Inaugural ruby and corundum auction results

Gemfields plc

("Gemfields" or the "Company")

Gemfields plc (AIM: GEM) is pleased to announce the results of its inaugural auction of rough ruby and corundum. The auction was held in Singapore from 12 to 17 June, 2014 and comprised high and low quality ruby and corundum extracted by Montepuez Ruby Mining Limitada (in which Gemfields has a 75% interest) from the Montepuez ruby deposit in Mozambique.

Highlights

· Total auction revenues of USD 33.5 million;

· Average realised price of USD 18.43 per carat;

· Of the 2.03 million carats offered, 1.82 million carats were sold (representing 90% by weight);

· Of the 62 lots offered, 57 were sold (representing approximately 91% of the market value of the lots offered);

· Cumulative costs incurred at Montepuez to date (including acquisition cost, capital expenditure and operating costs) stand at approximately USD 34 million in total;

· The availability of rough ruby and corundum via Gemfields' highly regarded auction platform generated considerable market excitement, underpinning robust demand among the client base; and

· Gemfields' aggregate consolidated revenues from rough gemstone sales for the financial year ending 30 June 2014 now exceed USD 143 million.

A total of 55 companies placed bids during the auction, a record for any Gemfields auction. The auction saw 2.03 million carats of ruby and corundum placed on offer, with 1.82 million carats being sold, generating auction revenues of USD 33.5 million.

The auction yielded an overall average value of USD 18.43 per carat sold.

The auction results are summarised below:

A considerable number of auction participants were attending a Gemfields auction for the first time, with markedly positive feedback received. Most first-time attendees were from or closely associated with Thailand, which has a deep and long-standing relationship with the ruby trade. Significantly, buyers from various other countries including the USA, India, Germany and Israel, many of whom have previously attended Gemfields' emerald auctions, featured prominently at the Singapore ruby auction. This cross-pollination of gem buyers across the range of gemstones produced by Gemfields is expected to further the Company's vision for growth and development of the coloured gemstone sector internationally.

Gemfields used the expertise derived from its development of a pioneering and proprietary rough emerald grading system at the Kagem emerald mine to drive the development of a 'first-of-a-kind' comprehensive grading and sorting framework for rough rubies, which was successfully utilised by and received much acclaim from participants attending the auction.

Prior to the auction, Gemfields also investigated and tested various downstream ruby and corundum enhancement processes for lower quality rough material, including heat treatment. These yielded encouraging results, improving the aesthetics of the rough material at a reasonable cost. Consequently, Gemfields offered both untreated and treated material in the lower quality ruby and corundum, with all treated lots being offered using industry-accepted treatment techniques and on a fully disclosed basis.

Gemfields announced the proposed acquisition of a 75% interest in the Montepuez ruby deposit on 8 June 2011. Completion of the acquisition, together with the issuance of 25 year licences, was announced on 27 February 2012. The extraction of ruby and corundum as part of the ongoing bulk sampling program began in November 2012. At 31 March 2014, when Gemfields last provided a quarterly production update, total ruby and corundum extracted at Montepuez since the commencement of bulk sampling stood at 8.2 million carats.

A total of approximately USD 34 million has been spent at Montepuez to date (comprising the acquisition cost as well as all capital expenditure and operating costs since inception). As such, the revenues from the first auction almost match the aggregate expenditures to date.

The next Gemfields auction of rough ruby and corundum is presently expected to take place before 31 December 2014.

Ian Harebottle, CEO of Gemfields, commented:

"We are naturally delighted to announce the stellar results of our first auction of rubies and corundum from Montepuez in Mozambique. Since completing the acquisition of Montepuez - our first ruby deposit - in 2012, we have swiftly brought this greenfield asset into the operational and revenue-generating phases, producing over eight million carats and simultaneously developing a first-of-a-kind, proprietary ruby grading system. The extension of our transparent and well-regarded auction platform into the ruby trade has been very well received by the market, with an expanded customer base now having access to reliably supplied and consistently graded rough emeralds, beryl, rubies and corundum.

Importantly, the proceeds of this auction will be fully repatriated to Mozambique, to Montepuez Ruby Mining Limitada, in which Gemfields owns 75% and with all royalties due to the Government of Mozambique being paid on the full sales price achieved at the auction. We would like to congratulate and thank our 25% partners in Montepuez, as well as our entire team on the ground in Mozambique, for their foresight, dedication and hard-work in reaching this milestone.

We would also like to thank the Mozambican government for its support, particularly in relation to security and the implementation of prudent policies to foster growth and development of the Mozambican coloured gemstone industry. We were pleased that representatives of the Mozambican government were able to visit the auction in Singapore, to witness first-hand what is a landmark achievement for the Mozambican gemstone sector.

Adding the revenues from our maiden ruby auction to those derived during this financial year from rough emerald and beryl sales implies aggregate consolidated revenues (from rough gemstone sales) in excess of USD 143 million, a superb performance of which every member of our devoted and disciplined team should be deservedly proud."

ENQUIRIES:

Notes to Editors:

Gemfields plc is the world's leading supplier of responsibly sourced coloured gemstones and is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange (ticker: GEM), where it is a constituent of the AIM50 index.

Gemfields acquired 75% of the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia in July 2008. Today, Kagem is the world's single largest emerald mine. In July 2009, Gemfields commenced a formal auction programme for Zambian emeralds mined at Kagem. To date, the Company has held 15 auctions of rough emerald and beryl produced from Kagem which have generated revenues totalling USD 260 million. The Company has also held two traded emerald auctions (not obtained directly from the Company's own mining operations) which generated revenue of USD 22.0 million.

The Company completed the acquisition of a 75% stake in the highly prospective Montepuez ruby deposit in Mozambique in February 2012. The inaugural auction in June 2014 of rough ruby and corundum from the deposit yielded revenues of USD 33.5 million.

Gemfields acquired the Fabergé jewellery and luxury brand in January 2013 with a view to creating a globally recognised coloured gemstone champion. Fabergé provides Gemfields with direct control over a high-end luxury goods platform and a global brand with exceptional heritage, driving the positioning of precious coloured gemstones.

In addition, Gemfields owns a 50% interest in the Kariba amethyst mine in Zambia, as well as licences in Madagascar including in respect of ruby, emerald and sapphire deposits.