Angola to host first competitive diamond bid sale

The first competitive bid sale of large and premium quality diamonds from the Lulo diamond mine will take place on January 31, 2019, in the Angolan capital of Luanda.

According to a press release issued by Australia’s Lucapa Diamond, owner of a 40% stake in the prolific mine, the stones for sale will the first diamonds offered in a competitive process under the new diamond marketing policy enacted by President Joao Lourenco and the Angolan Council of Ministers.

The bid is organised in by state owned diamond trading firm SODIAM while the diamonds are being offered by Sociedade Mineira Do Lulo, which holds the alluvial mining licence to the Lulo concession and works in partnership with Lucapa, who has a 35-year license for the project. Empresa Nacional de Diamantes E.P. and Rosas & Petalas, also form part of the partnership.

Seven exceptional Lulo diamonds, including a 46 carat pink and six top colour Type IIa white gems ranging from 114 carats to 43 carats, will be showcased.

“Lulo diamonds have already established a reputation as being among the highest quality gems in the world. Together with our Angolan partners, Lucapa is delighted that SML will now start showcasing these exceptional diamonds to the strong interest shown by the world’s leading diamantaires,” Lucapa Diamond Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Wetherall, said in the media brief.

Lulo, a 3,000 square kilometre concession located in Angola’s diamond rich Lunda Norte region, hosts the world’s highest dollar per carat alluvial diamonds and has produced some of the largest gem-quality rocks in the planet.

Angola is the world’s No.4 diamond producer by value and No.6 by volume.

Source: DCLA

Angola to host first competitive diamond bid sale

The first competitive bid sale of large and premium quality diamonds from the Lulo diamond mine will take place on January 31, 2019, in the Angolan capital of Luanda.

According to a press release issued by Australia’s Lucapa Diamond, owner of a 40% stake in the prolific mine, the stones for sale will the first diamonds offered in a competitive process under the new diamond marketing policy enacted by President Joao Lourenco and the Angolan Council of Ministers.

The bid is organised in by state owned diamond trading firm SODIAM while the diamonds are being offered by Sociedade Mineira Do Lulo, which holds the alluvial mining licence to the Lulo concession and works in partnership with Lucapa, who has a 35-year license for the project. Empresa Nacional de Diamantes E.P. and Rosas & Petalas, also form part of the partnership.

Seven exceptional Lulo diamonds, including a 46 carat pink and six top colour Type IIa white gems ranging from 114 carats to 43 carats, will be showcased.

“Lulo diamonds have already established a reputation as being among the highest quality gems in the world. Together with our Angolan partners, Lucapa is delighted that SML will now start showcasing these exceptional diamonds to the strong interest shown by the world’s leading diamantaires,” Lucapa Diamond Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Wetherall, said in the media brief.

Lulo, a 3,000 square kilometre concession located in Angola’s diamond rich Lunda Norte region, hosts the world’s highest dollar per carat alluvial diamonds and has produced some of the largest gem-quality rocks in the planet.

Angola is the world’s No.4 diamond producer by value and No.6 by volume.

Source: DCLA

Date set for Mugabe diamonds hearing

A Zimbabwe parliament committee has summoned former president Robert Mugabe to give evidence on Wednesday about diamond corruption alleged to have cost billions of dollars during his rule.

Mugabe, who was ousted from office in November after a brief military takeover, has not commented on whether he will appear before the committee.

A parliamentary notice for May 23 was released on Monday.

“Subject to confirmation, oral evidence from His Excellency, the former president of the Republic of Zimbabwe, comrade RG Mugabe, on diamond mining revenues,” it read.

Mugabe, 94, who is in frail health, was also called to give evidence last month but the meeting was postponed.
Lawmakers plan to question Mugabe over his 2016 claim that the country had lost $15 billion in revenue due to corruption and foreign exploitation in the diamond sector.

No one in Mugabe’s office was available to confirm whether he would appear.

The former president, whose own regime was accused of syphoning off diamond profits, has described his ousting as a coup.

He has not been seen in public since November, though he hosted a private birthday party in February at “Blue Roof” – the lavish mansion where he and his wife Grace, 52, have been living in apparent seclusion in recent months.

Mugabe was replaced by his former deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa, a veteran loyalist in the ruling ZANU-PF party who was backed by senior military officers.

Zimbabwe discovered alluvial diamonds in Chiadzwa, in the east of the country, over 10 years ago.

Rights groups have accused security forces of using brutal methods to control the scattered deposits.

The parliament committee, headed by independent MP Temba Mliswa, has already interviewed former ministers, police and intelligence chiefs on mining at Chiadzwa.

Zimbabwe is due to hold elections in July or August, the first since Mugabe was unseated, with the Zanu-PF widely predicted to retain power.

AFP

Date set for Mugabe diamonds hearing

A Zimbabwe parliament committee has summoned former president Robert Mugabe to give evidence on Wednesday about diamond corruption alleged to have cost billions of dollars during his rule.

Mugabe, who was ousted from office in November after a brief military takeover, has not commented on whether he will appear before the committee.

A parliamentary notice for May 23 was released on Monday.

“Subject to confirmation, oral evidence from His Excellency, the former president of the Republic of Zimbabwe, comrade RG Mugabe, on diamond mining revenues,” it read.

