(IDEX Online News) – In October, the IDEX polished diamond price index was just about unchanged. The Index began the month at 122.3 and ended at 121.8.

 

The decline last month followed a slight decline in September.

 

 

Diamond Price Stability Continues

 

Polished diamond prices have largely shown stability and few fluctuations since November 2015, apart from a slight increase between May and June.

 

The graph of polished diamond prices since January 2013 shows an 8.2-percent decline to-date.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On a month-to-month basis, October's global polished diamond prices saw a 1.2-percent decrease over September.

 

 

On a year-over-year basis, October's average price showed a 3.2-percent decrease over October 2015.

 

Diamond Prices by Size Decrease

 

On a month-to-month basis – comparing prices during October 2016 to September 2016 – almost all gemstone categories showed decreases, with only 4-carat diamonds rising, by 0.9%. The declines showed 0.5-carat stones down by 1.4%, while 1.0-carat diamonds declined by 1.6% and 1.5-caraters slipping by 0.4% and 2.0-carat and 3.0-carat diamonds both down by 1%.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On a year-over-year basis, all major sizes of stones declined apart from 0.5-carat stones which rose by 0.4%.

 

While 1-carat diamonds declined by 1.0 percent in October, the largest decrease was recorded by 3.0-carat diamonds, down 11.2% on the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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. Since October 2015, 1-carat, 1.5-carat and 2-carat stones have seen the least volatility.

 

 

Outlook

 

The market is still acting prudently with purchases only made for immediate needs, and no evidence of inventories being built up.

 

The market is waiting for more indications as to sales figures for the critical holiday sales season.