(IDEX Online News) – There was a slight rise in the IDEX polished diamond price index during February following a small increase in January.

                                                                                 

The Index began the month at 122.25 and ended at 123.96.

 

 

Diamond Prices Show Multi-Month Decline

Polished diamond prices have drifted for the past 18 months, although there has been a slight increase in recent months.

 

 

The graph of polished diamond prices since January 2014 shows a 6.7-percent decline to-date.

 

On a month-to-month basis, global polished diamond prices in February saw a rise of 1.3 percent over January.

 

 

On a year-over-year basis, the average price in February showed a 2.1-percent increase.

 

 

Diamond Prices by Size

On a month-to-month basis – comparing prices during February to January 2018 – there were five rising categories and one decliner as seen in the graph below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On a year-over-year basis, there was just one decliner and five risers as can be seen in the graph below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over the longer term, the general trend is that 4-carat stones have shown the most price volatility, although 3-carat diamonds have displayed the steepest year-over-year decline since mid-2015, as the graph below illustrates. From December 2015 onwards, there has been relative price stability in 1-carat, 1.5-carat and 2-carat stones.

 

 

Outlook

 

Sentiment in the diamond centers was generally solid, with the industry restocking after what was reportedly an upbeat holiday sales season and with the Chinese New Year (which falls on February 16) sales period.

 

In Israel polished manufacturers and traders were preparing for the annual International Diamond Week in Israel, which was set for February 5-7. And in India and Antwerp, reports from the trade suggested the year was starting off slowly, albeit with firm sales.