Gaborone: De Beers sold rough diamonds with a provisional value of $455 million in the ninth sales cycle (Global Sightholder Sales and Auction Sales) of 2017, with the miner reporting a rise in demand ahead of the holiday season.

Bruce Cleaver, CEO, De Beers Group, said, “Following a seasonally quieter period for rough diamond sales, Cycle 9 saw an uptick in demand from our customers as retail orders increase ahead of the Christmas season.”

The miner offered fewer diamonds for sale due to Jewish holidays and the Diwali festival at the previous sight where $376 million of goods were sold.

The latest figure compares with $476 million in the year-earlier sale.