NewsBite

Diamonds

September

Rachel Lake says more customers are choosing Australian sapphires or lab-grown diamonds amid cost of living pressures.

Real diamonds can’t cut it as cost crunch hits lovebirds

The cost of engagement rings can jump by hundreds of dollars in a week, says jeweller Rachel Lake, leading to greater interest in sapphires and lab-grown diamonds.

  • Gus McCubbing

August

The 2492-carat diamond is the second-largest ever found, and could be worth as much as $US60 million.

‘The eagle has landed’: how the world’s second-largest diamond was found

The 2492-carat gem could be worth more than what Lucara paid for De Beers’ share of the mine where the discovery was made.

  • Harry Dempsey

June

Rio Tinto chief executive of minerals Sinead Kaufman is no stranger to making tough decisions.

Rio Tinto leader never shies away from hard talks and tough calls

Sinead Kaufman, the winner of the Resources category, also shows great care and sensitivity for families and communities across her career in mining.

  • Brad Thompson

April

Natural diamonds, including pink diamonds, held in loose form are not considered collectable or personal use assets under super law, and thus do not have specific storage and insurance requirements.

The rule book on investing in cars, wine or diamonds

Because they’re classified as collectable or personal use assets, strict rules apply to their acquisition, storage, insurance and use if held by an SMSF.

  • Colin Lewis

March

Jeramie Hotz and Talia Shuvalov, the co-founders of Erede.

Gen Z doesn’t care where diamonds are from – even if it’s a lab

Luxury brands may be turning up their noses but many jewellers – and their clientele – are embracing lab-grown gems.

  • Glynis Traill-Nash
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November 2023

Lab-grown diamonds currently represent a small portion of the market.

Diamond world takes radical steps to stop price plunge

With prices in free fall around the globe, slowing demand and swelling inventory has prompted one-time monopoly De Beers to take unprecedented action.

  • Thomas Biesheuvel

May 2023

Siblings create sparkling brand from dad’s diamond business

The Whiting family are bringing rare antique diamonds to Australia to make fine jewellery. And it all started with their “mad for rocks” father.

  • Lauren Sams
The 35 exceptional diamonds are being shown to Tiffany’s VIP clients, including Australian customers.

Tiffany’s tickled pink to be grabbing the world’s last Argyle diamonds

“This is truly once in a lifetime,” says the jeweller’s chief gemologist of the 35 sparklers acquired from the now-closed mine in the Kimberley.

  • Lauren Sams

April 2023

Street Talk

Burgundy Diamond Mines recuts $231m capital raising

Burgundy Diamond Mines has dialled back its underwritten placement from $US150 million ($231 million) to $US126 million ($193 million), as current owners of its Canadian M&A target Ekati decide to retain a 19.9 per cent stake.

  • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport

March 2023

Riversdale Resources’ Michael O’Keeffe, left, pictured with Steve Mallyon. O’Keeffe’s back chasing funds for his ASX-listed diamonds business Burgundy.

Burgundy Diamond Mines kicks off $231m acquisition raising

Michael O’Keefe, of Riversdale and Champion Iron fame, is back from roadshows for Burgundy Diamond Mines and ready to start collecting bids for the company’s $US150 million ($231 million) raising to help bankroll its acquisition of Canada’s Ekati diamond mine.

  • Anthony Macdonald, Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Riversdale Resources’ Michael O’Keeffe, left, pictured with Steve Mallyon. O’Keeffe’s back chasing funds for his ASX-listed diamonds business Burgundy.

Mining guru O’Keeffe seeks $231m equity for Burgundy Diamond play

Michael O’Keeffe, of Riversdale Mining and more recently Champion Iron fame, has unveiled an ambitious plan to create the largest ASX-listed diamond company.

  • Anthony Macdonald, Sarah Thompson and Kanika Sood

July 2022

Margot McKinney and Ben Cleary from Tribeca Capital are portfolio managers of a new rare diamond fund called The Kimberley Syndicate.

‘Hero diamonds’ form basis of Tribeca’s new $50m fund

Jewellery scion Margot McKinney and Tribeca portfolio manager Ben Cleary have raised $50 million to turbocharge their new hard asset diamond fund.

  • Jessica Sier
The Entrelacs Mysterieux bracelet is paired with Echo Mysterieux earrings with detachable pendants and an Echo Mysterieux ring.

They bought a 910-carat diamond. Then they split it 82 ways

Van Cleef & Arpels’ latest high jewellery collection is focused on just one stone, the Lesotho Legend, which is the fifth-largest gem of its kind on record.

  • Lauren Sams

June 2022

The 20.05 carat emerald-cut solitaire diamond ring that sold for an Australian auction record of $1.3 million hammer, or $1.625 million with buyer’s premium, at Leonard Joel in Sydney.

Is buying a ‘real’ diamond a mug’s game?

With lab-grown diamonds being chemically, physically and optically identical to mined diamonds, what does it mean to buy a “real diamond” today?

  • Campbell Kwan

April 2022

Burgundy CEO Peter Ravenscroft, right, and master craftsman Richard How Kim Kam.

Burgundy bets on vertical integration in ultra-luxury diamonds play

The boss of the WA miner hopes jewellers will soon be selling diamonds mined, cut, polished and branded by the company to the rich for up to $10 million a pop.

  • Michael Bennet
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March 2022

Should Russian athletes be punished because of Vladimir Putin’s war?

Even the meerkats get the boot as consumers spurn brand Russia

Marketing experts say Russia’s international brand is on par with the Ebola virus, causing western consumers to rethink where they spend their money.

  • Ronald Mizen and Tom McIlroy

November 2021

A pair of diamond bracelets once owned by Marie Antoinette of France, in silver and yellow gold, circa 1776, during a preview at the Christie’s, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Mystery buyer pays $11m for royal bracelets

A pair of diamond bracelets that belonged to France’s Queen Marie Antoinette sold at auction on Tuesday for $11.09m, several times the pre-sale estimate, Christie’s said.

  • Stephanie Nebehay

July 2021

Source Certain technology can analyse a diamond and reveal precisely where it came from, down to the mine.

New Australian technology tracks down gold thieves and blood diamonds

After years of catching gold and diamond thieves, geologist and chemical scientist John Watling is set to see his technology underpin global diamond provenance.

  • Jessica Sier

May 2021

Rio Tinto head of minerals Sinead Kaufman with the last batch of diamonds from the Argyle mine.

Rio cutting diamond mine closure deal with traditional owners

Rio Tinto is looking to make its exit from diamonds in WA as painless as possible for traditional owners who may receive compensation for underground mining infrastructure that can’t be safely removed.

  • Brad Thompson

November 2020

The diamond was found in Russia in 2017.

Buyer of $36m pink diamond could still make a profit

Jewellery expert Benoit Repellin, who led the sale, said it set a record for a diamond graded fancy vivid purple pink sold at auction.

  • Stephanie Nebehay

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/diamonds-huz