http://www.adlgroup.net/adx/Site/Default.asp?WPID=125&NID=1537&L=E2007-11-14:
493-Carat Letseng Legacy Sells For US$ 10.4 MillionADL News
Antwerp: The Letseng Legacy, a remarkable 493-carat diamond, was sold in Antwerp for US$ 10.4 million. This news was announced this morning at a press conference organized by the Antwerp World Diamond Center.
11 bidders participated in the tender and the winning bid was made by SAFDICO, the manufacturing arm of Graff Jewellers. Graff Jewellers are one of the world’s leading diamond jewellery purveyors and were also the winning bidder for the 603-carat Lesotho Promise diamond in 2006. There were also strong bids from Rosy Blue and Premier Diamonds.
The Letseng Legacy is the world’s 18th largest diamond ever recovered. It was found on September 7th, 2007 at Letseng le Terai Mine in Lesotho. Letseng Diamonds, which is 70% owned by Gem Diamonds and 30% owned by the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho, has now produced three of the world’s top 20 diamonds. Two of these, the Letseng Promise and the Letseng Legacy, were recovered in the last 13 months.
The winning bid of US$10.4 million was announced by Lesotho’s Minister of Forestry and Land Reclamation Ralechate Lincon Mokose during a press conference at the Antwerp World Diamond Center this morning. The price represents an extraordinary price per carat of US$21,000, against a global average diamond price of US$81 per carat.
Johnny Kneller, CEO of the northern hemisphere of SAFDICO commented: “We are very pleased to have once again made the winning bid for such an historic diamond. To have acquired the Letseng Legacy as well as the Lesotho Promise is a great achievement for SAFDICO and Mr. Graff.”
Topic: 493-Carat Letseng Legacy Sells For US$ 10.4 Million (Read 2192 times)