Gem Diamonds revenue jumps on high-value stone gains

Gem Diamonds Ltd reported an 80 percent jump in first-half revenue on Wednesday as it recovered a record number of large, high-value diamonds and the average price per carat climbed.

Total pre-tax profit for the company, which operates the Letseng mine in the southern African kingdom of Lesotho, surged to $64.8 million (£50.38 million) in the first half from $2.3 million a year earlier.

Revenue jumped to $167.7 million in the six months ended June 30 from $92.9 million in the year-earlier period.

Gem Diamonds said average prices jumped 54.1 percent year-on-year to $2,742 per carat for diamonds mined out of the Letseng mine.

The mine recovered 10 diamonds greater than 100 carats, setting a record, Gem Diamonds said, as the company undertook measures last year to unlock additional value at the mine.