IDEX Price Report for 1 March: Gains for Key Sizes in Rounds and Fancies

(IDEX Online) - Prices showed positive movement during February, especially among better colors and clarities, following on from improved performances in January. There were some price increases among rounds, but the bigger gains were among fancies. Whether this indicates the start of a recovery is another matter, with demand in China now halved, and lab growns taking more and more of the market, and the industry still working through excess inventory.

We may be seeing some early signs of improvement in specific segments, but it is not yet a broad recovery, which will depend on a wider resurgence in consumer demand.

Rounds

There was more positive movement than we have seen for a long while, notably among 1.00-cts to 3.99-cts goods. Larger goods (4.00-cts to 5.99-cts) saw a more mixed picture, with most of the price gains among D-F and price drops dominating among lesser colors. Little movement in either direction among goods under 1.00-cts.

Fancies

Price rises dominated among fancies in many of the sizes shown, for the first time in a long time. In 0.70-cts to 0.89-cts prices were up for virtually all goods I+ and SI1+. There were also notable gains in larger sizes. Among 1.00-cts to 1.24-cts there were increases in all goods F+ and VS2+. Gains outweighed losses in 1.50-cts to 4.99-cts. A more mixed picture in 5.00-cts to 5.99-cts.

Highlighted changes

Rounds

1.00-1.24 ct. D-F / IF-VVS1 +1-3.5%

3.00-3.99 ct. D-F / VVS1-VS1 +1-3.5%

5.00-5.99 ct. H-N / VVS1-VS2 -1-4%, D-E / IF-VS2 +1-3%

Fancy Cuts

0.70-0.79 ct. D-F / IF-VS1 +1-4.5%

1.00-1.24 ct. D-E / IF-SI1 +1-5%

2.00-2.99 ct. E-F / IF-VVS1 +1-4.5%, E-F / VVS2-VS1 +0.5-4%

IDEX Online subscribers please click here to read the full report.