diamonds
Retail Jewelry

  • China and the Middle East are emerging as titans of jewellery consumption with a 10% year-on-year surge in the two regions. [Gulfnews.com, 3/10/08]

  • Diamonds, whether loose or set in finished jewellery, are still the most popular item sold by members of the Jewelers of America, making up half there total sales. [AWDC 23/12/07]

  • The US bridal market is sizzling despite tempestuous economic conditions a recently published study by The Wedding Report said. Their analysis suggested that brides and grooms will spend a total of $8.1 billion on wedding and engagement rings in 2008 [News Room, 11/09/08]

  • US spending on engagement rings would total $6.1 billion in 2008 [News Room, 11/09/08]

  • The bridal ring market is expected to grow by 13.4% over the next 5 years to $9.2 billion [News Room, 11/09/08]

  • Global retail sales of diamond jewelry were estimated at $64.5 billion in 2006; 6% up from 2005.

  • In 2007, the world diamond market is estimated as $12.7 billion worth of rough diamonds, which were sold for $19 billion after polishing, $30 billion at the wholesale level and $70 billion at the retail level [AWDC, 13/02/08]

  • A single stone takes a little over two years to traverse the entire pipeline [AWDC, 13/02/08]
 

References:
Antwerp Facets News Service; Antwerp World Diamond Centre; Bloomberg News; BMO Capital Markets; diamondfacts.org; Government of Northwest Territories; Gulf News; Isreali Diamond Company; Miningmx.com; National Post; Natural Resources Canada; News Room; Rapaport News