DIAMONDS
De Beers Sky Park streamlines diamond sorting, valuation
Since its opening in March 2023, the Sky Park facility of De Beers Sightholder Sales South Africa (DBSSSA) has honed the efficiency, safety and sustainability of its rough diamond Sorting, Valuation and Sales.
An employee analysing large rough diamonds with a microscope and other technology in GSS, Gaborone, Botswana.
L ocated conveniently close to OR Tambo production and the sales office for supplying rough diamonds to South Africa-based diamond cutting and polishing customers. The operations combine proprietary technology, specialist expertise and rigorous controls to move rough diamonds securely from production through to global markets. According to Blanche Louw, Senior Operations Manager at DBSSSA, the building’s design is underpinned by a clear production logic. This allows each stage of the diamond’s journey to take place in a controlled, access-restricted environment – with reconciliation checkpoints built into every part of the process. Louw is responsible for overseeing the entire path of diamonds through the facility. “Our operation is meticulously sequenced international airport east of Johannesburg, the facility serves as the central processing hub for De Beers’ South African rough diamond
– moving diamonds through the cleaning zones and immediately into valuation and technical sorting areas,” she says. “The layout of the building is specifically designed to bring optimal efficiencies into our processes.” Activities at Sky Park assess the four key elements of a diamond’s value: carat weight reflecting the mass or size of the diamond; clarity from the presence or absence of internal inclusions and external blemishes; the colour of the diamond; and the cut which assesses the cutting opportunities presented by the diamond’s shape. Diamonds arrive at Sky Park under controlled custody, typically still carrying residue from the mining process, and are weighed and registered. The first stop is the Central Cleaning Plant (CCP) where diamonds are prepared to meet stringent standards for valuation and export. Louw notes De Beers has focused on minimising safety risks while maintaining effectiveness in its diamond cleaning activities.
Blanche Louw, Senior Operations Manager at De Beers Sightholder Sales South Africa.
12 MODERN MINING www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | JUNE 2026
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