Okavango Blue to go on sale next year

The 20.46 carat blue diamond was unearthed at Debswana’s Orapa Mine in the third quarter of last year and with the third highest purity rating, is expected to fetch millions when it finally goes on sale at auction.

ODC managing director, Marcus ter Haar told BusinessWeek that the ongoing slump in the global diamond sector had stalled the planned sale of the precious stone. He said ODC had undertaken an initial campaign for Okavango Blue and continued it globally on various platforms, focusing on Botswana’s uniqueness and positioning in the diamond world. “With the slight downturn in the industry it didn’t look too prudent to sell it and we have a calendar of marketing events which will see us through to the middle of next year,” ter Haar said. “It is planned to sell it in the first half of next year.” Ter Haar said rather than hunt for private buyers or collectors, ODC was in talks with high profile global auction houses to help offload the Okavango Blue.