Botswana diamonds fly off Chinese shelves

Swana diamonds are handmade by Batswana polishers employed by Dalumi Diamonds at Nkoyaphiri Industrial Estate and feature 89 facets or reflective flat faces as opposed to the usual 57 cut into most stones. The higher number of facets means Swana diamonds boast exceptional sparkle, brilliance and glitter and fetch a higher price than their peers. Despite the higher price, Swana diamonds flew off shelves at Sichuan Aixin Jewellery chain shops in the Chinese province during the 2011 Golden Week from October 1 to 7. Sichuan Aixin is the sole distributor of Swana stones in the province of over 90 million people, the fourth most populous in the Oriental giant.

Said Aixin Group President, Xiong Bao Xing, in an interview in Gaborone last week: "The Swana diamonds sold out on October 1, while by comparison only a third of the other regular 57-facet stones were sold during the Golden Week in Sianchu.