De Beers Names Jillian Wolk as CEO of Tracr to Lead Next Phase of Diamond Traceability and Transparency Jillian Wolk has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Tracr, the diamond traceability subsidiary of De Beers Group, effective May 1. She succeeds Wesley Tucker, who stepped down at the end of February after leading the business through its formative and scaling stages. Wolk brings extensive leadership experience across the jewellery, luxury and technology sectors. Most recently,
Rio Tinto Ends Production at Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada After Producing 150 Million Carats Rio Tinto has officially marked the end of production at its Diavik diamond mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories, concluding more than two decades of operations that yielded over 150 million carats of rough diamonds. Located approximately 220 km south of the Arctic Circle beneath Lac de Gras, Diavik was discovered in 1991 and began production in 2003. The operation, comprising
Sotheby’s to Offer 28.88-Carat Internally Flawless Diamond from Botswana’s Jwaneng Mine with $2.8 Million Estimate Sotheby’s is set to auction a rare 28.88-carat diamond sourced from De Beers’ flagship Jwaneng Mine in Botswana, with the gemstone expected to achieve up to $2.8 million at sale. The stone, named the Jwaneng 28.88, is a round brilliant diamond graded D color the highest classification for colorless diamonds and internally flawless, placing it among the rarest categories of
Botswana’s Credit Rating Cut to BBB- as Falling Diamond Demand Pressures Economy and Foreign Reserves Recognized as Africa’s largest diamond producer, Botswana is facing mounting economic challenges as the prolonged downturn in the global diamond market continues to weigh on its financial stability. Reflecting these pressures, S&P Global Ratings has downgraded Botswana’s long-term sovereign credit rating from BBB to BBB-. The ratings agency indicated that the country’s mineral-dependent economy is likely to remain under strain
De Beers Cuts Sightholders to 50 as Diamond Industry Faces Weak Demand, Lab-Grown Competition and Market Volatility Global diamond producer De Beers Group has made one of the deepest reductions to its network of handpicked diamond buyers as the company navigates a prolonged downturn affecting the global diamond industry, according to people familiar with the matter. The company notified its customers known as sightholders on Friday whether they would retain their status through formal letters
Gem Diamonds Reports $104M Loss as Letšeng Diamond Mine Impairment and Weak Diamond Prices Hit Earnings London-listed Gem Diamonds reported a sharp decline in financial performance for the year ended December 31, 2025, as continued weakness in the global diamond market weighed on earnings. The company posted a loss of $9.1 million before exceptional items, compared with a profit of $8.1 million in 2024. After accounting for exceptional items, the attributable loss widened significantly to
Lucara Recovers Rare 36.92-Carat Blue Diamond from Karowe Mine in Botswana Lucara Diamond Corp has announced the recovery of a rare 36.92-carat blue diamond from its wholly owned Karowe Mine in Botswana. The stone has been classified as a high-quality Type IIb blue diamond among the rarest categories of diamonds globally. It was recovered using X-ray transmission (XRT) technology from ore sourced from the mine’s surface stockpiles. In addition to the blue diamond, Lucara Diamond
Botswana Credit Rating Cut to BBB- by S&P Global as Diamond Market Struggles Persist On Friday, S&P Global Ratings downgraded Botswana’s long-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings to “BBB-” from “BBB”, citing structural weaknesses in the global diamond market that are expected to weigh on the country’s minerals-dependent economy for longer than previously anticipated The ratings agency also lowered Botswana’s short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings to “A-3” from “A-2” and
De Beers Board Member and Minerals Development Company Botswana CEO Matome Tsholetsa Malema Dies Global diamond miner De Beers Group has announced the passing of Matome Tsholetsa Malema, the chief executive officer of Minerals Development Company Botswana and a member of the De Beers board. Malema joined the De Beers board in 2023, where he brought extensive operational expertise gained through many years in the diamond mining industry. His experience was shaped by a range
Angola’s Sodiam Generates $25.8 Million in Rough Diamond Auction, Surpassing Expectations Angola’s National Diamond Trading Company, Sodiam, raised approximately $25.8 million in its 16th auction of special rough diamonds, exceeding initial expectations by 22.97%, the company announced. According to a statement from Sodiam, the auction featured 74 special rough diamonds produced by several mining companies, including Furi, Somiluana, Cuilo Kwanza, Lulo, Kaixepa, Chitotolo, Mussende, Catoca, and Luele. A total of 2,560.17 carats were sold during
