Latest news with #naturaldiamonds
Associated Press
07-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Angolan Diamond Leaders Endiama and Sodiam Join the Natural Diamond Council. De Beers Group Commits Additional Investment to Jointly Promote the Natural Diamond Industry.
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 7 July 2025 - Angola's two leading state-owned diamond institutions, ENDIAMA E.P. and SODIAM E.P., have formally announced their joint commitment to generic category marketing by joining the Natural Diamond Council (NDC) as contributing members, effective July 1, 2025. Angolan Diamond Leaders, Endiama and Sodiam, Join the Natural Diamond Council As the third-largest global producer of natural diamonds and one of the most promising in terms of future deposit discoveries, Angola continues to strengthen its position as a responsible and influential player in the global diamond industry. This move reinforces the country's commitment to transparency, sustainability, and consumer education on the unique value of natural diamonds. Angolan Diamond Leaders, Endiama and Sodiam, Join the Natural Diamond Council The natural diamond sector remains a vital pillar of Angola's socioeconomic development, supporting employment, infrastructure, education, and healthcare in producing regions. 'With Angola's diamond industry on the rise, promoting the values and socioeconomic contributions of natural diamonds is a national priority,' stated Diamantino Azevedo, Angola's Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas. 'By joining the Natural Diamond Council, Endiama and Sodiam are formalizing our dedication to a global strategy that highlights the unmatched benefits of natural diamonds to new generations of consumers.' 'We are thrilled to welcome ENDIAMA and SODIAM to the NDC at such a pivotal time for the industry,' said David Kellie, CEO of Natural Diamond Council. 'Their membership will significantly enrich our collective voice in sharing the powerful story of natural diamonds rooted in positive impact, rarity, and authenticity.' ENDIAMA and SODIAM will commence their commitment to global category marketing through the NDC with a contribution of $8M dedicated to the second half of 2025, supporting the most critical commercial season for the industry. Angolan Diamond Leaders, Endiama and Sodiam, Join the Natural Diamond Council Current NDC member, De Beers, concurrently announced it will commit additional contribution to the NDC by matching ENDIAMA and SODIAM commitment of $8M for 2025. De Beers Group remains committed to its sustainable initiative, 'Building Forever,' ensuring that every natural diamond discovered has a lasting, positive impact on the local communities and environments from which they are sourced. This additional funding highlights De Beers Group's belief that the sustainable development and marketing of natural diamonds should be a shared responsibility across the entire industry, rather than the sole burden of one company, further solidifying De Beers Group's leadership within the sector. As members of the Natural Diamond Council increase their investments to support the natural diamond industry, the Council will continue to enhance public awareness of the core values associated with these precious stones. Its goal is to provide a thorough understanding of the rarity, authenticity, and uniqueness of natural diamonds, helping consumers recognize the essential role the industry plays in global socio-economic development and ecological conservation. ENDIAMA and SODIAM now join current NDC members: De Beers, Okavango Diamond Company, Petra Diamonds, Rio Tinto, and #NDC #Endiama #Sodiam #DeBeersGroup #NaturalDiamonds The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ABOUT ENDIAMA Founded on January 15, 1981, ENDIAMA E.P. is Angola's national diamond company, responsible for managing the State's interests in the diamond sub-sector. While maintaining its focus on core mining operations, ENDIAMA is actively expanding across the diamond value chain through partnerships with internationally recognized companies in cutting, polishing, and jewellery. The company's strategy is guided not by revenue alone, but by a commitment to local development, social impact, and alignment with global ESG standards. ENDIAMA seeks to transform Angola's natural resources into sustainable value for the country and its people, especially in producing regions. As part of its diversification efforts, ENDIAMA is expanding into gold refining as a catalyst for developing a national jewellery industry, further strengthening Angola's position in the global luxury and value-added market. ABOUT SODIAM SODIAM E.P. (Empresa Nacional de Comercialização de Diamantes de Angola) is the Angolan public company responsible for the marketing and sale of rough diamonds. Acting as a trusted interface between producers and international buyers, SODIAM ensures transparency, traceability, and fair value for Angola's natural resources. The company also leads strategic initiatives to promote beneficiation and local value addition in the diamond value chain. ABOUT NATURAL DIAMOND COUNCIL (NDC) The Natural Diamond Council is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the integrity of the natural