Petra Diamonds – Page 4 – The Diamond Certification Laboratory of Australia (DCLA)

UK miner Vast Resources appears to have finally secured the release of a parcel

The UK miner Vast Resources appears to have finally secured the release of a parcel of 129,400 carats of rough diamonds that have been held at Zimbabwe’s central bank since 2009.

“The Attorney-General’s Office has approved the terms of a settlement agreement relating to the historic claim and has recommended this to the relevant governmental institution for signature in order to resolve this longstanding matter,” it said in a corporate update on 10 October.

“Accordingly, the fully executed settlement agreement is currently awaited to enable the company to complete the process of recovery.”
It did, however, caution that settlement of the long and complex legal wrangle over the diamonds had yet to be signed.

“Shareholders will be advised of further developments,” it said, “but shareholders are also reminded that whilst the board remains confident, there can be no guarantee of a successful outcome.”

The diamonds were “surrendered as evidence that the mining firm had exploited diamonds on claims previously owned by De Beers,” according to the business weekly Zimbabwe Independent.

De Beers left the Marange diamond fields in 2006, claiming it had failed to find viable reserves, after a decade of exploration.

Vast Resources (then known as African Consolidated Resources) subsequently discovered massive alluvial diamond deposits there, which prompted the Zimbabwe government to revoke its mining licenses within months, and evict it.

Diamond miners results spark optimism for market recovery

Lucapa Diamond and Petra Diamonds provided a glimmer of hope for the precious gemstones market on Tuesday by posting stronger revenues and production figures, signalling a potential recovery in the depressed diamond market.

Australia’s Lucapa achieved third-quarter revenue of $16.9 million, an 86% year-on-year increase, driven mainly by the sale of high-quality diamonds, averaging $3,033 per carat.

This growth was also attributed to the company’s access to higher-grade mining blocks, a result of strategic river diversions aimed at mitigating the impact of flooding at the Lulo operation in Angola.

Nick Selby, Lucapa’s managing director, expressed optimism about the future, especially with the access gained to the higher-grade Lazaria gravel, historically known for producing large, high-value diamonds.

“We are aiming for a strong finish to the year,” Selby said, noting that the company sold a 176-carat diamond for $3 million, further boosting results.

Africa-focused Petra Diamonds also reported promising figures, with production rising by 7% to 679,625 carats for the quarter ended September 30. The increase was driven by higher grades at the company’s flagship Cullinan mine in South Africa and its Williamson mine in Tanzania.

Petra’s chief executive officer, Richard Duffy, attributed this growth to “solid performances” from these mines, despite weaker market conditions.

To counteract the softness in the rough diamond market, Petra deferred in August the sale of a significant portion of its South African diamonds. Its combined first and second tenders, however, indicated a 13% increase in overall average prices, thanks to an improved product mix, which included a standout 18.85-carat blue diamond from Cullinan that fetched $8.5 million.

Despite ongoing challenges in the global diamond market, both Lucapa and Petra’s results reflect resilience and strategic adjustments, injecting cautious optimism into a sector eager for recovery.

As both companies continue to leverage high-value diamonds and strategic planning, industry observers remain hopeful for sustained market improvements heading into the end of the year holidays, which tend to help boost diamond sales.

Source: Mining.com

LVMH Watch and Jewelry Revenue Down 5%

LVMH saw revenue from its watch and jewelry division slip by 5 per cent during the first nine months of 2024 to $8.2bn.

Across all its 75 maisons the French luxury conglomerate reported a 2 per cent dip for the same period, to $66.1bn.

LVMH said it had shown “good resilience” and that it remained confident in an uncertain economic and geopolitical environment

It said it would “maintain a strategy focused on continuously enhancing the desirability of its brands, drawing on the authenticity and quality of its products, excellence in distribution and agile organization.”

LVMH’s eight watch and jewlery brands – Bvlgari, Chaumet, Fred, Hublot, Repossi, Tag Heuer, Tiffany & Co and Zenith – generated a total of $11.8bn in 2023. The company does not provide a brand-by-brand earnings breakdown.

It said the third quarter decline in revenue across all LVMH brands was largely due to a stronger yen and lower growth in Japan.

