International News
Gemfields Generates $4.8 Million from Mini-Auction of Higher-Quality Emeralds
Mini-auction of unsold emeralds from November 2024 shows a promising rise in demand and prices, with 77% of lots sold.
Gemfields has reported strong results from its mini-auction held from February 19 to 21, 2025, featuring higher-quality emeralds that had remained unsold during its November 2024 auction. The event raised $4.8 million in revenue, signaling a notable recovery in demand and pricing within the emerald market.
Auction Performance:
- Total revenue: $4.8 million
- Lots sold: 10 out of 13 (77%)
- Carats sold: 45,864 out of 59,192 (77%)
- Average price per carat: $105.49
Adrian Banks, Managing Director of Product & Sales at Gemfields, highlighted that the auction offered a valuable opportunity to assess current market trends. “This auction exclusively featured unsold lots from Kagem’s November 2024 higher-quality emerald auction. With the same schedules in place, we could directly compare demand and pricing, and it was encouraging to see a notable increase in bids. Despite a subdued market sentiment, the rise in demand and pricing is a positive sign for the sector,” said Banks.
The emeralds sold were mined at the Kagem mine in Zambia, where Gemfields holds a 75% stake, while the Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia owns the remaining 25%. Proceeds from the auction will be fully repatriated to Kagem, with royalties paid to the Government of Zambia based on the final sales prices.
With positive market signs emerging, Gemfields remains optimistic about the upcoming trade shows in Bangkok and Hong Kong, anticipating further recovery in the emerald market.
International News
Consortium Led By Former De Beers CEO Gareth Penny Selected As The Preferred Bidder To Acquire De Beers
Botswana is expected to play a pivotal role in the transaction. The country, together with Namibia, Angola and other shareholders, already owns a 15% stake in De Beers
A consortium headed by former De Beers CEO Gareth Penny has been selected as the preferred bidder to acquire De Beers, according to Botswana’s Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Moeti Mohwasa.
Speaking on the development, Mohwasa said Anglo American conducted a competitive sale process involving three shortlisted bidders before identifying the Global Diamond Consortium as its preferred choice.
Anglo American announced plans to divest De Beers in May 2024 as part of a broader restructuring strategy, driven by prolonged weakness in the diamond market and other business priorities.
The sale process has attracted significant interest from industry leaders and investors. Among those previously linked to the bidding were former De Beers CEO Bruce Cleaver, Australian mining executive Michael O’Keeffe, Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal, and Indian diamond companies KGK Group and Kapu Gems.
Botswana is expected to play a pivotal role in the transaction. The country, together with Namibia, Angola and other shareholders, already owns a 15% stake in De Beers and retains important rights under the shareholder agreement. Mohwasa emphasized that Botswana has the flexibility to either join the preferred bidder as a strategic partner or exercise its pre-emptive rights independently or with another investor.
Industry observers believe the eventual owner will seek to preserve De Beers’ vertically integrated business model, spanning diamond mining, trading and global natural diamond marketing, while positioning the company to benefit from a potential recovery in natural diamond demand and prices.
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