Recovery of 152 carat diamond from Letšeng
Gem Diamonds announces the recovery of a 152 carat, top white colour Type IIa diamond from the Letšeng mine in Lesotho, the highest dollar per carat kimberlite diamond mine in the world. This is the sixth diamond of over 100 carats recovered in 2018.
Gem Diamonds Limited owns 70% of the Letšeng Diamond Mine, with the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho owning the remaining 30%. The Letšeng mine is located in the Maluti Mountains of Lesotho and is renowned for its recovery of large, high quality, exceptional Type II diamonds.
Since Gem Diamonds acquired the mine in 2006, Letšeng has produced over 60 +100 carat, predominantly high value, white diamonds. Amongst these diamonds recovered are the iconic 603 carat Lesotho Promise, the 550 carat Letšeng Star and the 493 carat Letšeng Legacy.
In 2015, Letšeng produced the 357 carat Letšeng Dynasty and the 314 carat Letšeng Destiny. In addition Letšeng has produced high quality pink and blue diamonds, with a rare blue diamond achieving a sales price of US$603 047 per carat in 2013 and an exceptional pink diamond achieving $187 700 per carat in 2016.
Although Letšeng’s grade recovery (averaging just under two carats per hundred tonnes or 1.7cpht) is low, its highest average dollar per carat status, ranks Letšeng in the top 15 global diamond producers by revenue. The large high value diamonds from Letšeng account for 70% to 80% of the Group’s revenue annually.