Mugabe, 94, who is in frail health, was also called to give evidence last month but the meeting was postponed.
Lawmakers plan to question Mugabe over his 2016 claim that the country had lost $15 billion in revenue due to corruption and foreign exploitation in the diamond sector.

No one in Mugabe’s office was available to confirm whether he would appear.

The former president, whose own regime was accused of syphoning off diamond profits, has described his ousting as a coup.

He has not been seen in public since November, though he hosted a private birthday party in February at “Blue Roof” – the lavish mansion where he and his wife Grace, 52, have been living in apparent seclusion in recent months.

Mugabe was replaced by his former deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa, a veteran loyalist in the ruling ZANU-PF party who was backed by senior military officers.

Zimbabwe discovered alluvial diamonds in Chiadzwa, in the east of the country, over 10 years ago.

Rights groups have accused security forces of using brutal methods to control the scattered deposits.

The parliament committee, headed by independent MP Temba Mliswa, has already interviewed former ministers, police and intelligence chiefs on mining at Chiadzwa.

Zimbabwe is due to hold elections in July or August, the first since Mugabe was unseated, with the Zanu-PF widely predicted to retain power.

AFP

Lucapa recovers more diamonds at Lesotho mine

Australia’s Lucapa Diamond has announced workers at its 70% owned Mothae mine in Lesotho have recovered diamonds sourced from residual material and kimberlite stockpiles.

The company said the rough diamonds were recovered through the existing bulk sampling plant and infrastructure at Mothae, which has been refurbished ahead of schedule as part of a previously announced bulk sampling program.
According to the statement the largest rough diamond recovered in the test run is 6.6 carats.

Source: DCLA

Lucapa recovers more diamonds at Lesotho mine

Australia’s Lucapa Diamond has announced workers at its 70% owned Mothae mine in Lesotho have recovered diamonds sourced from residual material and kimberlite stockpiles.

The company said the rough diamonds were recovered through the existing bulk sampling plant and infrastructure at Mothae, which has been refurbished ahead of schedule as part of a previously announced bulk sampling program.
According to the statement the largest rough diamond recovered in the test run is 6.6 carats.

Source: DCLA

Two 100 carat plus rough diamonds recovered at Lesotho mine

The two Rough diamonds  each weighing more than 100 carats were recovered by Gem Diamonds at the Lesotho mine in southern Africa.

Both rough Diamonds weight 117 carats and 110 carats are D color Type IIa diamonds.

Type IIa diamonds carbon bonds contain little or no nitrogen atoms making them very white and rare. These are the most expensive white diamonds.

Source: DCLA

Two 100 carat plus rough diamonds recovered at Lesotho mine

The two Rough diamonds  each weighing more than 100 carats were recovered by Gem Diamonds at the Lesotho mine in southern Africa.

Both rough Diamonds weight 117 carats and 110 carats are D color Type IIa diamonds.

Type IIa diamonds carbon bonds contain little or no nitrogen atoms making them very white and rare. These are the most expensive white diamonds.

Source: DCLA

Rapaport Launches Diamond Education Platform

A new innovative e-learning platform designed to increases knowledge and productivity for professionals in the diamond and jewellery industry. 

 

The Rapaport Group is pleased to announce the launch of Rapaport Academy. This new innovative e-learning platform increases knowledge and productivity for professionals in the diamond and jewelry industry. Written and delivered by Rapaport and independent industry experts, the Rapaport Academy’s online courses are a springboard to career success in the diamond industry.

Fundamentals of Diamond Trading Promo Video

Rapaport Academy’s first course “Fundamentals of Diamond Trading,” focuses on the commercial and practical aspects of the diamond trade, with the goal of improving participants’ skills and confidence to trade diamonds. The course helps students understand how diamonds are traded in the global marketplace, including trading rules, customs, traditions, and terminology. Topics include: best practices, legal and ethical responsibilities, diamond pricing, online diamond trading, technological innovation, market trends and tips for professional trading.

The online format of the Rapaport education platform enables students to study at their own pace, anywhere and at any time. This new course is ideal for both diamond professionals and newcomers to the industry.

Additional information is available at www.rapaportacademy.com.

Rapaport Launches Diamond Education Platform

A new innovative e-learning platform designed to increases knowledge and productivity for professionals in the diamond and jewellery industry. 

 

The Rapaport Group is pleased to announce the launch of Rapaport Academy. This new innovative e-learning platform increases knowledge and productivity for professionals in the diamond and jewelry industry. Written and delivered by Rapaport and independent industry experts, the Rapaport Academy’s online courses are a springboard to career success in the diamond industry.

Fundamentals of Diamond Trading Promo Video

Rapaport Academy’s first course “Fundamentals of Diamond Trading,” focuses on the commercial and practical aspects of the diamond trade, with the goal of improving participants’ skills and confidence to trade diamonds. The course helps students understand how diamonds are traded in the global marketplace, including trading rules, customs, traditions, and terminology. Topics include: best practices, legal and ethical responsibilities, diamond pricing, online diamond trading, technological innovation, market trends and tips for professional trading.

The online format of the Rapaport education platform enables students to study at their own pace, anywhere and at any time. This new course is ideal for both diamond professionals and newcomers to the industry.

Additional information is available at www.rapaportacademy.com.