diamond industry worldwide. Rebranded in 2020, the NDC serves as the authoritative voice of natural diamonds, inspiring and educating consumers through compelling stories of their rarity, positive impact, and emotional value. The NDC supports the livelihoods of over 10 million people across the diamond supply chain. ABOUT DE BEERS GROUP Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world's leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world's largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group's strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers London and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology services. De Beers Group is committed to ' Building Forever ', a holistic and integrated approach to sustainability that underpins our efforts to create meaningful impact for the people and places where our diamonds are discovered. Building Forever focuses on three key areas where, through collaborations and partnerships around the globe, we have an enhanced ability to drive positive impact; Livelihoods, Climate and Nature. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. For further information, visit
Malay Mail
07-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Angolan Diamond Leaders Endiama and Sodiam Join the Natural Diamond Council. De Beers Group Commits Additional Investment to Jointly Promote the Natural Diamond Industry.
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 7 July 2025 - Angola's two leading state-owned diamond institutions, ENDIAMA E.P. and SODIAM E.P., have formally announced their joint commitment to generic category marketing by joining the Natural Diamond Council (NDC) as contributing members, effective July 1, the third-largest global producer of natural diamonds and one of the most promising in terms of future deposit discoveries, Angola continues to strengthen its position as a responsible and influential player in the global diamond industry. This move reinforces the country's commitment to transparency, sustainability, and consumer education on the unique value of natural natural diamond sector remains a vital pillar of Angola's socioeconomic development, supporting employment, infrastructure, education, and healthcare in producing regions."With Angola's diamond industry on the rise, promoting the values and socioeconomic contributions of natural diamonds is a national priority," stated Diamantino Azevedo, Angola's Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas. "By joining the Natural Diamond Council, Endiama and Sodiam are formalizing our dedication to a global strategy that highlights the unmatched benefits of natural diamonds to new generations of consumers.""We are thrilled to welcome ENDIAMA and SODIAM to the NDC at such a pivotal time for the industry," said David Kellie, CEO of Natural Diamond Council. "Their membership will significantly enrich our collective voice in sharing the powerful story of natural diamonds rooted in positive impact, rarity, and authenticity."ENDIAMA and SODIAM will commence their commitment to global category marketing through the NDC with a contribution of $8M dedicated to the second half of 2025, supporting the most critical commercial season for the NDC member, De Beers, concurrently announced it will commit additional contribution to the NDC by matching ENDIAMA and SODIAM commitment of $8M for Beers Group remains committed to its sustainable initiative, "Building Forever," ensuring that every natural diamond discovered has a lasting, positive impact on the local communities and environments from which they are sourced. This additional funding highlights De Beers Group's belief that the sustainable development and marketing of natural diamonds should be a shared responsibility across the entire industry, rather than the sole burden of one company, further solidifying De Beers Group's leadership within the members of the Natural Diamond Council increase their investments to support the natural diamond industry, the Council will continue to enhance public awareness of the core values associated with these precious stones. Its goal is to provide a thorough understanding of the rarity, authenticity, and uniqueness of natural diamonds, helping consumers recognize the essential role the industry plays in global socio-economic development and ecological and SODIAM now join current NDC members: De Beers, Okavango Diamond Company, Petra Diamonds, Rio Tinto, and #NDC #Endiama #Sodiam #DeBeersGroup #NaturalDiamonds The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ABOUT ENDIAMA Founded on January 15, 1981, ENDIAMA E.P. is Angola's national diamond company, responsible for managing the State's interests in the diamond sub-sector. While maintaining its focus on core mining operations, ENDIAMA is actively expanding across the diamond value chain through partnerships with internationally recognized companies in cutting, polishing, and jewellery. The company's strategy is guided not by revenue alone, but by a commitment to local development, social impact, and alignment with global ESG standards. ENDIAMA seeks to transform Angola's natural resources into sustainable value for the country and its people, especially in producing regions. As part of its