De Beers has invited a delegation of Australian diamond jewelers to visit the Jwaneng diamond mine that it co-owns with the Botswana government. Jwaneng, located in south-central Botswana is the richest diamond mine in the world.

Select members of Australian-based Nationwide Jewellers—the largest independent jewelry buying group in the Southern Hemisphere representing over 500 independent jewelers—will be given the opportunity to visit Botswana’s Jwaneng diamond mine in October and the chance to inspect the center of the mine.

“…This is a unique opportunity to follow the path of diamonds from the mine, to the rough sorting facility and then to the cutting factory,” said Barry Jackson, Director of Nationwide Jewellers.

The guests will also visit the Diamond Trading Company (DTC) rough sorting facility and a ‘Hearts and Arrows’ cutting factory. The tours will help the delegates gain more knowledge about the industry and put them among the few honor of being among the very few members in the diamond industry to ever tour an actual diamond mine.

“People who have been in the diamond industry for many years have not actually seen where diamonds come from, or experienced the full ‘mine to finger’ journey,” said James Maxwell, managing director at Tolkowsky—a Belgian luxury diamond brand with offices around the world and a partner of Nationwide Jewellers.

De Beers has not traditionally opened its diamond mines to retailers, as security requirements for visitations are very high and has not announced any specifics regarding the visitations.

“All visitors are pre-screened, and all belongings are surrendered at reception…. specific footwear is also provided, to prevent any diamond bearing material leaving accidentally.”
said Maxwell.