The middle class is changing its approach to buying jewelry and affordable luxury goods, the NRF said.
153-carat rough diamond being offered at tender
The “exceptional” white stone is part of Fusion Alternatives/I. Hennig’s latest sale of rough diamonds from the Kao Mine in Lesotho.

London--Fusion Alternatives and diamond brokerage firm I. Hennig are holding a tender this month that includes an “exceptional” 153.66-carat white diamond recently recovered from the Kao Mine in Lesotho.
Also included in the sale, which is comprised entirely of Kao rough, are a 16.94-carat fancy yellow and a 13.32-carat fancy pink.
There will be special viewings of the diamonds in New York, Ramat Gan and Antwerp, with the tender closing on Aug. 27. Viewing appointments are limited but can be requested by emailing appts@fusionalternatives.com.
Storm Mountain Diamonds operates the Kao mine, which is located in Lesotho, a small kingdom encircled by South Africa. Storm Mountain is a 62.5 percent owned subsidiary of Namakwa Diamonds, which has other mining operations in South Africa as well as off the coast of Namibia.
Fusion and I. Henning & Co. Ltd. have been in charge of jointly handling the rough diamond tenders for Kao since 2012.
In commenting on this latest tender, Fusion Alternatives CEO David Kuchler said that the Kao is “building a reputation for the recovery of world-class magnificent stones,” including the 36.06-carat, Type IIa “Pink Storm” diamond that sold for $15.36 million at the Fusion/I. Henning tender held in Antwerp in January 2014.
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