diversification efforts, ENDIAMA is expanding into gold refining as a catalyst for developing a national jewellery industry, further strengthening Angola's position in the global luxury and value-added market. ABOUT SODIAM SODIAM E.P. (Empresa Nacional de Comercialização de Diamantes de Angola) is the Angolan public company responsible for the marketing and sale of rough diamonds. Acting as a trusted interface between producers and international buyers, SODIAM ensures transparency, traceability, and fair value for Angola's natural resources. The company also leads strategic initiatives to promote beneficiation and local value addition in the diamond value chain. ABOUT NATURAL DIAMOND COUNCIL (NDC) The Natural Diamond Council is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the integrity of the natural diamond industry worldwide. Rebranded in 2020, the NDC serves as the authoritative voice of natural diamonds, inspiring and educating consumers through compelling stories of their rarity, positive impact, and emotional value. The NDC supports the livelihoods of over 10 million people across the diamond supply chain. ABOUT DE BEERS GROUP Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world's leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world's largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group's strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers London and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology services. De Beers Group is committed to ' Building Forever', a holistic and integrated approach to sustainability that underpins our efforts to create meaningful impact for the people and places where our diamonds are discovered. Building Forever focuses on three key areas where, through collaborations and partnerships around the globe, we have an enhanced ability to drive positive impact; Livelihoods, Climate and Nature. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. For further information, visit
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Luanda Accord Marks Landmark Commitment to Support Natural Diamond Industry
~ Leading diamond producing countries announce their intention to allocate 1% of annual diamond revenue towards promotion of natural diamonds through the Natural Diamond Council ~ MUMBAI, India, June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Representatives from diamond-producing governments, industry stakeholders, and leaders from across the global natural diamond value chain signed the Luanda Accord, a landmark accord aimed at ensuring a bright future for the natural diamond industry through renewed investment in global generic marketing led by the Natural Diamond Council (NDC). Recognizing the vital role that natural diamonds play in supporting livelihoods, generating national revenues, and driving development across Africa and other diamond producing regions, the Luanda Accord highlights the shared commitment of the signatories to work together to boost consumer interest in, understanding of, and demand for natural diamonds. "Natural diamonds are more than just precious stones — they are a lifeline for millions of people and a cornerstone of economic opportunity in many of our countries," said Diamantino Azevedo, Angola's Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, speaking at the conclusion of the Ministerial Round Table meeting in Luanda. To support this, the Luanda Accord has confirmed their intent to contribute to a global marketing effort driven by the NDC, building on the foundations of previous campaigns and expanding its scope and reach in key consumer regions. Participating producer governments and De Beers Group intend to allocate 1% of the annual revenue they generate from rough diamond sales to fund this initiative. These funds will be entrusted to the NDC to execute a global category marketing approach. "This is a decisive step forward," said Minister of Minerals and Energy of Botswana, Bogolo Joy Kenewendo. "By coming together, we are sending a compelling message: that the future of natural diamonds lies in ambition, transparency, and a commitment to telling our story to the world – and that we are all committed to investing and telling that story." "Bringing together key leaders in the industry highlights the challenge facing the industry of insufficient investment in growing consumer demand. I am appreciative to all the Ministers who attended the meeting and their commitment to focus on consumer demand as the driver of future prosperity. I'd also like to thank De Beers for their unwavering support, and to the diamond centers of Antwerp, Dubai and Mumbai for their role in making the Accord happen," states David Kellie, CEO of Natural Diamond Council. Richa Singh, Managing Director, Natural Diamond Council, India & Middle East, stated, "India is at the heart of the natural diamond story not just as one of the biggest markets, but as a place where craftsmanship and tradition come alive. The Luanda Accord is a powerful step forward because it means we are investing in telling the real story behind natural diamonds, their rarity, authenticity, and the positive impact they have on communities around the world. At the Natural Diamond Council, we are proud to champion this initiative