Monday 2 September 2019

Botswana Diamonds identifies five targets likely to be kimberlites


The targets identified are very similar to the pipe that constituted the high-grade and famous De Beers Marsfontein mine, in so much as the pipe had little surface indication due to dolerite rock cover but grew and swelled below the dolerite.
Much of the Thorny River area geology is comprised of a dolerite dyke swarm.
John Teeling, chairman, comments:
“It has long been held that there should be high grade kimberlite pipes other than the Marsfontein mine in the Thorny River area.
“The geology made discovery difficult. New geophysical technology tries to see through the dense dolerite cover.
“The company pioneering the work, Subterrane, believe they have identified five targets likely to be kimberlites.
“We are working to better define where to drill. The targets are shallow so will not be expensive to drill”.
Conventional geophysical techniques have been unable to detect kimberlites under the dolerite including those that are deeper seated. Subterrane, a partner using its proprietary technology, enables the company to explore geophysical anomalies beneath the dolerite and those that are buried.
This could lead to the discovery of kimberlites similar to Marsfontein.
Thus far Subterrane has identified five such target areas within the Thorny River project.
Source: DCLA

Botswana Diamonds identifies five targets likely to be kimberlites


The targets identified are very similar to the pipe that constituted the high-grade and famous De Beers Marsfontein mine, in so much as the pipe had little surface indication due to dolerite rock cover but grew and swelled below the dolerite.
Much of the Thorny River area geology is comprised of a dolerite dyke swarm.
John Teeling, chairman, comments:
“It has long been held that there should be high grade kimberlite pipes other than the Marsfontein mine in the Thorny River area.
“The geology made discovery difficult. New geophysical technology tries to see through the dense dolerite cover.
“The company pioneering the work, Subterrane, believe they have identified five targets likely to be kimberlites.
“We are working to better define where to drill. The targets are shallow so will not be expensive to drill”.
Conventional geophysical techniques have been unable to detect kimberlites under the dolerite including those that are deeper seated. Subterrane, a partner using its proprietary technology, enables the company to explore geophysical anomalies beneath the dolerite and those that are buried.
This could lead to the discovery of kimberlites similar to Marsfontein.
Thus far Subterrane has identified five such target areas within the Thorny River project.
Source: DCLA

Sunday 1 September 2019

MOST DIVORCEES HOLD ONTO THEIR OLD ENGAGEMENT RINGS


63% of the women are still holding onto their old engagement ring while dating
A new survey by Worthy.com, an online auction marketplace for pre-owned diamond jewellery, has revealed some interesting trends among American women who have and are going through divorce.
According to the survey, conducted among 1,700 female participants from across the country, 78% are already in dating mindset before divorce papers are signed. Even more interestingly, 63% of the women are still holding onto their engagement ring, and dating. 68% of the women feel “scared, but also excited and hopeful, while 40% feel confident” when dating.
Diamond engagement ring
Diamond engagement ring

90% of the women said that values, emotional availability, lifestyle, marital status and sexual compatibility were top priorities in a new companion.
According to the most recent Wedding Report, released earlier this year and based on 6,792 survey samples collected from January 1 to December 31, 2018, couples’ spending on weddings went down 4%, totaling $24,723 on average. Although most categories went down, jewellery-related spending remained relatively unchanged from 2017.
Average spending on engagement rings went down only 0.4% year-on-year, averaging $3,388 in 2018. Average spending on wedding rings/bands for her went slightly down (0.9%), averaging $775 in 2018. Average spending on wedding rings/bands for him remained almost flat (-0.2%), averaging $454 in 2018.
Source: DCLA

MOST DIVORCEES HOLD ONTO THEIR OLD ENGAGEMENT RINGS


63% of the women are still holding onto their old engagement ring while dating
A new survey by Worthy.com, an online auction marketplace for pre-owned diamond jewellery, has revealed some interesting trends among American women who have and are going through divorce.
According to the survey, conducted among 1,700 female participants from across the country, 78% are already in dating mindset before divorce papers are signed. Even more interestingly, 63% of the women are still holding onto their engagement ring, and dating. 68% of the women feel “scared, but also excited and hopeful, while 40% feel confident” when dating.
Diamond engagement ring
Diamond engagement ring

