Russian diamond miner Alrosa in August and September sold 349 lots of diamonds, weighing more than 6 000 ct, at auctions in Antwerp, Dubai and Ramat Gan.
The auctions, which attracted bidding companies from Belgium, Israel, India and the United Arab Emirates, generated $37.8-million in revenue.
“August is traditionally considered a relatively quiet period. However, this year we saw a consistent demand for rough diamonds of high quality and price.
"At a time when international travel remains limited, there was strong interest in all three international auctions. Together, they attracted more than 300 registered participants.
"In the second half of September, we also launched an online auction in response to the market’s demands. It has a new expanded format, with lots’ descriptions supplemented by expert evaluations and additional photos and videos. This auction, running until October 13, enables clients to analyse and select diamonds completely remotely,” comments Alrosa deputy CEO Evgeny Agureev.