Gem Diamonds has uncovered a remarkable 212.91-carat rough diamond at its Letšeng mine in Lesotho, marking the 13th stone over 100 carats discovered by the company this year.
The high-quality, type II diamond was found on September 19, just two weeks after the recovery of a 126.21-carat rough, making it the fifth large diamond retrieved in a little over a month.
Earlier in September, the company also discovered a 122.20-carat stone, following a 129.71-carat rough unearthed on August 23 and a 145.55-carat diamond found on August 3.
Gem Diamonds attributes the increased number of large diamonds this year to operational enhancements at its processing plant, which have improved the recovery of large stones while minimizing breakage.
The company has not experienced such a high total of stones over 100 carats since 2020 when it recovered 16 large diamonds. In contrast, the company produced only six in 2021 and four in both 2022 and 2023.
Looking ahead, Gem Diamonds anticipates total output for 2024 to reach between 98,000 and 101,000 carats, with projected sales volume between 100,000 and 103,000 carats.
This forecast has been revised upwards, reflecting the higher number of large rough diamonds the company has recovered this year.
