VANCOUVER (miningweekly.com) – Botswana-focused diamond miner Lucara Diamond Corp has raised $38.7-million from the second exceptional stone tender this year, the company announced Wednesday.
This tender of gem stones from its flagship Karowe mine comprised 12 single-stone lots. All 12 diamonds, totalling 1 098 ct, were sold.
According to Lucara, five diamonds sold for more than $2-million each, and Lot 1001, the 224.5 ct Type IIa diamond, sold for $11.11-million, or $49 497/ct, which was also the highest-value-per-carat diamond.
Further, Lot 1004, the 162.3 ct diamond, sold for $4.88-million, or $30 117/ct, while Lot 1005, the 81.8 ct diamond, sold for the second-highest price per carat of $46 138/ct.
"It is fitting that this tender, the tenth exceptional stone tender for the company, was concluded on the one-year anniversary of the recovery of the historic 1 109 ct Lesedi La Rona diamond,” stated president and CEO William Lamb.
He noted that to date, Vancouver-based Lucara had sold 144 “magnificent” diamonds, bringing in revenues of more than $460-million. This included 143 diamonds sold through the exceptional stone tender process, as well as the beautiful 813 ct Constellation diamond, which was sold in a private transaction.
“These ongoing excellent results demonstrate the sustainability of production and the continued strong demand for Karowe's high-value diamonds,” Lamb commented.