Firestone Diamonds has remained silent on when the closed BK11 mine, in Botswana will be re-opened when it recently announced an update on its first quarter operations.

Namakwa Diamonds said the first sale of diamonds from its Kao mine, in Lesotho realised $6.47 million, with prices 17 per cent higher than initial projections.

Polished diamonds are becoming increasing expensive in India, one of the centers of the global diamond trade, due to the weakness of the local currency, the rupee.

One of the leaders of the Russian jewellery industry, Moscow Jewellery Factory intends to launch ten new jewellery stores in street-retail segment, in Moscow till the end of 2012.

On a visit to the Diamond Exchange in Ramat Gan, Israel's Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Shalom Simhon announced the formation of a strategic committee to study the country's diamond industry and worked to increase its activities.