The Murowa mine, in Zimbabwe, reported a 15 per cent drop in its diamond production for 2020 as known deposits begin to run dry.
Owners RioZim said it was exploring sites near the three kimberlites pipes currently being worked in the southern central Midlands Province.
Rough output in the year ending 31 December 2020 from the RioZim associate RZM Murowa Private Limited was 579,000 carats, down from 685,000 carats the previous year.
RioZim chairman Saleem Rashid Beebeejaun said the main reason for the drop in yields was that the mine had been processing low-grade resources from its K2 pipe. High-grade resources at K1 have become depleted.
But firm gold prices helped the minerals and mining parent company RioZim bounce back with a $454m profit in 2020, after a $584m loss in 2020.
Two new 36mm Explorers, one of them two-tone, headline Rolex’s 2021 introductions, released today. Other new models include a Daytona with a meteorite dial, a diamond-studded Day-Date with orange accents and a fully set Lady-Datejust
The Rolex Explorer two-tone in 18k yellow gold and Oystersteel.
The Explorer is sized down a notch to 36mm from 39mm. But it’s really back to the beginning – the Explorer was 36mm when it was introduced in 1963, which also bore the iconic 3,6 and 9 numeral placement. The two-tone 18k yellow gold and Oystersteel combo is new. The dial is lacquered now, in keeping with its notch up the scale into gold territory. Inside is the caliber 3230, featuring Rolex’s signature Chronergy escapement and a blue Parachrom hairspring, with a power reserve of 70 hours. $10,800
Rolex Daytona with meteorite dial in 18k white gold
The second new stunner from Rolex is out of this world in more ways than one. Not only is it likely to be even more unattainable than the standard Daytona at retail, but it has a solid meteorite dial. The 18k white gold version is the same size, same movement, same ceramic bezel, same Oysterflex bracelet as the standard model, but the meteorite dial somehow changes everything. It is now more than a sports watch, more than an investment piece. It is a fashion statement! There are also yellow gold and Everose gold versions, but this dial is more than perfect on the white gold version, which is priced at $34,050.
Diamond paved Rolex Day-Date 36 with coral enameled numerals and a coral alligator strap
Rolex is also demonstrating its metiers and gemsetting prowess with two jeweled watches this year: a diamond paved Day-Date 36 with orange enameled numerals and an orange alligator strap to match; and a fully set Lady-Datejust set with more than 500 diamonds – there are also turquoise and burgundy editions. The numerals on the Day-Date shine with the unmistakable glow of enamel. On the Lady-Datejust, the numerals are made of gold with a black PVD coating. The Lady-Datejust is set with 1,089 diamonds.
The Rolex Lady-Datejust is set with 1,089 diamonds
Lucapa Diamond Company and its partners, Empresa Nacional de Diamantes E.P. and Rosas & Petalas, have recovered the 23rd rough diamond over 100 carats at the Sociedade Mineira Do Lulo from the Lulo alluvial diamond mine in Angola.
The 144 carat Type IIa D colour diamond was recovered from Mining Block 08, is the sixth 100 carat diamond recovered in 2021 so far and 23rd 100 carat stone recovered at Lulo since exploration and mining operations began.
Including the first 100 carat recovery from MB46 as 2020 ended, SML has now recovered seven 100 carat diamonds in a little over three months. With these 100 carat recoveries and the two Special pink diamonds in inventory, SML is well positioned to achieve record diamond revenues for the first half of 2021.
South Africa’s Petra Diamonds has found yet another big rock at its iconic Cullinan mine, a 39.34 carat Type IIb gem said to be of “exceptional quality” due to both its colour and clarity.
The miner didn’t indicate the diamond’s potential value but said it would sell it in a special tender.
Cullinan is known as the world’s most important source of blue diamonds, as well as being the birthplace of the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, which was cut to form the 530-carat Great Star of Africa.
The operation also yielded the 317-carat Second Star of Africa. They are the two largest diamonds in the British Crown Jewels.
Do April birthdays have it best? With diamonds as their birthstone, they just might. Our selection of diamond April birthstone jewelry spans the wide range of diamond jewelry available today, from classic diamond high-jewelry from Harry Winston, the King of Diamonds, to demi-fine jewelry that perfectly expresses your unique style.
