Kimberley Diamonds Ltd has announced that the first sale of diamonds from its Lerala Diamond Mine in Botswana was completed via an online auction platform last week, with the gem quality diamonds realising an average price per carat of US$ 98.

The auction was on an online platform operated by DDA Trading BVBA in Antwerp. They were displayed in Antwerp for a week before the auction.

The Company said that the parcel contained both gem and near gem quality diamonds which had been sourced predominantly from historic pre-2016 ROM stockpiles.

The near gem quality diamonds, KDL stated, will be added to a September sale to take advantage of expected stronger market conditions as well as the benefit of larger parcel of diamonds available for sale in September.