news – Page 5 – The Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia (DCLA)

Farmer Unearths 32.8 ct Diamond in Field

An Indian farmer weeding his field unearthed a 32.80 carat gem quality diamond, one of the biggest finds of recent years.

The rough gem could fetch $120,000 to $180,000 in a forthcoming auction by the Panna Diamond Office, in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

Many thousands of residents rent small patches of land in the diamond rich district, in the hope of a big find.

In February 2022 another part time prospector dug up a 26.11 carat diamond which later sold for $193,000.

And in February 2021 laborer Rampyare Vishwakarma unearthed a 14.09 ct diamond.

In this case Swamidin Pal had spent five months a year, for the last five years, digging for diamonds.

He said proceeds from the sale would be life changing, and would allow him to buy agricultural land for his sons.

Source: Idex

Lucara recovers sixth diamond larger than 1,000 carats at Karowe mine in Botswana

Canada’s Lucara Diamond has dug up a 1,094 carat diamond from its Karowe mine in Botswana.

This is the sixth diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats to be recovered at the mine, and it comes only weeks after the recovery of a 2,492 carat diamond the second-largest diamond ever recovered.

“This remarkable stone bears striking similarities to the 692 carat diamond announced in August 2023, which was polished by HB Antwerp and yielded polished diamonds that sold for in excess of $13 million,” the company said in a press release.

“This newly recovered 1,094 carat stone will also be polished by HB Antwerp, as part of the ongoing partnership between the two companies,” Lucara said.

The Karowe mine has produced several large diamonds in recent years, including the 1,758-carat Sewelô in 2019, the 1,109 carat Lesedi La Rona in 2015, and the 813 carat Constellation, also in 2015. The mine is also credited for having yielded Botswana’s largest fancy pink diamond to date, the Boitumelo.

Botswana is the world’s largest producer of diamonds, and the trade has transformed it into a middle-income nation.

Karowe remains one of the highest margin diamond mines in the world, producing an average of 300,000 high value carats each year.

Shares of Lucara rose 8% by 11:40 a.m EDT in Toronto. The miner has a market capitalization of C$221 million ($162 million).

Source: mining.com

Lab Grown Discussions at AGS Confluence

Round Diamond Held in Tweezers Upright on Luxury Black Background.

The American Gem Society (AGS) will present panel discussions on lab grown diamond pricing and supply, advances in lab grown identification and the art of natural diamond storytelling.

The three-hour Confluence is an online-only event, featuring three pre-recorded sessions, designed to allow the speakers to take part in a live chat Q&A.

The event is scheduled for 25 September and will be accessible to non-AGS members for a $150 fee. The sessions will remain available, on demand, until 31 December.

The Importance of Diamond Screening: Challenges, Techniques, and Resources covers the latest screening technologies and their limitations, providing guidance on using gemological instruments for verification.

Laboratory-Grown Diamonds: Pricing, Supply, and Disclosure explores the complexities of the lab grown diamond market, including pricing dynamics and the importance of transparency.

And The Incredible Story of Natural Diamonds delves into the geological history and mining processes of natural diamonds, featuring insights from experts at GIA , which is sponsoring the event.

AGS is a nonprofit trade association representing a select group of jewelers, independent appraisers, and suppliers in the jewelry industry.

Source: IDEX

Holly Ramsay Perfect Yellow Diamond Engagement Ring from Adam Peaty

Congratulations are in order for Gordon Ramsay’s daughter, Holly, and her partner Adam Peaty.

The couple announced the news of their engagement on Thursday, Sept. 12, with an Instagram post filled with romantic couple’s photos and close-ups of Holly’s unique ring.

Peaty, a 29 year old swimmer and Olympic gold medalist, worked with Pragnell on the rock, which boasts a large yellow diamond on a gold band. On his Instagram Stories, the athlete revealed the ring took 10 months to come together.

“I trusted you with my vision and you delivered,” he wrote over a picture of Holly wearing the sparkler. “It’s perfect.”

In the carousel of snapshots, Holly wore a white bikini top and baby pink manicure, which complemented the colorful gemstone.

Proud dad Gordon, 57, shared well wishes to his 24 year old on Instagram.

“Congratulations to this gorgeous girl hollyramsayy. So happy for you and adam_peaty ! Hols, watching you become the woman you are today with your kindness and your love is absolutely infectious. Adam is a very lucky man! Welcome to the family,” he wrote.

Holly and Peaty became Instagram official on July 10, 2023, and in her engagement post on Instagram, she expressed how excited she is to wed her “best friend.”

“I truly cannot put into words how I am feeling right now. I still remember how big my smile was the morning I got home from my first date with you,” she wrote.

“Thank you for letting the little girl inside of me feel loved, seen and happier than ever. I love you & I cannot wait to be your wife.”

Source: People.com

Gem Diamonds finds 126.2 carat stone at Letšeng mine

Africa focused miner Gem Diamonds has unearthed yet another large white diamond at its prolific Letšeng mine in Lesotho.

The 126.21 carat Type II white diamond is the twelfth greater than 100 carat precious stone mined this year at the operation, the company said.

