The 603-carat Lesotho Promise diamond, the 15th largest rough diamond ever discovered, has been sold in Antwerp for $12,36-million, according to Gem Diamonds, owners of Letseng Mine in Lesotho where the diamond was recently discovered.
“This has been a fantastic day for the Letseng Diamond Mine and for the people of Lesotho. To have achieved such a high price and to have attracted the interest of all the diamond industry in one of our country’s diamonds is very gratifying. We look forward to continued success at Letseng in the future,” said Lesotho’s Minister of Natural Resources, Dr Khaketla.
Graff Jewellers won the bid, beating out other bidders including Alain Sternberg Bvba, Rosy Blue and Omega Diamonds.
“We are thrilled to have won the tender for this magnificent and historical jewel. Our experience with stones from Letseng Diamond Mine has always been exceptional,” Yves Alexis, a representative of Safdico, the manufacturing arm of Graff Jewellers said.
Letseng is famous for its large 100-plus carat stones and in 1967 a 601-carat stone was discovered at the mine. — I-Net Bridge