News – Page 96 – The Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia (DCLA)

LVMH to Buy Tiffany for $16 Billion in Largest Luxury-Goods Deal Ever

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton is set to acquire Tiffany & Co. for $16.2 billion, strengthening the Paris-based luxury group’s position in the global jewelry market and increasing its US presence.

“Tiffany is a company with an unparalleled heritage and unique position in the global jewelry world,” LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault said Monday. The deal will transform LVMH’s watches and jewelry division, the company added.

LVMH first made an unsolicited offer to purchase Tiffany for $14.5 billion, or $120 per share, last month. However, Tiffany felt the offer undervalued it, and asked LVMH to raise its bid. The new deal values the US jeweler at $135 per share.

“Following a strategic review that included a thoughtful internal process and expert external advice, the board has concluded that this transaction with LVMH provides an exciting path forward with a group that appreciates and will invest in Tiffany’s unique assets and strong human capital, while delivering a compelling price with value certainty to our shareholders,” explained Roger Farah, chairman of Tiffany’s board of directors.

Acquiring Tiffany will help LVMH compete against rivals Kering and Richemont in the luxury jewelry sector, RBC analyst Rogerio Fujimori was quoted in media reports as saying.

LVMH is also home to jewelry and watch brands Bulgari, Chaumet and TAG Heuer. The move would mark a return to LVMH for Tiffany CEO Alessandro Bogliolo, who previously held senior positions at Bulgari and Sephora, another LVMH label.

“Tiffany has been focused on executing on our key strategic priorities to drive sustainable long term growth,” said Bogliolo. “This transaction…will provide further support, resources and momentum for those priorities as we evolve towards becoming the next-generation luxury jeweler.”

Source: Diamonds.net

Pink diamonds deliver strong results for Rio

Argyle Avenoir 1.07 carat Fancy Red, oval cut diamond.

Rio Tinto announced that its 2019 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender collection of 64 rare pink and red diamonds saw double digit growth in the number of bids, with successful bidders hailing from nine countries.

The rocks were mined from the company’s Argyle mine in Western Australia and the collection is the 35th Tender since the operation became commercially active in 1983.

“Whilst bids and total values remain confidential, Lot 1, Argyle Enigma, the most valuable diamond in the collection, was won by Australian based Argyle Pink Diamonds partner Blue Star & Kiven Diamonds. Blue Star & Kiven Diamonds also won Lot 4, Argyle Verity,” Rio Tinto revealed.

According to Ron Kiven, director of Blue Star & Kiven Diamonds, no other diamonds on Earth match the rarity and provenance of Argyle pink diamonds.

“To have acquired two of the last Argyle pink diamonds to ever be unearthed, and one of the few Fancy Red Argyle diamonds in existence is the ultimate privilege,” Kiven said in a media statement.

Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine, located in the far north of Western Australia, produces virtually the world’s entire supply of pink, red and violet diamonds.

The mine, however, is scheduled to close in 2020 after almost four decades of production.

Source: mining.com

Rare Argyle diamonds attract bidding bonanza as closure nears

Rio Tinto has showcased a collection of 64 rare pink and red diamonds from the Argyle mine in Western Australia in the 35th tender from the soon-to-be-closed mine.

The company reported “intense global demand” for the rare diamonds, with double digit growth in the number of bids during the tender.

The most valuable diamond in the collection, Argyle Enigma, was won by Melbourne-based dealer and Argyle Pink Diamonds partner Blue Star & Kiven Diamonds. It also secured Argyle Verity.

Bids and total values are kept confidential.

“No other diamonds on earth match the rarity and provenance of Argyle pink diamonds,” Blue Star & Kiven Diamonds director Ron Kiven said.

“To have acquired two of the last Argyle pink diamonds to ever be unearthed, and one of the few Fancy Red Argyle diamonds in existence is the ultimate privilege.”

The 2019 Argyle Pink Diamonds tender was highly sought after, with a set of results that underscore the ongoing value appreciation of the gems in the history of rare coloured diamonds, according to Rio Tinto copper and diamonds vice president of sales and marketing Alan Chirgwin.

This year’s tender is the first time to be accompanied by smaller Argyle pink and red diamonds known as the Argyle Pink Everlastings collection.

It comprises 64 lots of carefully curated diamonds, weighing 211 carats. The collection was entirely sold to Hong Kong fancy coloured diamond specialist, Kunming Diamonds.

“This is a rare opportunity to acquire a once in a lifetime collection of pink and red Argyle diamonds,” Kunming director Harsh Maheshwari said.

“With the imminent closure of the Argyle mine, a collection such as this deserves to be showcased to the world.”

The value of Argyle pink diamonds sold at tender has appreciated more than 500 per cent over the past 19 years, outperforming all major equity markets.

Almost the entire world supply of rare pink, red and violet diamonds come from Rio Tinto’s Argyle diamond mine in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia, which will close at the end of next year.

Source: australianmining.com.au

3ct. Blue Diamond to Lead Phillips Sale

Phillips will feature a blue diamond ring by Tiffany & Co. at its upcoming New York Jewels auction, expecting it to fetch up to $2.5 million.

