BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

05/03/2008

National Bank of Belarus Earns $773,000 from Polished Diamond Sales

The National Bank of Belarus (NBB) sold 461.06 carats of polished diamonds for approximately $773,000 between mid-December 2007 and March 3, according to NBB spokesperson Mikhail Zhuravovich. A total of 2,663 stones were tendered and sold since December 14.

102 stones, with a total weight of 19.29 carats, were bought by individuals in January. Details for the other months were not provided.

According to BelaPAN, the NBB sells standard round brilliant stones with 57 facets, in weights of .05 to .8 carats. The diamonds can be purchased, either in Belarusian rubles or in foreign cash, from NBB's central branch in Minsk and also in Brest, Homyel, Hrodna, Vitsyebsk and Mahilyow.

Zhuravovich also noted that the NBB recently began tendering fancy Princess diamonds.

From mid-December 2005 to July 2007, the bank sold a total of 1,491 diamonds weighing 259.34 carats, worth a total of $453,000.

Source:

http://www.idexonline.com/portal_FullNews.asp?id=29740

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