Harry Winston
The Winston Cluster has been an icon for Harry Winston — and the jewelry world — since it debuted in the 1940s. Mr. Winston decided to place diamonds at different heights and angles, bringing in more light and increasing their sparkle. This high-jewelry necklace features 195 pear- and marquise-cut diamonds.
Harry Winston Winston Cluster necklace in platinum with 136.66 carats diamond, price on request, harrywinston.com
G by Glenn Spiro
G by Glenn Spiro ring in 18K red gold and bronze with a 10.01-carat marquise-cut diamond and pavé … [+] G BY GLENN SPIRO
Glenn Spiro is a London-based gemstone dealer and jewelry designer who specializes in exquisite stones. This ring features an exceptional 10.01-carat, D-colored, internally flawless, Type II A marquise-cut diamond. Type II A diamonds are the purest diamonds that exist, so a diamond of this size, color, and clarity is a rare find. The old mine diamond is set in 18K red gold and bronze, an unusual metal choice for a stone of this quality, and there are pavé diamonds that trim the shank. MORE FOR YOU Audemars Piguet Debuts Five New Royal Oak Watches, Including Three Flying Tourbillons And A Platinum Limited Edition 15202Celebrate Peridot, An August Birthstone, With These Beautiful Pieces Of Peridot Jewelry The Most Beautiful Opal Jewelry For October Birthdays
G by Glenn Spiro ring in 18K red gold and bronze with a 10.01-carat marquise-cut diamond and pavé diamonds, price on request, glennspiro.co.uk
Ananya
Ananya Scatter earrings in 18K white gold with 4.9 carats diamond, $16,600, ananya.com ANANYA
London-based designer Ananya honors her Indian heritage in her pieces, but updates them with a contemporary design. The Scatter earrings feature 4.9 carats of baguette diamonds set in an organic pattern.
AnanyaScatter earrings in 18K white gold with 4.9 carats diamond, $16,600, ananya.com
Anita Ko
Anita Ko ring in 18K white gold with 3.8 carats diamond, $18,800, anitako.com ANITA KO
Anita Ko is known for her stunning diamond jewelry. She brings her unique design aesthetic to classic pieces, like this eternity band, which she makes modern and chic by using diagonally set diamonds. While eternity bands are traditional wedding bands, this piece is so chic it could easily be an everyday fashion statement.
Anita Ko ring in 18K white gold with 3.8 carats diamond, $18,800, anitako.com
Kwiat
Kwiat Legacy Embrace earrings in platinum with 25.46 carats diamond, price on request, kwiat.com KWIAT
Kwiat’s superb stones are on full display in the Legacy Embrace earrings. Two round brilliant diamonds, each around 1 carat, sit at the top of the earrings. Two diamond-set X motifs connect them to gorgeous pear-shaped diamonds, one weighing 11.06 carats, the other 11.19 carats.
KwiatLegacy Embrace earrings in platinum with 25.46 carats diamond, price on request, kwiat.com
Fred Leighton
Fred Leighton Collet ring in 18K gold with 11.19 carats diamond, $254,000, fredleighton.com FRED LEIGHTON
Fred Leighton takes an unusual design approach in the Collet ring. It features a 10.05-carat marquise-cut diamond set in silver-topped 18K gold, a stark contrast to the white diamond. A smattering of round diamonds tops the yellow gold band.
Fred Leighton Collet ring in 18K gold with 11.19 carats diamond, $254,000, fredleighton.com
Graziela
These chic Ascension Fringe earrings from Graziela have five strands of baguette diamonds that hang from cleverly-set baguette diamonds that recreate the look of a large emerald-cut diamond. Round-cut diamonds encircle the baguettes.
Graziela Ascension Fringe earrings in 18K white gold with 13.11 carats diamond, $91,000, grazielagems.com
Judith Ripka
Judith Ripka Eros ring in sterling silver with .265 carats diamond, $895, judithripka.com JUDITH RIPKA
Judith Ripka’s Eros ring is perfect for wearing everyday. The sculptural rhodium-plated sterling silver ring curves around the finger and two rows of diamonds add sparkle. The Eros collection comes in 18K yellow gold, which is perfect for stacking.