The cut-cornered square modified brilliant-cut, 3.02-carat, fancy-intense-blue, VS2-clarity diamond ring will lead the December 9 sale, the auction house said Wednesday.

An assortment of colorless diamonds will also go under the hammer, including an emerald-cut, 11.34-carat, D-color, VVS2-clarity, type IIa diamond ring by Harry Winston. The piece, which is flanked by two triangle-shaped diamonds weighing a total of 1.45 carats, has a presale estimate of $500,000 to $800,000. A 1925 Art Deco ring by Spaulding & Co., featuring a modified marquise brilliant-cut, 7.69-carat, D-color, VS2-clarity, type IIa diamond, will go under the hammer for $150,000 to $250,00, while a cut-cornered rectangular modified brilliant-cut, 13.05-carat diamond ring is estimated at $80,000 to $120,00.

Other notable items include a fancy-color diamond and gold necklace, featuring a pear modified brilliant-cut, 3.01-carat, fancy-blue-grey diamond, estimated at $250,000 to $450,000. A cut-cornered square step-cut, 16.23-carat, fancy-intense-yellow, VS1-clarity diamond ring by De Beers carries a presale estimate of $220,000 to $400,000.

Source: Diamonds.net

Rio Tinto Sees Strong Bidding for Argyle Pinks

Rio Tinto saw a double-digit increase in the number of bids at its 2019 Argyle Pink Diamond Tender, the company reported Wednesday.

The miner offered two collections at the tender, with one buyer acquiring all 64 lots of the Everlasting Collection, comprising 211 carats of smaller diamonds. The center piece Hero stones included six pink and red diamonds weighing 1.07 carats to 2.01 carats.

Australia-based Blue Star & Kiven Diamonds, a subsidiary of Aurostar Group, bought the Argyle Enigma, the most valuable diamond in the sale, Rio Tinto said Wednesday. The company also won the Argyle Verity.

“To have acquired two of the last Argyle pink diamonds to ever be unearthed, and one of the few fancy-red Argyle diamonds in existence, is the ultimate privilege,” noted Blue Star & Kiven Diamonds director Ron Kiven.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based fancy-colored-diamond dealer Kunming Diamonds purchased the entire Argyle Pink Everlasting collection. Rio Tinto did not disclose the sales price for any of the lots.

“With the imminent closure of the Argyle mine, a collection such as this deserves to be showcased to the world and we look forward to announcing our plans at a later date,” said Harsh Maheshwari, director of Kunming Diamonds.

The Argyle mine in Western Australia is nearing the end of its operational life, with Rio Tinto expecting to produce diamonds there until the end of 2020.

Source: Diamonds.net

Zimbabwe to Take Smaller Cut of Diamond Sales

Zimbabwe plans to reduce the percentage of sales diamond miners must pay to the state, aiming to encourage companies to invest in the Marange fields.

The government proposed a new royalty rate of 10% in the annual budget last week. Diamond producers currently pay 15% of gross revenues, but their overall costs have escalated as they shift toward hard-rock — or “conglomerate” — mining, which is lucrative but expensive.

The change could benefit companies such as Russia’s Alrosa, which is exploring for rough in the country, as well as Botswana Diamonds and Vast Resources, which operate a joint venture at the Marange fields.

“The royalty rate of 15% on diamonds was set during the period when mining was predominantly alluvial, and extraction cost was relatively low,” Mthuli Ncube, minister of finance and economic development, explained in his budget statement. “However, diamond miners are [now] exploiting conglomerate deposits, hence the cost of extraction has significantly increased.”

Last year, the state-owned Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company installed a crushing plant at Marange to help it process the harder rock. The nation plans to increase its annual production to 11 million carats by 2023, from 3.2 million carats in 2018, Reuters reported last month.

The state intends to introduce the lower royalty rate on January 1 with the goal of attracting investment in exploration and extraction. The country has also made progress in its plans to repeal an “indigenization” law limiting foreign ownership of diamond and platinum mines, Ncube continued.

Source: Diamonds.net

Lucapa recovers two +100 carat diamonds at Mothae Mine

Lucapa Diamond Company has reported the recovery of two more +100 carat diamonds from the Mothae kimberlite mine in Lesotho.

One of the stones was a 220 carat stone and is the largest of the three +100 carat diamonds recovered to date from Mothae, since commercial production in January 2019.

The other diamond was 127 carat. Both diamonds were recovered from the treatment of recovery tailings. While the two diamonds are not high-quality, they continue to underline the large-stone nature of the Mothae deposit.

Lucapa Diamond Company reports the recovery of two more +100 carat diamonds from the Mothae kimberlite mine in Lesotho.

Ownership of the mine is split as follows: Lucapa 70%; Government of Lesotho 30%.

The 220 carat stone is the largest of the three +100 carat diamonds recovered to date from Mothae since commercial production commenced in January 2019.

The 220 carat and 127 carat diamonds were recovered from the treatment of recovery tailings.

While the two diamonds are not of high-quality, they continue to underline the large-stone nature of the deposit.

The mine continues to perform well in its first year of commercial production, with another monthly production record of 3,096 carats in the month of October.

