Rising gold prices in India, driven by global safe-haven demand and a weaker dollar, are shifting consumer preferences from traditional jewellery to gold coins and bars, with investment gold demand increasing and overall jewellery consumption declining.
The Princess of Wales wore Cartier 'Trinity' earrings with personal significance during the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham, possibly as a tribute to Princess Diana, and styled her look with a tartan coat and other elegant accessories, highlighting her sophisticated fashion choices.
The Princess of Wales wore a stack of four rings, including her wedding band, on her wedding finger during the Remembrance Sunday service, showcasing her sentimental jewellery collection and paying tribute through her accessories.
Princess Kate attended the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph, wearing a black dress and £30,000 Collingwood Pearl Drop earrings, in a solemn display of respect alongside other senior royals, including Queen Camilla and Prince William, who was abroad. She paid tribute to war heroes and wore meaningful jewelry linked to Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth II.
The Louvre Museum in Paris reopened after a daring daylight robbery where thieves stole €88 million worth of jewelry, including crowns and necklaces, using power tools and scooters. The heist, carried out by masked thieves with a truck and ladders, remains unsolved, prompting increased security measures and investigations into the criminal organization behind it.
Thieves broke into the Louvre Museum in Paris, using a construction ladder and cutting tools to steal priceless jewelry from the Galerie d’Apollon, including pieces from Napoleon's collection, in a swift operation that lasted seven minutes. The museum was closed for the day, and investigations are ongoing, with no injuries reported.
India's Diwali gold rush is shifting towards investment and lighter jewellery due to record-high gold prices, with more consumers opting for smaller, investment-oriented gold pieces and a growing preference among younger buyers for lighter, everyday jewellery. Despite soaring prices, demand remains strong, driven by cultural traditions and increased investment in gold assets like ETFs and digital gold, while the central bank's gold accumulation also influences prices.
Princess Kate wore a personalized necklace with her children’s initials, subtly echoing Prince William’s affectionate comments about Prince Louis, highlighting her emotional connection to her family.
Britney Spears revealed on Instagram that her home was allegedly robbed, with thieves stealing all her jewellery, including pieces she had since she was a toddler. She expressed her fear and sadness over the loss, showing empty jewellery boxes in a video. Despite the incident, she later posted about considering getting a tongue ring.
Blackstone has acquired International Gemological Institute (IGI) from Fosun and the Lorie family for about $530m. The majority of IGI's revenue and profits come from India, where it has 29 laboratories and 18 schools of gemology. India's jewellery market is worth $78.5bn, and IGI has become a global market leader in the certification of natural diamonds, lab-grown diamonds, and coloured stones.
India's diamond industry is undergoing a revolution as lab-grown diamonds (LGDs) become increasingly popular due to improved technology and falling costs. LGDs are now so similar to natural diamonds that even experts have trouble telling them apart. India already produces around 15% of the world's LGDs, and the government is keen to develop the sector further. While some in the traditional diamond industry remain sceptical, others see LGDs as a way to broaden the market for diamonds and make the industry more environmentally friendly.
A 3.29-carat brown diamond, dubbed "Bud," was discovered by a tourist at Arkansas' Crater of Diamonds State Park. The park allows visitors to keep the diamonds they find, and one or two are found every day. The diamond is the largest found in the park since September 2021, and so far this year, 124 diamonds have been found. The discoverer, David Anderson, has found more than 400 diamonds since 2007 and plans to sell his recent discovery to local jewelers. The park is also where the largest diamond ever found in the US was discovered.