90% of the women said that values, emotional availability, lifestyle, marital status and sexual compatibility were top priorities in a new companion.
According to the most recent Wedding Report, released earlier this year and based on 6,792 survey samples collected from January 1 to December 31, 2018, couples’ spending on weddings went down 4%, totaling $24,723 on average. Although most categories went down, jewellery-related spending remained relatively unchanged from 2017.
Average spending on engagement rings went down only 0.4% year-on-year, averaging $3,388 in 2018. Average spending on wedding rings/bands for her went slightly down (0.9%), averaging $775 in 2018. Average spending on wedding rings/bands for him remained almost flat (-0.2%), averaging $454 in 2018.
Source: DCLA

Thursday 29 August 2019

Graff unveils new ring crafted from 13.33ct Lesotho Pink diamond


Luxury house Graff has unveiled a new ring with a centre stone crafted from the 13.33 carat Lesotho Pink diamond.
The end result of is a 5.63 carat ‘fancy vivid purplish pink’ pear shape diamond flanked by two ‘fancy intense pink’ pear shaped diamond shoulder stones and embraced by a minimal rose gold setting.
The firm claims that its expert gemmologists and master craftsmen spent many months analysing the complexities of the diamond before devising “how best to capture the extraordinary beauty of its unusually vibrant pink hue”.
The rough stone had been discovered at the Letseng mine in Lesotho in February, with Laurence Graff purchasing it for $8.75 million.
This was a record for the purchase of any Letseng diamond in terms of dollar per carat.
The firm shares: “The world’s already extremely limited resources of pink diamonds are quickly depleting, as the mines where these rarities are discovered gradually become extinct.
“They are highly sought after by those who want to enter the rarefied and exclusive group of connoisseurs who appreciate these precious pink stones for their sublime beauty.
“Graff searches timelessly for the very best examples displaying the most vivid and vibrant colour, identifying once in a lifetime discoveries and creating jewels that showcase their remarkable hues.”
Source: DCLA 

Graff unveils new ring crafted from 13.33ct Lesotho Pink diamond


Luxury house Graff has unveiled a new ring with a centre stone crafted from the 13.33 carat Lesotho Pink diamond.
The end result of is a 5.63 carat ‘fancy vivid purplish pink’ pear shape diamond flanked by two ‘fancy intense pink’ pear shaped diamond shoulder stones and embraced by a minimal rose gold setting.
The firm claims that its expert gemmologists and master craftsmen spent many months analysing the complexities of the diamond before devising “how best to capture the extraordinary beauty of its unusually vibrant pink hue”.
The rough stone had been discovered at the Letseng mine in Lesotho in February, with Laurence Graff purchasing it for $8.75 million.
This was a record for the purchase of any Letseng diamond in terms of dollar per carat.
The firm shares: “The world’s already extremely limited resources of pink diamonds are quickly depleting, as the mines where these rarities are discovered gradually become extinct.
“They are highly sought after by those who want to enter the rarefied and exclusive group of connoisseurs who appreciate these precious pink stones for their sublime beauty.
“Graff searches timelessly for the very best examples displaying the most vivid and vibrant colour, identifying once in a lifetime discoveries and creating jewels that showcase their remarkable hues.”
Source: DCLA 

Demand for Angolan diamonds is currently higher than supply


Angola’s national diamond trading company, Sodiam announced on Wednesday in Luanda that it has suspended receiving proposals to buy rough diamonds because the demand is higher than the supply.
The state-owned company, announcing the closure of the reception of bids, pointed out that it has already concluded purchase and sale contracts of diamonds mined in the country for the next two years.
The company also said in a statement that interested parties could register on Sodiam’s electronic platform from September in order to qualify as potential customers for the purchase of diamonds by auction.
In the second quarter, Sodiam sold 1.5 million carats at an average price of US$155.3 per carat and gross revenues of US$232.8 million, down by US$135.8 million from first-quarter revenue, “due to the fact that it did not sell the April lot.”
The company posted revenues of US$368.6 million in the first quarter of 2019 from the sale of 2.647 million carats of diamonds.
Source: DCLA

Petra Sales Up, Prices Down

Petra Diamonds Operations Petra Diamonds reported increased sales for FY 2024, despite weak market conditions. The UK based miner said it ha...