After what CEO Philippe Mellier termed an “exceptional year,” De Beers today announced that overall sales for the year ended Dec. 31 increased 26 percent to $7.4 billion.

Diamond leaders here unveiled a “master plan” on Wednesday designed to preserve and strengthen the city’s position as a diamond trading hub through 2020.

A 2.44-carat rough diamond discovered by an Arkansas couple that turned out to be worth nearly $22,000 ranks as one of the top discoveries last year at the Crater of Diamonds State Park here.

The rough market is again in a glut, a result of supply exceeding demand. This is a temporary, short-term issue, but for now, goods are coming in from all directions, and buyers are wondering what to do with them.

New Kimberley Process Chair Gillian A. Milovanovic of the United States doesn't see KP "going beyond the question of rough diamonds." But she says it will examine the definition of conflict diamonds.

Diamonds from Zimbabwe's controversial Marange area are being tendered this week after receiving the Kimberley Process's go ahead. KP did not make the decision publicly known, creating confusion in the market.

The three-year-old Antwerp Diamond Trade Fair recorded its largest show last month, bringing in approximately 350 buyers and 70 booths.

Hearts on Fire is now distributing a 90-second movie illustrating the journey of a diamond from its genesis in the Earth’s crust to its being cut as a Hearts on Fire diamond, the brand announced recently.

De Beers mined an estimated 31.3 million carats in 2011, a 5.2 percent decrease from 2010, based on figures released by Anglo American.

Leo Schachter Diamonds Ltd. exported more polished diamonds than any other Israeli company last year, year-end figures compiled by Israel’s diamond controller in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor show.

Mining giant Rio Tinto produced 13.8 million carats of diamonds in 2011, a 15 percent decline compared to 2010. The company pinned the shrinking production on maintenance shutdowns and heavy rains at its Argyle mine.

Ivanka Trump, Dr. Benjamin Chavis and executives from Rio Tinto and Sterling Jewelers Inc. were among those in attendance last week at the Diamond Empowerment Fund’s first “The Good Awards.”

The Israeli diamond industry reports that its diamond trade grew double-digits in 2011 despite a slowdown in activity worldwide in the fourth quarter.

Officials from the Diamond Administration of China and related agencies visited Israel to learn how the local diamond industry functions.

Lazare Kaplan International Inc. has filed a lawsuit against two Belgian banks claiming that the entities stole more than $135 million in rough diamond sales from the company to make up for a series of “improper” loans to a prominent Antwerp diamond dealer.

The tumultuous story of rough diamonds in 2011 reflected the wild and twistful events of the year--both economically and in global politics.

While 2011 was described as an amazing year for De Beers by Diamond Trading Company CEO Varda Shine, the 66 companies that will have a London sight will probably find 2012 somewhat less exciting.

Not revealing names yet, the Diamond Trading Company announced that the new list has 72 companies and 112 sights, meaning that a growing number of firms will have more than one sight.

Companies that applied for a Supplier of Choice contract (a sight), will be notified on the outcome of their application on Mon., Dec. 19. The new Supplier of Choice contract is for the 2012-2015 period.

A shop that bills itself as the “world’s first synthetic diamond jewelry store” has opened its doors here.

Popular bridal brand Ritani has launched a new collection of engagement rings, earrings and pendants set with Forevermark diamonds, the diamond brand created by De Beers.

The rising consumer demand for diamonds in India and China coupled with a recovery in developed countries will result in demand outstripping supply within the next decade, a new report from consulting firm Bain & Co. shows.

NGO Global Witness has announced that it has left the Kimberley Process, the international certification scheme established to stop the trade in conflict diamonds. In explaining its departure, the organization said the KP’s refusal to evolve and address the clear links between diamonds, violence and tyranny has rendered it increasingly outdated.

The Diamond Empowerment Fund is honoring diamond industry leaders who make a difference with “The Good Awards.”

BHP Billiton is considering selling the diamond mining portion of its operations, the Melbourne-based mining company announced last week.