Alrosa Lowers Rough Demand Outlook, Yet Considers Price Hikes

Moderate demand growth for diamond jewelry in the U.S. and Japan, and steady growth in Indian and China, are leading Alrosa to maintain its outlook that growth for rough will continue. It, however, lowered its forecast to 1 percent in 2012 over 2011.

In the beginning of 2012, Alrosa forecasted a 4 percent growth in rough diamond demand. However, the drop in demand for rough from manufacturers in the second and third quarters of the year led to a decline in prices and downgrade in the company's outlook.

Shkadov is New IDMA President

The International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) today elected as its President, Maxim Shkadov, Chairman of the Russian Diamond Manufacturers Association. He replaces outgoing IDMA President Moti Ganz, who has completed two terms in office.

Shkadov, who has a PhD in the physics and technology of diamond processing, has worked his way up in the industry, beginning as an apprentice cutter at Kristalldiam. In 1994, he was appointed director of Smolensk-Taché, a joint-venture diamond cutting and polishing company.

Maxim Shkadov: we should be one step ahead

The general director of Smolensk OJSC PA “Kristall” Maxim Shkadov told about the current state of the diamond market, rigid quality standards and forthcoming surprises for the 50th anniversary of the diamond manufacturing enterprise which is the largest in the country, in the interview to the agency “Prime”. Lyubov Martynova talked to him.

ALROSA's Sales Total $3B in First Nine Months

ALROSA's preliminary sales figure for September was about $400 million worth of rough and polished diamonds; therefore, for the first nine months of 2012, ALROSA has sold about $3.18 billion worth of goods, which is less than one year ago. According to Rapaport records, ALROSA sold about $3.16 billion worth of rough and polished diamonds from January to August 2011.

During 7 months Russian Jewelers increased gold consumption by 12 %

Alrosa's move may rescue diamond sector

«EPL Diamond» was awarded with the honourable diploma and a badge of honor "Made in Russia for the World"

LLC Research and Production Company «EPL Diamond» is awarded with a honourable diploma and a memorial badge "Made in Russia for the World" («Made in Russia for the world community»). The awarding took place following the results of the regular competition on the title «The best Russian exporter of 2011». Together with "EPL" the same award was received by JSC ALROSA-Nyurba. The Yakut diamonders won in the category «Precious and semi-precious stones, precious metals and products from them».

Anna Karenina Inspires Fabergé's Latest Collection

Inspired by Anna Karenina, the heroine of Leo Tolstoy's masterpiece, fine-jewelry house Fabergé has introduced the Karenina collection.

The line echoes the opulence and romance of 19th century St Petersburg with a feminine twist. At the heart of the collection is an opal pendant, suspended from a white gold chain and embellished with delicate diamond clusters encircling a rose-cut diamond.

ALROSA Concludes its First New York Auction

The Diamond Manufacturers & Importers Association of America (DMIA) announced that ALROSA conducted its first auction of large, rough diamonds in New York City earlier this month. The sale was by invitation-only and was 80 percent sold by lot. ALROSA offered 51 rough diamonds ranging from very-fine to commercial-quality, in sizes that ranged from 11 carats up to almost 80 carats. The highlights of the auction were two gem-quality rough diamonds weighing 57.47 carats and 79.65 carats, which sold for several million dollars each. A total sales amount was not provided.

"The best jewellery shop 2012": GRAND PRIX went to Lipetsk

On June 19 the Honor Award on the Awarding ceremony of winners of "The best jewellery shop of the year" competition was given to the Jewellery House "Kristall", the city of Lipetsk. Tatyana Lyalina, the general director of the Jewellery House received GRAND PRIX in a festive atmosphere of the President Hotel in Moscow. The award was bestowed by the representatives of the long standing partner of the competition, a company with the same name – the Production Corporation “Kristall”, the city of Smolensk. The leadings of the ceremony Oksana Senatorova, the publisher of the magazine "Navigator for jewellery trade", and Gosha Kutsenko also with all their hearts congratulated the leader of the Russian retail jewellery trade of 2012.

Alrosa Prices Up 5% in Q1

Rough diamond revenue, volume and price increased in the first quarter Alrosa reported. Alrosa sold 6.1 million carats of gem quality rough at an average $183.9 per carat, a 5 percent increase in price.

The Russian diamond giant's supply to the market was slightly up year-over-year. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2011, sales volume increased 60.5 percent.

In Kazan brilliants are learned to create in the laboratory

A new brand "Kazan brilliants" can appear in a short time in Tatarstan. The associate professor of Mineralogy and Petrography of Geological Institute Oleg Lopatin and a senior research assistant of the laboratory "Radiation physics" of KPTI Rustem Haybullin learned to turn usual minerals into jewels, increasing their cost in hundreds times at the expense of coloration in fashionable colors.

The idea to color minerals struck Oleg Lopatin and his former schoolmate Rustem Haybullin during a friendly meeting in one of the Kazan cafes.

Is Russia Giving Up on Alrosa?

Russia intends to sell its entire stake in diamond giant Alrosa, according to a top Russian official. The surprising, and somewhat unlikely, privatization aims to raise money for improving Yakutia’s infrastructures.

First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, quoted by Interfax, said the transaction will be coordinated with regional authorities.

"We mean the entire stake,” Shuvalov emphasized, adding that this a sensitive issue for the government of Yakutia.

Kristall's Polished Diamond Tender Nets $2M

Kristall held its second exclusive polished diamond tender in Moscow from May 14 to 29 and reported that bidders were offered 55 stones, representing more than 190 carats.

As a result of the tender, Kristall reported that 41 lots were sold, with 145.62 carats, for approximately $2.2 million.

Kristall has schedule its next polished auction for September 2012.

Russian Businessman Aims for ALROSA, BHP Merger

Businessman Suleiman Kerimov is hoping to merge a prospective stake in ALROSA with BHP ‎Billiton’s diamond assets, Bloomberg reported quoting Moscow based Vedomosti.‎

The report indicated that Kerimov has urged the Russian government to offer 51 percent of ‎ALROSA under its asset sale program, merge it with BHP Billiton's diamond assets and hold a ‎public offering of shares in the combined company.‎