The recent JCK Las Vegas show painted a revealing picture of the split within today’s diamond market. Exhibitors holding rare ovals and long cushion cuts? They made out like bandits. But for everyone stuck with more common goods — think your everyday rounds — the struggle is very, very real.
🔥 Long fancy shapes and large rounds were the stars of the show, thanks to persistent shortages and steady demand. On the flip side, the so-called “bread-and-butter” goods — the ones that keep inventories full but sales slow — remained ice cold.
⛏️ Miners and polished manufacturers have been scaling back output over the past year, creating scarcity in select stones. That scarcity pushed up prices for desirable pieces. But while some rejoiced, others were stung by ongoing challenges: US tariffs and the looming presence of lab-grown diamonds.
📊 The Rapaport Research Report broke down the fair into five key diamond segments, analyzing what worked and what flopped. They also revealed juicy RapNet data on average prices, discounts, and inventory movement across 0.30-, 0.50-, 1-, and 3-carat stones.
💼 Want to know which categories are still moving — and which ones are DOA? This breakdown is your cheat sheet to what’s worth cutting and what’s worth cutting out.