Firestone Diamonds has recently unearthed a remarkable 215-carat rough diamond from its Liqhobong mine in Lesotho, marking the largest high-quality gem ever found at the site.
Announcing the discovery on Wednesday, the company revealed plans to offer the extraordinary diamond through a competitive bidding tender. Prior to the bidding process, Firestone will showcase the impressive stone in viewings set to take place in Antwerp and Dubai. With a 75% ownership stake in Liqhobong, Firestone partners with the Lesotho government, which holds the remaining 25%.
The diamond miner faced significant challenges during a more than two-year shutdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Operations at the mine resumed in October 2022, under the ownership of Pacific Road Capital, which holds an 84% share. Despite the setbacks, Firestone’s latest financial report, issued in June, highlighted a notable surge in revenue. Rough diamond sales nearly doubled to $20.6 million in the third fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2023, compared to the previous quarter. Sales volume rose by 57% to 193,212 carats, with the average price per carat increasing by 14% to $107.