Source: IDEX

Russia’s finance ministry considering new diamond purchases from Alrosa in 2025

Russia’s Finance Ministry is considering new purchases of rough diamonds from Alrosa for the State Precious Metals and Gemstones Repository (Gokhran) in 2025, Deputy Finance Minister Alexei Moiseyev told reporters on the sidelines of the Moscow Financial Forum.

“We are considering this possibility,” Moiseyev said in response to possibly resuming purchases. “In order to allow Alrosa the opportunity to be calm and not feel obliged to sell on the market in order to maintain its liquidity position. Because the market looks alarming.”

The government could use budgetary allocations for precious metals and stones to purchase rough diamonds. The purchase limit is planned at 51.5 billion rubles for next year, Moiseyev said.

It became known in March that Alrosa and the Finance Ministry had concluded an agreement to buy out part of the raw materials produced in 2024 and completed a transaction for the first consignment of rough diamonds. There have been no reports since then regarding Alrosa purchasing diamonds from Gokhran.

“There are no plans for this year, though we are considering the possibility for next year,” Moiseyev said. “In general, this is all confidential, so we may not announce it.”

Lab Grown Companies Move to Near-Empty Surat Bourse

The near-empty Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB) is hoping the arrival of around 40 lab grown traders will signal a change in its fortunes.

The vast new center, recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest office building in existence, was officially opened last December by India’s prime minister Narendra Modi .

It has a capacity of 4,500 offices, but remains virtually empty.

The bourse has, according to local media reports, now reached an agreement with the Lab Grown Diamond Association (LGDA) to relocate around 40 lab grown companies from elsewhere in Surat.

Mahesh Gadhvi, CEO at SDB, said recently that 250 offices were currently occupied (that’s less than 6 per cent of the total).

“Steadily we are progressing towards opening more offices and starting more businesses from SDB,” he told the business news channel CNBC.

Source: Idex

Rough Diamond Supply has Peaked

The global supply of natural diamonds has already peaked, according to Moses Madondo, CEO of De Beers Group Managed Operations. Speaking at the Joburg Indaba, a major mining and resources conference in South Africa, he explained that production is on the decline, with several mine closures on the horizon and no significant new discoveries in sight.

Madondo highlighted that this limited supply could push diamond prices higher. “Since the turn of the century, we’ve only seen one major commercial discovery, the Luele mine in Angola, where we aim to start production by the 2030s. But on a broader scale, global diamond production is set to decline,” he said. This trend, while concerning from a supply perspective, offers the potential for price growth.

In the short term, Madondo expects production to dip, but he anticipates a recovery after 2025, driven by the Luele mine ramping up and South Africa’s Venetia mine shifting to underground operations. However, the looming closure of Canada’s Diavik mine in 2026 and the shutdown of several mines in Russia will further tighten supply.

Angola Seizes 710 Rough Diamonds from Three Guineans

The Criminal Investigative Service (SIC) in Angola seized 710 diamonds of different carats on Sunday in Lucapa, a municipality in the northeastern Lunda-Norte province of Angola.

According to Graciano Lumanhe, the SIC spokesperson in Lunda-Norte, three individuals from Guinea Conakry were found in possession of the diamonds.

Angola Seizes 710 Diamond Stones From Three Guineans
In addition to the diamonds, the officers also discovered a diamond weighing scale, two calculating machines, magnifying glasses, a sieve, and $860 and 68,000 kwanzas in cash during the operation.

All the evidence has been submitted to the Office of the Public Prosecutor as part of the preparations for criminal proceedings against the three suspects.

Source: Newscentral.africa

4ct. Pink Diamond Takes Spotlight at Sotheby’s

A fancy-pink diamond pendant is set to headline an upcoming jewelry auction at Sotheby’s in Paris, where it is expected to fetch up to EUR 550,000 ($612,797).

The cushion-cut, 4.03-carat diamond piece will feature at the October 10 Fine Jewels sale, according to the Sotheby’s website. The auction will also offer jewels from Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Giovanni Ferraris.  

Additionally, the event will showcase more than 80 pieces from the collection of British singer Dame Shirley Bassey, including diamond jewelry Elton John gifted her.  

Here are the rest of top 10 jewels that will be auctioned:  

This Cartier Tutti Frutti bracelet designed as a band of articulated branches —embellished with carved emeralds, rubies and emerald beads drill-set with single-cut diamonds — carries a top estimate of EUR 450,000 ($501,395).