Type IIa diamonds are the most valued and collectable precious gemstones, as they contain either very little or no nitrogen atoms in their crystal structure.

The Letšeng mine, owned 70% by Gem Diamonds, is one of the world’s ten largest diamond operations by revenue. At 3,100 metres (10,000 feet) above sea level, it is also one of the world’s most elevated diamond mines.

The operation has a track record of producing large, exceptional white diamonds, which makes it the highest dollar per carat kimberlite diamond mine in the world.

Source: mining.com

Russia Increases Rough Exports to India

Rough diamonds imported from Russia to India

Russian exports of rough diamonds to India increased by well over a fifth, to 4.1m carats, during the first six months of the G7 sanctions.

Total sales were up by 22.23 per cent for January to June 2024, according to the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry. But revenue fell by 15.22 per cent, as prices keep declining, from $614m to $520m.

Russian exports for June alone were 347,620 carats, an increase of almost 32 per cent on the same month last year.

The G7 and EU nations imposed sanctions on all Russian diamonds of 1.0-cts and above, regardless of where they were cut and polished, from 1 January. The threshold was lowered to 0.50-cts and above from 1 September.

Rough diamonds imported from Russia to India can only be sold to markets beyond the G7 and EU.

India’s diamond industry has been calling on the government to allow direct payments to Russia so it can more easily buy sanctioned goods.

Source: IDEX

Gem Diamonds finds 122 carat stone at Letšeng mine

Africa-focused miner Gem Diamonds has unearthed yet another massive white diamond at its prolific Letšeng mine in Lesotho, just days after another major find.

The 122.2 carat Type II white diamond was recovered over the weekend and is the eleventh greater than 100-carat precious stone mined this year at the operation, the company said.

Type IIa diamonds are the most valued and collectable precious gemstones, as they contain either very little or no nitrogen atoms in their crystal structure.

The operation has a track record of producing large, exceptional white diamonds, which makes it the highest-dollar-per-carat kimberlite diamond mine in the world.

Source: mining.com

Perth Mint continues luxury diamond coin series with turtle

Each Jewelled Turtle coin is a Proof 10 ounce .9999 fine gold $2,500 denominated coin

The Perth Mint continues its Jewelled series of coins with a 10 ounce gold Jewelled Turtle coin with a mintage of eight coins.

And it comes with a price tag of $269,000 Australian ($182,229 U.S.).

This is the seventh release in the Jewelled series. It features a handset rare trademarked Argyle Pink Diamond and lustrous white diamonds that form the head and limbs of the three dimensional 18 karat gold turtle.

Each Jewelled Turtle coin is a Proof 10 ounce .9999 fine gold $2,500 denominated coin, with the centerpiece the 18-karat gold sea turtle surrounded by depictions of coral and dory fish.

The turtle’s head and limbs are embellished with 52 white diamonds, and two emeralds for its eyes. Additional white diamonds are set in a ribbon shaped line symbolizing the sea surface, with an Argyle Pink Diamond set at the heart of a stylized sun.

The Jewelled Series is developed each year in association with John Glajz, a Singapore based Argyle Pink Diamonds Icon Partner.

Each Jewelled Turtle coin is presented in a luxury display case adorned with 18 karat gold furnishings and inset with two Argyle Pink Diamond.

For the first time in the series, the coin bears the Dan Thorne effigy of King Charles III, as well as the P125 privy mark for the Perth Mint’s 125th anniversary.

Source: Coinworld

Zimbabwe Ramps up Diamond Production

Zimbabwe’s state-owned diamond company is forecasting a 16 per cent increase this year.

The Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) said it was ramping up production to 5.7m carats in 2024 and would aim to increase that figure to 10m carats next year.

Munashe Shava, ZCDC board chairman, said: “Commodity prices are depressed on the global market and we have come up with various initiatives to offset this worrisome development.

The Chronicle newspaper reported him as saying: “We have ramped up production and this year we have set a target of 5.7m carats and we see this target nearly doubling to 20m carats in the coming year.”

Zimbabwe, the world’s seventh biggest diamond producing nation, recorded an output of 4.9m carats, according to Kimberley Process data, valued at $303m. It exported 5.6m carats valued at $297m.

Earlier this year the US sanctioned Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa for human rights abuses, corruption and smuggling gold and diamonds.

Mnangagwa, 81, who has held office since 2017, insists the claims against him are “defamatory” and “malicious”.

Source: IDEX

Gem Diamonds Doubles its +100 carats Haul

129.71 carat Type II white rough diamond

Gem Diamonds has now recovered twice as many +100 cts diamond this year than during the whole of 2023.

The UK-based company today announced a 129.71 carat Type II white diamond from its Letseng mine, in Lesotho.

It’s the 10th +100 cts diamond of 2024. Historically the mine averages eight per year, but last year it recovered only five.

The spike in high-value recoveries has helped push up revenue at Gem. Earlier this month it reported a 9 per cent increase in its first half earnings to $77.9m.

Letseng 70 per cent owned by Gem and 30 per cent by the Lesotho government is the highest dollar per carat kimberlite diamond mine in the world.

Pic courtesy Gem Diamonds, shows the 129.71 ct stone.

Source: IDEX