Petra Sells 20ct. Blue Diamond for $15M

Petra Diamonds sold a 20.08-carat blue diamond from its Cullinan mine in South Africa for just under $15 million, it said Friday.

“We are very pleased with this result, which is in line with our expectations and confirms the resilience in the value of very high-quality blue diamonds,” said Petra CEO Richard Duffy. “We look forward to following this exceptional stone’s journey to its polished form.”

An undisclosed leading diamond company purchased the type IIb, gem-quality stone at tender in Johannesburg, South Africa, for $14.9 million, or $741,000 per carat.

“This is an encouraging result and shows that there is still strong demand for special diamonds,” noted investment bank Berenberg. “This is positive for Petra and puts extra cash on the balance sheet to work down debt…. We believe that today’s announcement is an undoubted positive for the shares.” Petra’s stock price rose 10% Friday.

The miner recovered the stone from the western portion of Cullinan in September. At the time, Berenberg estimated the selling price at $10 million to $15 million, while Shore Capital forecast it would fetch between $13 million and $15 million.

The company also plans to restructure its operation, implementing a flatter management structure, whereby the head of each mine will report directly to Duffy. As a result, the company has eliminated the position of chief operating officer, and Luctor Roode, who held that position, will leave Petra with immediate effect, the miner said.

Source: Diamonds.net

Cartier Bracelet Soars Past Estimate at Sotheby’s

Sothebys Geneva Saphhire and Diamond Bracelet

A sapphire and diamond bracelet fetched more than double its high estimate at Sotheby’s Geneva auction, selling to a female Asian collector after a bidding war.

The piece contains a 47.07-carat, royal-blue Burmese sapphire center stone with high clarity, cut in a cabochon shape and flanked by two pear-shaped white diamonds weighing 9.27 carats and 8.60 carats. Created by Cartier in 1927, the bracelet fetched $6.1 million against a high estimate of $3 million, and earned one of the highest prices at auction for an Art Deco bracelet.

In total, the Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale on Wednesday brought in $53.9 million, with 80% of lots sold, more than half of which exceeded their estimates.

“With its sensational ‘sugar loaf’ Burmese sapphire and powerful geometric design, the Cartier bracelet that led tonight’s sale was a true masterpiece, among the most important Art Deco pieces we’ve ever handled,” said David Bennett, worldwide chairman of Sotheby’s jewelry division.

The bracelet spearheaded a strong showing for Art Deco pieces, which achieved a combined $9.6 million at the sale, against a high estimate of $6 million, Sotheby’s noted.

A 6.03-carat, fancy-intense-purple-pink diamond pendant estimated at $2.5 million to $3.5 million garnered $3.4 million, while a diamond pendant weighing 78.29 carats went for $2.9 million, beating its $2.8 million high estimate.

A set of diamond jewels by Moussaieff, including a necklace, earrings and a bracelet, brought in $2.7 million. The collection was estimated at $2 million to $4 million.

Other notable items, many of which sold for well above their estimates, included a sapphire and diamond necklace set with a 14.97-carat Kashmir sapphire. The piece, dated 1890, fetched $1.4 million against its upper estimate of $800,000, while an emerald and diamond pendant-brooch combination, created by Cartier in 1927, garnered $1.1 million, smashing its $250,000 high estimate.

Meanwhile, Sotheby’s sold 93% of the jewels on offer from an Asian-American private collection, fetching a total of $12.7 million, against a high estimate of $8.9 million, the auction house said. The sale noted strong activity from Asian collectors, approximately half of whom were female buyers, more than double the number of women purchasers five years ago, Sotheby’s added.

Source: Diamonds.net

Botswana Diamonds digs up first stones at South African mine

Botswana Diamonds said Tuesday that it recovered the first diamonds from plant commissioning activities on its Marsfontein mine in Limpopo, South Africa.

The announcement comes only days after it received a mining permit for diamond-bearing gravels and residual unprocessed stockpiles around the operation.

Chairman John Teeling said the plant was very close to reaching full operations following the installation of an in-field screen, two rotary pans, grease and x-ray recovery system.

“I am delighted with the rapid progress the team has made on-site and it is noteworthy that the first diamonds were recovered within two weeks of the mining permit being granted,” Teeling said.

The Marsfontein mine was operated for two years in the late 1990s, with a payback of its entire development costs in less than four days. The mine’s grade was 172 carats per hundred tonnes, at a bottom cut-off of more than 1.2 mm, containing many fancy coloured diamonds.

The surrounding deposits in question were overlooked when the mine was closed.

Diamond miners are struggling across the board, especially those producing cheaper and smaller stones where there is an over-supply in the market.

Buyers, those that polish and cut diamonds for retailers, have been hit this year by lower prices and tighter credit, prompting them to delay purchases.

De Beers, the world’s top diamond producer by value, has responded by axing production — with a target of 31 million carats this year compared with 35.3 million in 2018.

It has also announced it would spend more on marketing. At the latest sale, the company increased the amount of stones buyers were allowed to reject in each lot purchased from 10% to 20%, according to people familiar with the auction.

Source: mining.com