A necklace from the Shirley Bassey collection composed of a row of graduated brilliant-cut diamonds, with the main ones weighing 5.50, 5.36, and 4.61 carats, could sell for up to EUR 280,000 ($311,798).

gold and diamond Cartier set comprising a necklace, two bracelets, a pair of ear clips, and a ring image — Sotheby’s will offer this gold and diamond Cartier set comprising a necklace, two bracelets, a pair of ear clips, and a ring, each paved with brilliant-cut diamonds, for a high price of EUR 260,000 ($289,687).

gold and diamond Cartier set comprising a necklace, two bracelets, a pair of ear clips, and a ring — A David Morris ring bearing a rectangular step-cut, 7.15-carat diamond of F color and internally flawless clarity, flanked by tapered baguette diamonds, is expected to bring in EUR 140,000 to EUR 250,000 ($155,990 to $278,554).

This sapphire and diamond bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels forms a stylized buckle set with a row of oval sapphires framed by brilliant-cut diamonds. It has a presale range of EUR 140,000 to EUR 240,000 ($155,990 to $267,410).

ring with a pear-shaped, fancy-brownish-yellow diamond image — **This ring with a pear-shaped, fancy-brownish-yellow diamond weighing 20.03 carats could achieve as much as EUR 220,000 ($245,116).**

**A necklace composed of openwork and oval motifs, each set with an oval sapphire within a double surrounding of brilliant-cut diamonds, has an upper price of EUR 180,000 ($200,540).**

diamond ring with marquise-shaped diamond shoulders image — **A 21.17-carat, fancy-light-brown-yellow, SI2-clarity diamond ring with marquise-shaped diamond shoulders is anticipated to realize up to EUR 170,000 ($189,415).**

**This claw-set ring with a rectangular step-cut, 5.06-carat diamond flanked by triangular diamonds carries a high estimate of EUR 150,000 ($155,990).**

Yellow Gold Is Hot, Diamonds Are Not At Hong Kong Jewelry Trade Show

The pulse of the jewelry industry and its relationship with the constantly changing world is reflected each year at Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong (JGWHK).

This year the annual jewelry trade show attracted more than 3,300 exhibitors, a 5% decline from 2023, according to Informa Markets, which owns and operates the fair. Although final buyer numbers aren’t available, walking the floors on the first four days, it’s easy to see that foot traffic was down as well. Still the show is expected to attract about 50,000 visitors.

Buyers in the Fine Design Pavilion of Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong 3,300 exhibitors — *Buyers in the Fine Design Pavilion of Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong*

More important than the numbers themselves is what they represent. A major typhoon in the Shanghai area a few days before the show began meant many exhibitors and buyers from the area could not immediately make the trip to Hong Kong. Obviously, war in Ukraine and in Gaza has kept people in these regions from attending. After years of exponential growth, the U.S. jewelry market has softened, partly due to the upcoming presidential election. The China market has softened as well, reflecting the country’s overall economic challenges. These are the two largest markets in the world for jewelry. Then for the first time in memory, the fair coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 18, which further reduced overall attendance, at least temporarily.

For a fair that has been held during trade wars, citywide political protests and a once-in-a-century typhoon, these distractions were mild by comparison. Through it all JGWHK remains, by far, the largest jewelry trade fair in the world, and for good reason.

Read full article: forbes.com

Petra Sales Up, Prices Down

Petra Diamonds reported increased sales for FY 2024, despite weak market conditions.

The UK based miner said it had saved $75m by deferring capital expansion programs and sustainably reducing its cost base.

Revenue for the year was $367m, an increase of 13 per cent on FY 2023, according to its Audited Full Year 2024 Results, published on Tuesday (24 September).

“Petra demonstrated its agility in responding to a weaker pricing environment by building greater business resilience,” said CEO Richard Duffy.

“We acknowledge the difficult market conditions through FY 2024 and believe that prices will stabilise through to the end of CY 2024 with some improvement expected in CY 2025.”

Petra sold 3.2m carats of rough during the year an increase of 36 per cent but achieved lower average prices per carat, down 17 per cent to $116, attributable to a 12.4 per cent decline in like for like prices, as well as product mix movements.

Last month Petra today Petra canceled its August/September tender to restrict supply amid ongoing weak demand.

Goods from its Cullinan and Finsch mines, in South Africa, will be sold instead at its next tender, which is expected to close in mid-October.

Source: IDEX