff than before, and also compared to other major trading hubs. India is one of the fastest-growing consumer markets for jewelry and therefore also offers
