Gemstone mining company URA has delayed the first trial sale from its Gravelotte Emerald Mine in Limpopo, South Africa, due to export delays to Thailand.
The auction was initially scheduled for September as part of a larger auction to be conducted by Bonas Group.
URA said about 45,000 carats were exported from South Africa to Bangkok in two batches in preparation for the first trial sale.
The exportation and clearance of one of the two parcels was delayed, resulting in the postponement of the first trial sale.
It said the trial sale would be rescheduled to coincide with the next independent emerald auction.
At that time, an additional quantity of Gravelotte emeralds would be available for sale.
Once the second batch is cleared, both parcels will be securely stored at Bonas's facilities in Bangkok, and the company will continue to add emerald production to the material.
"Despite the delay in the trial sale, we are continuing to produce material from the Gravelotte mine and building our stockpile of material in preparation for our first sale at a later date,” said URA chairperson Ed Nealon.
“We are making good progress with work at the Curlew mine in preparation for the commencement of phased production and will update the market shortly on our progress."
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief, Rough&Polished
