Board changes

Gemfields plc

("Gemfields" or the "Company")

Board changes

1 November 2016

Gemfields plc (AIM: GEM) is pleased to announce that, further to the announcement of 18 October 2016, the Company has appointed Janet Boyce to the Board as a Director with immediate effect. The appointment continues in her existing capacity as Chief Financial Officer ("CFO").

Ian Harebottle, CEO, said:

"I am delighted that Janet is joining the Board. She has built a strong track record ever since she joined the Gemfields Group and has a robust insight into the manifold aspects of our business. Her positive, dynamic and thorough approach will further enhance the well-established proficiencies of our experienced and long-standing Board."

Janet Hernandez Blas Boyce, aged 35, is the CFO of Gemfields plc, having joined the Company in August 2013. Janet is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a BS in Accountancy.

Janet is, or has been, a director or partner of the following companies or partnerships during the previous five years:

Current (all are Gemfields plc group entities)

Previous

None

Save as set out above there are no other disclosures in respect of the appointment of Janet Boyce that need to be made under Rule 17 or paragraph (g) of Schedule Two of the AIM Rules for Companies.

ENQUIRIES:

Notes to Editors:

Gemfields plc is the world's leading supplier of responsibly sourced coloured gemstones and is quoted on the AIM division of the London Stock Exchange (ticker: GEM).

Gemfields is the operator and 75% owner of both the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia (believed to be the world's single largest producing emerald mine) and the Montepuez ruby mine in Mozambique (one of the most significant recently discovered ruby deposits in the world). In addition Gemfields also holds a 50% interest in the Kariba amethyst mine in Zambia, as well as controlling interests in various other gemstone mining and prospecting licenses in Zambia, Mozambique, Colombia, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Sri Lanka.

Gemfields' outright ownership of Fabergé - an iconic and prestigious brand of exceptional heritage - enables Gemfields to optimise positioning, perception and consumer awareness of coloured gemstones, advancing the wider group's "mine and market" vision.

Gemfields has developed a proprietary grading system and a pioneering auction and trading platform to provide a consistent supply of quality coloured gemstones to the global downstream markets. This is a key component of the Company's business model which the Directors believe has played an important role in the appropriate distribution and associated resurgence of the global coloured gemstone sector.

www.gemfields.co.uk