Judith Ripka Eros ring in sterling silver with .265 carats diamond, $895, judithripka.com
Caye Joaillier
Caye Joaillier Dizzy Diamonds bracelet in 18K yellow gold with .82 carats diamond, $2,950, … [+] CAYE JOAILLIER
This playful bracelet from Caye Joaillier is part of its Dizzy Diamonds collection. Three moving diamonds sit atop a diamond-set bar, and the three diamonds slide back and forth along the bar as you move.
Caye Joaillier Dizzy Diamonds bracelet in 18K yellow gold with .82 carats diamond, $2,950, cayejoaillier.com
Otiumberg
Otiumberg Diamond Charm Hoop earring in 9K yellow gold with .15 carats diamond, $730, otiumberg.com OTIUMBERG
Otiumerg is a chic demi-fine jewelry brand based in London. It was founded in 2016 by sisters Christie and Rosanna Wollenberg who couldn’t find affordable fine jewelry with cool designs that they wanted to wear. This 9K yellow gold hoop features 10 round brilliant diamonds on the hoops and has a single diamond drop. It’s sold individually, so you can mix and match.
Otiumberg Diamond Charm Hoop earring in 9K yellow gold with .15 carats diamond, $730, otiumberg.com
Source: luxury expert who specializes in style Kristen Shirley
A 15.81 carat Sakura diamond, the largest of its kind to ever appear for sale, will go under the hammer at Christie’s upcoming Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels Live Auction on May 23, the auction house announced on Tuesday. Estimated at $25 million to $38 million, the “fancy vivid purple pink internally flawless” diamond will be the star highlight of the sale.
It is the diamond’s exceptional rarity, extraordinary optical transparency, brilliant colour, and enormous size that make it an immensely important, and eternal masterpiece of nature.
As fewer than 10 per cent of pink diamonds weigh more than one-fifth of a carat, this fancy vivid purple-pink diamond is of an unprecedented size of 15.81 carats, which is the largest of its kind Fancy Vivid Purple Pink to be offered at any auction.
It added that the lot fell in the exclusive group of the four per cent of pink diamonds that possess a colour deep enough to qualify as “fancy vivid”.
This magnificent gem is graded ‘fancy vivid’ for its perfect display of strong saturation and remarkable pink hue with a secondary colour of purple, resembling the fascinating colour of cherry blossoms – appropriately coinciding with spring.
Lucapa Diamond Company and its partners Endiama and Rosas & Petalas have announced the recovery of three +100 carat diamonds by Sociedade Mineira Do Lulo from the Lulo alluvial diamond mine in Angola.
The 131-carat is a Type IIa D-colour diamond, the 118-carat is a brown diamond and the 133-carat stone is a lower-quality grey diamond.
Six +100 carat diamonds have been recovered from Mining Block 46 (MB46) in the last three months, reaffirming its recent elevation to the Lulo mining block with the best +100 carat diamond occurrence rate – one +100 carat diamond for every ~20,000 bcm’s of gravel.
The Canguige catchment and adjacent priority kimberlites are already the focus of the Project Lulo JV kimberlite exploration program, and the frequent recovery of large high-value diamonds underpins the prospectivity of this area.
Dundo, Angola. Two diamonds, one 131-carat and the other 133-carat, were found in Angola’s Lulo mine in eastern Lunda Norte province, national diamond company Endiama announced here Friday.
The white colored gems were found in block 46 and 21 with more than 100 carats discovered in that mine, according to a note from Endiama.
Since the beginning of its exploration in 2010, the Lulo mine is known for its rare and high quality diamonds.
The mine’s blocks 6 and 8 are responsible for the production of 13 of the 15 stones with over 100 carats from Lulo mine, including the largest diamond ever found in Angola in 2016, with 404.2 carats.
The Lulo project, with a concession area of 3,000 square km, is operated within the scope of a partnership in which Endiama holds 32 percent, Lucapa Diamond Company Limited 40 percent, and the operator Rosas & Petalas 28 percent.
