难以“恒久远”，天然钻石行业面临严峻冲击

Group 1 - The natural diamond industry is facing its most severe crisis in decades due to the rapid rise of synthetic diamonds, leading to a significant decline in the perceived value of natural diamonds [1][2] - De Beers, the world's largest diamond company, is experiencing its biggest crisis in over a century, with projected sales for 2024 expected to drop by approximately 23% [1] - Botswana, once a successful example of development through natural diamond resources, is seeing a dramatic decline in diamond production, with a 43% year-on-year drop in the second quarter, marking the largest decline in its modern mining history [1] Group 2 - The global price of natural diamonds has nearly halved over the past three years, with the International Diamond Exchange (IDEX) diamond index falling over 45% from 158 in 2022 to 86.08 [2] - The market share of synthetic diamonds has surged from 1% in 2015 to nearly 20% currently, with synthetic diamonds now accounting for over half of engagement rings in the U.S. newlywed market [2] - Younger consumers are increasingly favoring synthetic diamonds due to their lower cost and the desire to avoid environmental and human rights issues associated with natural diamonds [2]