Lucara’s First Tender Averages $872 p/c, Totals $8.18 Million

(IDEX Online News) - Saying it is very pleased with the outstanding results, Lucara Diamond closed its first tender in Antwerp today, generating gross proceeds of $8,177,714 million. All 42 lots totaling 9,381.35 carats were sold for an average price of $871.70 p/c.

The tender, managed by AGM Diamond Expertise and held at Bonas, offered rough diamonds recovered from the Mothae mine in Lesotho.  

The three diamonds that achieved the highest per carat value were a 13.87-carat diamond that sold for $43,000 p/c, a 24.57-carat diamond that sold for $32,351 p/c and a 20.13-carat diamond that sold for $27,995 p/c.

Mothae Diamonds Managing Director Nyakallo Mpatuoa said she is very pleased with the market’s response to the Mothae production and “confirmation of the exceptional value of our diamonds. We look forward to our next sale of Mothae diamonds later this year to provide further price discovery information for this exciting project.”

Lucara, which indirectly holds a 75 percent stake in Mothae Diamonds (PTY) Ltd, is conducting a trial mining program of up to 720,000 tonnes on the Mothae kimberlite in Lesotho. Lucara and the Government of Lesotho jointly hold Mothae Diamonds.