Botswana Diamonds has announced that eleven diamonds and abundant kimberlitic indicators were recovered from drill samples at the recently discovered River Kimberlite pipe at Thorny River in South Africa.
John Teeling, Chairman, commented:
“The recovery of so many kimberlitic indicators and in particular diamonds, which are very rare to recover in small sample narrow reverse circulation drill holes is highly encouraging and bodes well for the potential commerciality of this exciting discovery”.
Following a detailed ground geophysical programme in October 2020, 6, six-inch percussion reverse circulation holes were drilled into the newly discovered River Kimberlite pipe.
A combined total of 39.5 m intersected kimberlite while an additional 55 m intersected a weathered kimberlite breccia.
Samples from these holes were taken at one metre intervals and twenty of these totalling about 500 kg were selected and submitted to an independent processing facility for assessment through screening, dense media separation and hand sorting.
11 Diamonds, 172 G10 pyrope garnets, 623 G9 pyrope garnets, 555 eclogitic garnets, 438 chromites and 268 chromium diopsides (clinopyroxene) were recovered at sizes between -1.0+0.3mm.
Recoveries of a specific mineral species were capped at 20 grains and thus this picture is a snapshot of the overall sample indicator content. Importantly, all the samples contained abundant kimberlitic indicators.
The diamonds are all notably of good colour and clarity and are of commercial quality and in high demand by the market. The diamonds were not weighed as the sample size was small and they are not representative of a possible population.
Pyrope garnets are common in peridotite xenoliths from kimberlite pipes, some of which are diamond-bearing. Pyrope found in association with diamond commonly has a Chromium Oxide content of three to eight percent which imparts a distinctive violet to deep purple colouration.
These are called G10 and G9 pyrope garnets. Eclogites typically result from high to ultrahigh pressure metamorphism of mafic rocks at low thermal gradients as they were subducted to the upper mantle in a subduction zone.
Garnets found in eclogitic xenoliths tend to have a deep orange colour. Diamonds in kimberlite come from both peridotitic and eclogitic xenoliths so the abundance of both types of garnet in this sample is noteworthy and this is supported by the recovery of diamonds from a relatively small drill sample.
Of significance too is that these diamonds are all of good colour and clarity. The next step is a detailed core drilling programme which is planned for the dry season.
Three rings featuring diamonds with fancy-vivid color will head up the Christie’s Magnificent Jewels auction in New York next month.
The trio of jewels, called the Perfect Palette, comprises a 2.13-carat, fancy-vivid-blue diamond ring, estimated at $2 million to $3 million, Christie’s said Tuesday. Also included are a 2.34-carat, fancy-vivid-orange diamond ring and a 2.17-carat, fancy-vivid-purplish-pink diamond ring, both with a high valuation of $2.5 million. Each will be offered as a separate lot at the April 13 sale, the auction house added.
Other notable items are two oval modified brilliant-cut diamonds. The first — a 25.55-carat, fancy-vivid-yellow, VS1-clarity diamond ring — has a high estimate of $1.2 million, while the 6.56-carat, fancy-intense-orangey-pink, VVS1-clarity diamond ring carries an upper valuation of $1 million.
An oval mixed-cut, 3.02-carat, fancy-vivid-purplish-pink, SI2-clarity diamond ring, set with round pink diamonds on the band, is estimated at up to $1.5 million. Christie’s will offer that piece without reserve.
Meanwhile, a pear brilliant-cut, 38.04-carat, D-flawless, type IIa diamond ring with a high estimate of $3.5 million will feature as a top lot. An emerald-cut, 14.50-carat, D-color, internally flawless, type IIa diamond valued at up to $1 million is also up for sale, as are signed pieces by designers Suzanne Belperron, Bulgari, Cartier, David Webb, Harry Winston, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Verdura.
Christie’s will hold a concurrent Online Jewels auction from April 8 to 20, featuring a selection of items from Bulgari, Cartier and Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co., among others. The auction house has not decided whether it will hold an in-person sale or conduct live bidding over the phone and online, a spokesperson told Rapaport News.
