Following several consecutive months of price declines since the summer of 2014, polished prices trended upwards during March 2015.

 

Average prices during the month were 4.9-percent percent higher than average prices in February 2015, but were 2.4-percent lower than the same month a year ago, according to the IDEX Polished Diamond Price Index, recognized by the industry as the most reliable indicator of global polished diamond prices. 

 

The graph below summarizes polished diamond prices for the past four years.  After showing stability from 2012 to mid-2014 and declines during the past six months, polished diamond prices finally began to show the first signs of recovery during March.

 

 

Factors Fueling the Rise in Diamond Prices

Prices tend to increase before important trade shows and March was no different, showing the market’s response to the Hong Kong and Basel shows that took place during this period. Add halted production in part of the Indian manufacturing sector in India, and the result is a rise in polished prices. It is still too early to tell if this rise in prices will hold in months to come

 

The graph below displays the two-year period of price stability, followed by months of price declines and the beginning of a rise in prices that occurred in March.

 

 

On a month-to-month basis – comparing March 2015 to February 2015, polished diamond prices rose by 4.9 percent, as the graph below illustrates. This is the largest month-to-month gain seen since mid-2011.

 

 

On a year-to-year basis – comparing March 2015 to March 2014 – polished diamond prices fell by 2.4 percent.

 

 

The following table summarizes monthly historic data for the IDEX Global Polished Diamond Price Index since the beginning of 2008.

 

 

 

The graph below illustrates daily prices during March for polished diamonds.  The IDEX Index stood at 127.9 at the beginning of the month, and ended at 132.6, with an average of 129.7 for the month.

 

 

Prices for All Key Diamond Sizes Went Up during March

Prices for all key diamond sizes went up on a month-to-month comparison, with gains ranging from 3 to 9 percent, as the graph below illustrates.

 

 

On a year-to-year basis – March 2015 versus March 2014, some key diamond sizes rose in price during the month, and some showed declines.

 

 

The graph below shows the historic price trends for the major round sizes of polished diamonds.