{
  "schema": "https://diamondedit.co.za/data/sa-diamond-price-index-schema-v1.json",
  "name": "The Diamond Edit, South African Diamond Price Index",
  "version": "2026-05-1.0.1",
  "publisher": "diamondedit.co.za",
  "license": "CC BY 4.0",
  "lastVerified": "2026-10-19",
  "currency": "ZAR",
  "spec": {
    "shape": "Round Brilliant",
    "colour": "G",
    "clarity": "VS2",
    "cut": "Excellent",
    "polish": "Excellent",
    "symmetry": "Excellent",
    "fluorescence": "None",
    "certificate": "GIA"
  },
  "zarUsdRate": 16.48,
  "zarUsdRateRange": [
    16.27,
    16.76
  ],
  "zarUsdSource": "SARB rand per US dollar (EXCX135D), May 2026 average and daily range",
  "data": [
    {
      "carat": 0.5,
      "naturalWholesaleZAR": {
        "low": 22000,
        "high": 32000
      },
      "naturalRetailZAR": {
        "low": 48000,
        "high": 85000
      },
      "labGrownWholesaleZAR": {
        "low": 3500,
        "high": 6000
      },
      "labGrownRetailZAR": {
        "low": 9000,
        "high": 16000
      },
      "usdPerCaratAtRate": {
        "low": 2670,
        "high": 3883
      }
    },
    {
      "carat": 0.7,
      "naturalWholesaleZAR": {
        "low": 38000,
        "high": 52000
      },
      "naturalRetailZAR": {
        "low": 78000,
        "high": 135000
      },
      "labGrownWholesaleZAR": {
        "low": 6000,
        "high": 10000
      },
      "labGrownRetailZAR": {
        "low": 15000,
        "high": 28000
      },
      "usdPerCaratAtRate": {
        "low": 3294,
        "high": 4508
      }
    },
    {
      "carat": 0.9,
      "naturalWholesaleZAR": {
        "low": 56000,
        "high": 78000
      },
      "naturalRetailZAR": {
        "low": 115000,
        "high": 205000
      },
      "labGrownWholesaleZAR": {
        "low": 9000,
        "high": 15000
      },
      "labGrownRetailZAR": {
        "low": 22000,
        "high": 42000
      },
      "usdPerCaratAtRate": {
        "low": 3776,
        "high": 5259
      }
    },
    {
      "carat": 1.0,
      "naturalWholesaleZAR": {
        "low": 75000,
        "high": 110000
      },
      "naturalRetailZAR": {
        "low": 150000,
        "high": 280000
      },
      "labGrownWholesaleZAR": {
        "low": 12000,
        "high": 22000
      },
      "labGrownRetailZAR": {
        "low": 28000,
        "high": 55000
      },
      "note": "The 1ct magic-carat threshold adds 15 to 25 percent over a 0.90ct stone at otherwise identical spec.",
      "usdPerCaratAtRate": {
        "low": 4551,
        "high": 6675
      }
    },
    {
      "carat": 1.5,
      "naturalWholesaleZAR": {
        "low": 150000,
        "high": 225000
      },
      "naturalRetailZAR": {
        "low": 310000,
        "high": 580000
      },
      "labGrownWholesaleZAR": {
        "low": 22000,
        "high": 38000
      },
      "labGrownRetailZAR": {
        "low": 52000,
        "high": 98000
      },
      "usdPerCaratAtRate": {
        "low": 6068,
        "high": 9102
      }
    },
    {
      "carat": 2.0,
      "naturalWholesaleZAR": {
        "low": 270000,
        "high": 420000
      },
      "naturalRetailZAR": {
        "low": 555000,
        "high": 1080000
      },
      "labGrownWholesaleZAR": {
        "low": 35000,
        "high": 62000
      },
      "labGrownRetailZAR": {
        "low": 85000,
        "high": 155000
      },
      "usdPerCaratAtRate": {
        "low": 8192,
        "high": 12743
      }
    },
    {
      "carat": 3.0,
      "naturalWholesaleZAR": {
        "low": 650000,
        "high": 1050000
      },
      "naturalRetailZAR": {
        "low": 1330000,
        "high": 2680000
      },
      "labGrownWholesaleZAR": {
        "low": 72000,
        "high": 130000
      },
      "labGrownRetailZAR": {
        "low": 175000,
        "high": 330000
      },
      "usdPerCaratAtRate": {
        "low": 13147,
        "high": 21238
      }
    }
  ],
  "channelMarkup": {
    "bedfordviewWholesale": {
      "min": 1.03,
      "max": 1.06,
      "note": "Manufacturer-direct, by appointment"
    },
    "midTierIndependent": {
      "min": 1.8,
      "max": 2.0,
      "note": "Hyde Park, Rosebank, Melrose Arch"
    },
    "chainMallRetail": {
      "min": 2.4,
      "max": 2.85,
      "note": "Sandton City, V&A Waterfront, Mall of Africa"
    },
    "touristTier": {
      "min": 3.0,
      "max": 3.45,
      "note": "V&A Clock Tower, OR Tambo international duty-free"
    }
  },
  "labGrownDeclineSince2019": {
    "percent": 82,
    "wholesaleZAR2019": 55000,
    "wholesaleZAR2026May": 10000,
    "driver": "CVD + HPHT capacity additions in India and China, IGI lab-grown grading volume surpassing GIA natural in 2023, De Beers Lightbox exit in 2024",
    "basis": "This column's estimates, matching the 2019 to May 2026 series"
  },
  "citation": {
    "apa": "Mokoena, T. (2026). South African Diamond Price Report 2026 (May). The Diamond Edit. https://diamondedit.co.za/sa-diamond-price-report-2026/",
    "harvard": "Mokoena, T., 2026. South African Diamond Price Report 2026 (May). [online] The Diamond Edit. Available at: https://diamondedit.co.za/sa-diamond-price-report-2026/ [Corrected 19 October 2026]."
  },
  "basis": "This column's estimates for May 2026, not quotes, survey results or Rapaport list prices. Corrected 19 October 2026: earlier versions gave the rate as R18.50 and called the dollar figures Rapaport prices."
}