From Mine to Market, Victor Mine Goods Polished and Sold in Ontario

Starting Monday, consumers stopping at Birks’ flagship store in Toronto can buy a diamond that was mined in Ontario, polished in Ontario and sold in Ontario. They are loose diamonds from De Beers’ Victor mine polished by Sightholder HRA-SunDiamond, etched with a unique identification number by the government of Ontario testifying to its authenticity.

Birks unveiled the first 131 diamonds certified by the government of Ontario, Canada, at a private event at the Birks Toronto flagship store. This is the first time that diamonds will complete the journey from the mine to the consumer within the Province of Ontario.

The diamonds have been cut and polished at Crossworks Manufacturing Ltd., part of the HRA-SunDiamond group that is one of three Canadian DTC Sightholders.

The Ontario-certified diamonds will only be available for purchase at the Birks Toronto flagship store and sold as loose diamonds. Clients will have the opportunity to mount them using platinum or Sustainable Canadian Gold etched with the maple leaf logo and “BIRKS 750.”

Each Ontario-certified diamond comes with a certificate from the government of Ontario, indicating the diamond number, which is also etched in the diamond itself. Each diamond will also come with a Birks Diamond Certificate and laser engraving on the girdle with a maple leaf – visible with 10x power magnification.

In April 2009, HRA- SunDiamond’s Crossworks Manufacturing was granted a local beneficiation allocation from De Beers Canada Victor mine. This entitles them to a 10 percent allocation from the mine estimated at $25 million.

The allocation is in line with an agreement signed with Ontario’s Ministry of Northern Development and Mines in July 2008 to expand the province’s diamond industry.

Crossworks also received exclusivity in marketing the goods. The diamonds are not run of mine, but rather rough diamonds that are economically fit for manufacturing in Canada.