De Beers正关闭其人造钻石珠宝业务

Group 1 - De Beers announced the closure of its lab-grown diamond brand Lightbox, marking a strategic shift back to its core business of natural diamonds after entering the synthetic diamond market in 2018 [1][2] - The company previously launched Lightbox to counter the rising market share of lab-grown diamonds, pricing 1-carat synthetic diamonds at $800, which was only a quarter of the market price at that time [1] - The wholesale price of lab-grown diamonds has dropped over 60% in three years, with the current price of 1-carat synthetic diamonds falling below $200, which is more than 40% lower than Lightbox's retail price [1] Group 2 - De Beers CEO Al Cook stated that the value of lab-grown diamonds in the jewelry sector is declining, highlighting the growing distinction between these products and natural diamonds [2] - The strategic retreat occurs during a period of significant adjustment in the diamond industry, with the global rough diamond price index down 23% from its peak in 2022 due to weak consumer demand [2] - The parent company, Anglo American, has listed De Beers as a business to be divested as part of its asset optimization strategy, and exiting the lab-grown diamond market may enhance the attractiveness of De Beers for potential buyers [2]