Production at Mine Famous for Its Yellow Diamonds Slated To Restart
Burgundy Diamond Mines said it will begin commercial production at Ellendale before the end of 2022.
Burgundy Diamond Mines Ltd. said last week a state-of-the-art bulk sample plant has been shipped to Perth, Western Australia, from South Africa and will be transported to Ellendale for installation and commissioning by the end of the second quarter.
The company will conduct bulk sampling—the process of taking a massive sample in order to evaluate the makeup and potential worth of a mineral deposit—until Q4, with commercial production expected to kick off before the end of 2022.
Burgundy has not yet established final production forecasts, CEO Peter Ravenscroft, a former Rio Tinto executive, told National Jeweler via email, but will start production at the Blina alluvial deposit and plans to expand from there.
He said the company will cut and polish all yellow diamonds from Ellendale at its facility in Perth. The facility is built around “master craftsmen” who used to cut stones from another mine famous for its colored diamonds: Rio Tinto-owned Argyle.
Also like Argyle, Burgundy plans to create an “ultra-luxury” brand to market its yellows from Ellendale, much the same way Rio Tinto created—and kept—the Argyle Pink Diamonds brand.
The Ellendale brand is set to be unveiled in Paris in July alongside a collection of yellow diamond jewelry created by Burgundy’s first partner, Paris-based Bäumer Vendôme.
Ellendale is located in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia, about 400-500 km (250 to 310 miles) west of Argyle, which closed in November 2020 after 37 years of production.
Formerly owned by Kimberley Diamonds Ltd. and perhaps best known as the mine that supplied Tiffany & Co. with its yellows, Ellendale has been shuttered since 2015.
In late 2019, the Australian government awarded mining claims for the site to two companies, Gibb River Diamonds and another Australian company, India Bore Diamond Holdings.
Burgundy is buying the mining claims that used to belong to Gibb River Diamonds under terms of a $5 million deal reached in March 2021.
Ravenscroft said Burgundy holds the rights for the Blina alluvial deposit and “key parts” of the previous Ellendale Mine leases, including the mine pits (E9 and E4) and stockpiles, as well as the alluvial deposits to the north of E9.
In March 2021, Burgundy made an initial payment of AU$1.7 million ($1.3 million) and issued 4 million Burgundy shares to Gibb River Diamonds.
The company said last week it has made the second payment, AU$1 million ($751,000) and 5 million shares, with a final payment of AU$4 million ($3 million) and 7 million Burgundy shares due March 23, 2023.
If and when Ellendale restarts, it will be Australia’s only operational diamond mine.
The Latest
The one-of-a-kind necklace was designed in celebration of the Chinese New Year, as 2025 is the Year of the Snake.
“My Next Question” guests Sherry Smith and Edahn Golan share their 2025 forecasts, from sales and marketing to what retailers should stock.
From raffles to auctions to donations, the industry is working to aid charities in Los Angeles amid the raging wildfires.
The new year feels like a clean slate, inspiring reflection, hope, and the motivation to become better versions of ourselves.
The suspects are accused of planning to kidnap a Miami jeweler and rob him of his cryptocurrency.
Francis “Gosh” Eiseb, 58, was a senior protection officer for Namib Desert Diamonds, also known as Namdia, in Windhoek, Namibia.
The second annual learning forum for retailers is slated for March 13 at City Winery in Pier 57 in New York City.
A Diamond is Forever hosted a holiday celebration in honor of their new marketing campaign, ‘Forever Present.’
Roy Safit took over the role on Jan. 1.
Sherry Smith shares data on the year gone by, including the breakdown between natural and lab-grown diamond sales.
The company also is matching donations made to Jewelers of America and the Diamond Council of America’s Jewelers Relief Fund.
Now in its fourth year, the program is expanding to include a list of “20 Under 40” for jewelry suppliers.
Core retail sales during the 2024 holiday season surpassed the National Retail Federation’s forecast.
The “Reach for Life” collection uses feather and arrow motifs to invite growth and inner curiosity.
Peter Smith pulls back the curtain on the often misinterpreted, and sometimes maligned, world of sales training.
Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year takes the form of jewelry through gemstones and enamel that look just as delicious as mocha mousse.
Julia Hackman Chafé and Monica Elias have joined the organization’s board of directors.
The company, which owns Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, had a record Q3, with sales topping $6 billion.
The necklace features a sapphire drop weighing more than 9 carats that detaches to transform into a ring.
Jameel Mohammed, founder of Afrofuturist brand Khiry, will receive a cash prize and a one-year paid fellowship with Tiffany & Co.
The 127-year-old jeweler is planning to open a new store in Mystic, Connecticut.
The watches’ dials feature artwork celebrating the vibrant energy and unique landscapes of six of America’s national parks.
Offered by U.K. auction house Woolley & Wallis, the yellow diamond bracelet was a gift from Taylor’s good friend Michael Jackson.
The jewelry trade show returns to The Venetian Expo and The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas from June 6 to 9.
Associate Editor Natalie Francisco highlights her favorite fashion jewelry pieces from the upcoming “Unapologetically Iris” auction.
The closures are part of the retailer’s plan to close 150 locations over a three-year period.
The online guide is available for free and written with the jewelry industry in mind.