First Bunder Project Diamonds Ready for Cutting and Polishing

(IDEX Online News) – Rio Tinto today (Tuesday) announced that the first rough diamonds from its Bunder Diamond Project in Madhya Pradesh have been handed over to selected Indian diamantaires for cutting and polishing.

The hand over took place at a private event in Bhopal. Guests at the event included the Mines Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Rajendra Shukla, and Member of Parliament, Jitendra Singh Bundela.

While these first diamonds will not be available for sale, the company says the manufacturing process will be closely tracked to understand the nature of the product and its potential for the future commercial Bunder production.

“I am delighted to have reached this milestone in the development of the Bunder Project,” said Rio Tinto Diamonds managing director Bruce Cox. “Indian diamantaires are best placed to unlock the potential of the Bunder diamonds and the cutting and polishing tests and jewelry manufacturing process will provide us with vital information for the ongoing evaluation of the Bunder Project.”

“Having been part of the journey from prospecting to mining lease approval in principle, I am proud that we have been able to display in Madhya Pradesh, for the first time, diamonds recovered during our prospecting activities,” said Dr Nik Senapati, managing director of Rio Tinto India.

The cutting and polishing tests are expected to take two months, followed by the design and manufacture of the gems into the first collection of Bunder diamond jewelry. The collection will be displayed at the Indian International Jewellery Show in Mumbai in August.