De Beers' Diamdel recently offered 580 lots of rough diamonds spanning Large, +2 caraters, Grainers, Smalls and Near Gem Diamdel Days product categories during its most recent auctions, the second cycle of 2012, held between March 15-29, 2012.

According to Diamdel, 156 different businesses bid at the auctions, which resulted in 520 lots being sold to 100 different buyers. No buyer won more than 26 (5 percent) of the lots sold, with non-DTC sightholders winning 61 percent of the lots by value.

"From a product perspective, demand for products in Near Gem and Grainer categories showed the greatest increases followed by +2ct products. Whilst demand for products in Smalls and Large categories fell back slightly from cycle 1, buyer appetite for these products remained robust at the highest levels witnessed since July 2011," writes Diamdel in a statement.

"Demand from buyers across all major markets held firm during this second but shorter cycle of sales of 2012. Demand growth from emerging market buyers, especially India, was most pronounced and our view was, is and remains that demand will continue to grow as we negotiate sales into Q2," says Neil Ventura, Diamdel Chief Executive Officer.