Press Release
Dana’s Goldsmithing is proud to be one of the select Authorized Retailers to carry Victor Diamonds in the world.
The Victor Mine is operated by De Beers Canada and is Ontario’s fi rst diamond mine. De Beers Canada has opened this unique mine that has one of the highest average grade of rough diamonds in the world. Discovered over 20 years ago, the Victor Mine only came into operation in late 2008 and became the fourth diamond mine in Canada.
Through an agreement between De Beers Canada and the Government of Ontario, 10% of the rough diamonds from the Victor Mine are made available to Crossworks Manfuacturing Ltd., a member of the HRA Group of Companies. In order to receive the 10% allocation from Victor, Crossworks established a factory in Sudbury, Ontario where all the diamonds are cut and polished to the exacting standards of luxury jewellery retailers. is unique situation has lead Crossworks to be the only company in the world who can off er diamonds that are mined, cut and polished in Ontario.
The concept of buying local is of growing importance in the world and the Victor Diamond allows the consumer to purchase exquisite diamonds whose pedigree can be detailed from the square kilometer of its birth through the polishing process to the final jewellery piece itself. This direct access to diamonds of great rarity provides Authorized Retailers the opportunity to celebrate the success of Ontario’s first diamond mine and the development of the secondary industry in the province.
Each Victor Diamond is accompanied with a Certifi cate of Origin provided by the Government of Ontario and a grading document from either the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the AGS Laboratories. These offer the consumer the highest level of assurance of both the quality of the diamond and the guarantee of it origin.
Facts:
Victor Mine Overview
The Victor Mine is located in the James Bay Lowlands of Northern Ontario, approximately 90 km west of the coastal community of Attawapiskat First Nation. It is Ontario’s fi rst diamond mine and the second in Canada for De Beers.
The Victor Mine is a anopen-pit mine and is one of 18 kimberlite pipes discovered on the property, 16 of which are diamondiferous.
Construction of the Victor Mine began in February 2006 after receiving all necessary approvals from provincial and federal governments.
Approximately $1 billion was spent on construction of the mine, with approximately C$167 million spent with Aboriginal businesses or joint venture partners. It is also estimated that De Beers will contribute C$6.7 billion cumulative GDP impact for all of Ontario during the life of the Victor Mine.
The Victor Mine reached commercial production in 2008 (six months ahead of schedule) and the Offi cial Mine Opening took place in July 2008.
In October 2009, the Victor Mine was voted “Mine of the Year” by the readers of the international trade publication Mining Magazine.
De Beers is committed to sustainable development in local communities The Victor Mine has signed four community agreements for the Victor Mine including: • an IBA with the Attawapiskat First Nation (November 2005), • a Working Relationship Agreement with the Taykwa Tagamou Nation (May 2005), • an IBA with Moose Cree First Nation (September 2008) and an IBA with Kashechewan and Fort Albany First Nation (February 2009)
Crossworks Manufacturing Overview
Crossworks Manufacturing Ltd., a member of the HRA-SunDiamond Group of Companies, operates three diamond polishing facilities in Canada, located in Sudbury, Yellowknife and Vancouver. Crossworks purchases rough diamonds from the mines located in Canada through agreements with the Diamond Trading Company (D.T.C.) and Rio Tinto Diamonds.
In 2009, Crossworks began polishing an allocation from the Victor Mine in Ontario through an exclusive agreement with the Government of Ontario and the D.T.C. that makes it the only company in the world to provide diamonds that are Mined, Cut and Polished in Ontario. Currently, the Group is the largest manufacturerof branded Canadian diamonds in the world with distribution throughout North America, Europe and Asia.
The Group is involved in developing the secondary diamond industry in Ontario through being involved in: • Scholarships for the Jewellery and Metals Programme at Georgian College in Barrie. • Founding member of the Diamond Bourse of Canada. • Establishing the largest diamond polishing facility in Canada with over 30 employees.
