Gem Diamonds Di Regulatory News (GEMD)

7 December 2017

GEM DIAMONDS LIMITED

("Gem Diamonds" or the "Company")

Board changes

On 31 October 2017 Gem Diamonds (LSE: GEMD) announced that Gavin Beevers would not seek re-election as a Non-Executive Director next year after having served on the Board for almost 11 years and that a replacement would be announced shortly.

Today the Company is pleased to announce that Mike Brown is to replace Gavin who in turn will resign from the Board with effect from 31 December 2017. Mike Brown will join the Board as an independent Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 January 2018.

Mr Brown is currently a Non-Executive Director of Nevada Copper (TSX:NCU) (appointed on 2 December 2013), an Advisor to Pala Investments, a Managing Partner for Palaris in Africa, and has opened his own mining advisory company. He has over 35 years' experience in the resources industry in operational, senior management, and director roles. Mr Brown spent 6 years in Switzerland as the Managing Director Technical at Pala where he oversaw all technical aspects of the investments, including the risks associated with resource performance, project management, ramp up, operations, and the associated working capital and financial controls.

Prior to joining Pala he spent 21 years with De Beers in Southern Africa in various roles culminating in the post of Chief Operating Officer where he was accountable for five operating mines, including greenfield and brownfield growth projects.

Mr Brown was also a Non-Executive Director of Sierra Rutile (AIM: SRX) (14 October 2010 to October 2015) and of Asian Mineral Resources (TSX:ASN) (18 April 2012 to 6 March 2017). He also managed the restructuring at De Beers in 2005/2006 and again in 2009. He has overseen growth projects and building of mines in Namibia, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Vietnam and USA.

No other information in connection with Mr Brown's appointment is required to be disclosed pursuant to LR 9.6.13R

​Chairman Harry Kenyon-Slaney commented:

"I am very pleased that Mike Brown has agreed to join our Board. He will bring wide, deep and very relevant experience to our deliberations and I much look forward to working closely with him in the years ahead.

"It is of course with great sadness that we also say goodbye to Gavin Beevers who has resigned from the Board to facilitate this transition. Gavin has provided tremendous support to both the Board and the wider management team over many years and I would like to thank him for his long service and wish him every success for the future."

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014.

This announcement has been released by Gem Diamonds Investor Relations.

The Gem Diamonds Limited LEI number is 213800RC2PGGMZQG8L67.

For further information:

Gem DiamondsSusan Wallace, Company Secretarial department

ir@gemdiamonds.com

Celicourt Communications

Mark Antelme/Jimmy Lea

Tel: +44 (0) 207 520 9261

About Gem Diamonds:

Gem Diamonds is a leading global diamond producer of high value diamonds. The Company owns 70% of the Letšeng mine in Lesotho and 100% of the Ghaghoo mine in Botswana. The Letšeng mine is famous for the production of large, top colour, exceptional white diamonds, making it the highest dollar per carat kimberlite diamond mine in the world. The Ghaghoo mine in Botswana has been placed on care and maintenance.

www.gemdiamonds.com.