Israel’s diamond market warming up after a long chill Rapaport News reports that Israel Diamond Exchange (IDE) members indicate the diamond market is more stable with relatively busier trade in February 2009, compared with the preceding months. Rough diamond buyers are starting to look for goods again but at lower prices, 35-40 percent less than before the economic crisis. The market for larger stones is still very weak with high-carat diamonds selling at up to 40 percent less compared with 2008. However, diamantaires are heartened by the presence of more foreign buyers in the bourse and the fact that there is still consumer demand for medium-sized stones, which is the Israeli market’s stock in trade.