and ensure that natural diamonds continue to captivate and inspire in India's dynamic and growing market." With a focus on launching an enhanced category marketing campaign ahead of the 2025 peak sales season, the Luanda Accord represents a turning point for the industry — and a renewed promise to the communities and countries whose futures are intertwined with the enduring brilliance of natural diamonds. About the Natural Diamond Council: Natural Diamond Council is a global not-for-profit organization which inspires and informs consumers about the incredible world of natural diamonds. NDC supports the integrity of the natural diamond industry by providing transparency and insight on the progress of this sector and its commitments to further betterment. NDC partners with industry stakeholders for the purpose of sharing best practices and driving trust and works to educate and protect the consumer. The NDC operates in the US, China, India, UAE, and Europe. For more information, please visit - Photo: View original content to download multimedia:
Zawya
12-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
De Beers launches ‘Ombré Desert Diamonds' jewellery beacon and ‘Origin, De Beers Group' polished diamonds
First 'beacon' product in more than a decade will support category demand for natural diamonds, while Origin initiative will differentiate De Beers-sourced polished diamonds Rapid delivery of Origins strategy priorities and reinforced commitment to driving demand for natural diamonds LAS VAGAS, US - Media OutReach Newswire - 12 June 2025 - De Beers Group today unveiled compelling new downstream propositions focused on driving desire for natural diamonds as a category and on differentiating polished diamonds sourced from De Beers Group. At the annual JCK Las Vegas Show – the largest jewellery event in the global calendar – De Beers Group revealed its first 'beacon' product (a jewellery concept that enables various industry businesses to participate in a category marketing idea) in over a decade. The Ombré Desert Diamonds initiative draws inspiration from the desert landscapes from which many natural diamonds originate. These environments bring to life an array of colours, from warm whites to champagne tones and amber hues. Inspired by the rarity and authenticity of these precious stones, the Ombré Desert Diamonds beacon introduces a fresh, emotionally resonant way of evoking the enduring beauty and value of natural diamonds. De Beers Group beacons, which have previously included the eternity ring and three-stone ring, are focused on driving desire for natural diamond jewellery by introducing new emotionally compelling retail propositions. At the JCK Show, De Beers Group unveiled new design concepts as part of the Ombré Desert Diamonds beacon including multi-stone ombre designs. Retailers across the industry will have the opportunity to participate in the programme. To support the success of Ombré Desert Diamonds, De Beers Group is investing significantly in media and digital campaigns to drive consumer demand at the point of sale. De Beers Group will also be making marketing collateral available to beacon participants. Alongside the new beacon product, the business also formally launched Origin, De Beers Group. First unveiled at the 2024 JCK Show, Origin, De Beers Group is a new branded polished diamond offering designed to enable retailers to tell the individual stories of natural diamonds sourced by De Beers Group, strengthening the connection between a diamond and the individual who wears it. As a loose polished diamond programme, Origin, De Beers Group will enable consumers to explore the details of their diamond's country of origin and journey through the value chain, supported by the Tracr blockchain platform. Moreover, consumers will be able to access a range of information about their unique purchase, including its rarity score and the social impact programmes it has supported. Origin, De Beers Group will provide retailers with advanced digital tools, enhancing consumer engagement through seamless access to provenance information and brand storytelling. Origin, De Beers Group will provide consumers with the opportunity to purchase diamonds sourced from De Beers Group with enhanced assurance, reinforcing their ethical provenance as part of the marketing mix. During its keynote presentation at the JCK Show, De Beers Group also provided a series of updates on its delivery against other areas of its Origins strategy. In the upstream, De Beers Group highlighted progress across its asset portfolio, with the completion of all airborne geophysical surveying in Angola representing a key recent milestone in its exploration activities. In the midstream, De Beers Group reiterated it is doubling down on its commitment to traceability. Earlier this year, the business announced that single country of origin data is now available on Tracr and DiamondProof was launched in US retail stores. Both announcements reflect De Beers Group's focus on leveraging technology to provide an enhanced consumer proposition by connecting diamonds to their source. In the synthetics space, De Beers Group announced the first production of technology diamonds from its Element Six Oregon Centre. This is a key