| The adage that a diamond can be a best friend has lost some sparkle in recent years. Dampened by dollar appreciation, an increase in stocks of rough stones and weakened consumer demand, the global diamond market has hit headlines of late, thanks to tumbling prices.
In fact, the average, inflation-adjusted price of top-quality stones has weakened by as much as 80 percent in the past 30 years, according to the Rappaport Index, an industry benchmark, suggesting that the free fall in a material once considered a timeless store of value has been in effect for some time. The prospects for gold, also long considered a haven for investors, are not glittering either...............................................Full Article: Source
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