At an average elevation of 3,100 metres (10,000 feet) above sea level, Letšeng is also one of the world’s highest diamond mines.
Gem Diamonds’ performance improved significantly in 2020, despite pandemic-related restrictions.
The miner saw sales rise 4% to $189.2 million for the year, with the average price jumping 17% to $1,908 per carat, up from $1,637 per carat achieved in 2019. That outweighed an 11% decline in sales volume to 99,172 carats.
The company sold 34 diamonds for over $1 million each last year.