milestone in Element Six's $130 million investment in its Portland, Oregon facility, and its progress with synthetic diamond technology solutions for industrial use. Theannouncement follows De Beers Group's communication of its plans to close its Lightbox lab-grown diamond jewellery business. Al Cook, Chief Executive Officer of De Beers Group, said: "One year on from announcing our Origins strategy, we have made fast and meaningful progress in delivering our vision. We have met every target that we announced back in 2024. Every part of De Beers is evolving to create lasting value, benefitting shareholders, the industry and consumers. The launch of our first beacon in over a decade marks an exciting new era in showcasing the magic of natural diamonds, while Origin, De Beers Group connects people with the powerful stories behind natural diamonds – the communities they help support, the landscapes they come from, and the meaningful impact they create. With innovation across the value chain – from provenance to synthetic diamond technology – De Beers is reinforcing its leadership in an evolving marketplace." De Beers Group also reinforced its commitment to sustainability, in line with its Building Forever programme, with key advancements in renewable energy. Recent agreements, including Namdeb's partnership with Namibia's NamPower, and Debswana's collaboration with Botswana Power Corporation, pave the way for increased renewable energy integration across the De Beers Group business. De Beers Group also confirmed that Envusa Energy has commissioned on its renewable energy projects in South Africa, set to power Venetia Mine from 2026. Hashtag: #DeBeersGroup #JCK #Origin #NaturalDiamonds The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About De Beers Group Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world's leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world's largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group's strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers London and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology services. De Beers Group is committed to 'Building Forever,' a holistic and integrated approach to sustainability that underpins our efforts to create meaningful impact for the people and places where our diamonds are discovered. Building Forever focuses on three key areas where, through collaborations and partnerships around the globe, we have an enhanced ability to drive positive impact; Livelihoods, Climate and Nature. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. For further information, visit De Beers Group
Malay Mail
09-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
De Beers Group Announces Intention To Close Lightbox Business
Underpins De Beers Group's commitment to natural diamonds Element Six to retain exclusive focus on industrial applications for synthetic diamonds Lightbox, which was established in 2018, has highlighted that LGDs are a distinct product from natural diamonds, with different attributes and different value. The business was launched with transparent linear pricing of $800 per carat. Since then, LGD prices in the jewellery sector have fallen 90% at wholesale, tracking closer to a cost-plus model as they have diverged from natural diamond prices. Reflecting this sharp price decline, De Beers Group intends to discontinue the Lightbox business. The evolution of LGD values in the jewellery sector underpins De Beers Group's core belief in rare, high-value, natural diamond jewellery as a separate category from low-cost, mass-produced LGD jewellery. The proposed closure of the Lightbox business reflects a key executional milestone in De Beers Group's Origins Strategy, as set out in May 2024, to focus on high-return activities and streamline the business. The closure will enable De Beers Group to reallocate investment to initiatives focused on reinvigorating desire for natural diamonds through category marketing. De Beers Group will work closely with employees, retail partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth process over the coming months. Customers will continue to receive support for existing purchases, including warranties and after-sales services, during the closure process. Demand Growth for Synthetic Diamonds in Industrial Applications Element Six, De Beers Group's subsidiary that previously produced lab grown stones for Lightbox, maintains its exclusive focus on industrial solutions using synthetic diamonds. Building on its world-leading status developed over more than seven decades, Element Six is well-positioned to seize the rapidly growing potential for synthetic diamond applications across a range of future-facing technologies and applications. By centralising CVD (chemical vapor deposition) synthetic diamond production at its state-of-the-art facility in Oregon, US, Element Six will work with its growing global network of partners to accelerate cutting-edge technologies for high growth industries, such as semiconductors and quantum technologies. With a track record of growth and profitability, Element Six is favourably positioned to drive the future of synthetic diamond solutions in industrial and high-tech applications. Al Cook, Chief Executive Officer of