Firestone Diamonds announced the recovery of a 215-carat rough diamond from its Liqhobong mine in Lesotho, marking the largest high-quality stone found at the deposit to date.
The company intends to offer the diamond through a competitive bidding tender, following viewings in Antwerp and Dubai.
Firestone holds a 75% stake in Liqhobong, with the remaining 25% owned by the Lesotho government.
After experiencing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Firestone resumed operations in October 2022.
The company is now under private ownership by Pacific Road Capital, which holds an 84% share. Despite previous setbacks, Firestone reported promising results in its last public report, with revenue from rough diamonds nearly doubling to $20.6 million in the third fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023.
Sales volume increased by 57%, reaching 193,212 carats, while the average price per carat rose by 14% to $107.
