Polished Diamond Prices Slip in September

The broad market IDEX Index for global polished diamond prices showed a modest decline in September, but this single index does not tell the whole story. Prices were mixed by size. Here’s the underlying detail:

·         The IDEX Index of Global Polished Diamond Prices averaged 130.4 during September, down from 132.2, the average for both July and August. The good news: prices held steady during the final two weeks of September.

·         On a daily basis, prices drifted slightly lower early in the month. Polished diamond prices reached a daily high of 132.9 on the IDEX Index on the fourth day of September, but drifted lower to the 128-129 range mid-month, and held steady in subsequent days.

·         There was a wide variation in price trends by size of stone. Diamonds in the 0.5-carat range dropped significantly in price. Further, 4-carat stones also dropped in price. Stones ranging in size from 1carat to 3 carats posted varying gains on a month-to-month basis.

Polished Diamond Prices Continue Their Roller Coaster Ride

Price volatility began in the third quarter of 2014, and it has continued unabated in 2015. If anything, the volatility has accelerated during the first nine months of 2015.

The graph below illustrates short-term trends – and recent volatility – for polished diamond prices.

A graph of polished diamond prices for the past five years puts the recent price volatility in perspective, as shown below...

Click here to see the full IDEX Online Research article.