De Beers Group, said: "As we move towards becoming a standalone company, we continue to optimise our business, reduce costs and build a focused De Beers that is positioned for profitable growth. "The persistently declining value of lab-grown diamonds in jewellery underscores the growing differentiation between these factory-made products and natural diamonds. Lightbox has helped to highlight the fundamental differences in value between these two categories. Global competition continues to intensify with more low-cost lab-grown diamond production from China. In the US, supermarkets are driving down lab-grown diamond jewellery prices. Overall, we expect both the cost and price of lab-grown diamonds to fall further in the jewellery sector. LONDON, UK - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 May 2025 - De Beers Group today announces its intention to close its lab-grown diamond ("LGD") jewellery brand, Lightbox, reinforcing De Beers Group's commitment to natural diamonds in the jewellery sector. As part of the closure process, De Beers Group is discussing the sale of certain assets, including inventory, with potential which was established in 2018, has highlighted that LGDs are a distinct product from natural diamonds, with different attributes and different value. The business was launched with transparent linear pricing of $800 per carat. Since then, LGD prices in the jewellery sector have fallen 90% at wholesale, tracking closer to a cost-plus model as they have diverged from natural diamond prices. Reflecting this sharp price decline, De Beers Group intends to discontinue the Lightbox business. The evolution of LGD values in the jewellery sector underpins De Beers Group's core belief in rare, high-value, natural diamond jewellery as a separate category from low-cost, mass-produced LGD proposed closure of the Lightbox business reflects a key executional milestone in De Beers Group's Origins Strategy, as set out in May 2024, to focus on high-return activities and streamline the business. The closure will enable De Beers Group to reallocate investment to initiatives focused on reinvigorating desire for natural diamonds through category Beers Group will work closely with employees, retail partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth process over the coming months. Customers will continue to receive support for existing purchases, including warranties and after-sales services, during the closure Six, De Beers Group's subsidiary that previously produced lab grown stones for Lightbox, maintains its exclusive focus on industrial solutions using synthetic diamonds. Building on its world-leading status developed over more than seven decades, Element Six is well-positioned to seize the rapidly growing potential for synthetic diamond applications across a range of future-facing technologies and applications. By centralising CVD (chemical vapor deposition) synthetic diamond production at its state-of-the-art facility in Oregon, US, Element Six will work with its growing global network of partners to accelerate cutting-edge technologies for high growth industries, such as semiconductors and quantum technologies. With a track record of growth and profitability, Element Six is favourably positioned to drive the future of synthetic diamond solutions in industrial and high-tech Cook, Chief Executive Officer of De Beers Group, said: "As we move towards becoming a standalone company, we continue to optimise our business, reduce costs and build a focused De Beers that is positioned for profitable growth."The persistently declining value of lab-grown diamonds in jewellery underscores the growing differentiation between these factory-made products and natural diamonds. Lightbox has helped to highlight the fundamental differences in value between these two categories. Global competition continues to intensify with more low-cost lab-grown diamond production from China. In the US, supermarkets are driving down lab-grown diamond jewellery prices. Overall, we expect both the cost and price of lab-grown diamonds to fall further in the jewellery sector."The planned closure of Lightbox reflects our commitment to natural diamonds. We are also excited at the growing commercial potential for synthetic diamonds in the technology and industrial space." Hashtag: #DeBeersGroup #NaturalDiamonds The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About De Beers Group Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world's leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world's largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group's strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers Jewellers and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services via De Beers Institute of Diamonds and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology systems via De Beers Group Ignite. De Beers Group is committed to 'Building Forever,' a holistic and integrated approach for creating a better future – where safety, human rights and ethical integrity continue to be paramount; where communities thrive and the environment is protected; and where there are equal opportunities for all. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. For further information, visit
