July 5, 2011 - Northwest Territories (NWT) Diamonds will serve to commemorate the 2011 visit of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to the NWT and Canada.  In Yellowknife, this afternoon, NWT Premier Floyd K. Roland presented the Royal couple with northern-mined diamonds on behalf of the Territory and its people. 

For His Royal Highness, a set of diamond pave cufflinks modelled on the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT)’s official polar bear logo.  The official gift to Her Royal Highness was a diamond pave brooch – also in the shape of the North’s iconic polar bear. Both of the Territory’s official gifts are made of diamonds mined at the Diavik Diamond Mine donated and designed by Harry Winston Inc.

“These gifts convey the wealth of respect and affection that we hold for the Royal couple,” Premier Roland says.  “Northwest Territories diamonds are among the world’s best - prized for their distinctiveness and value, they represent the ongoing richness of our land – bridging the traditional lifestyles of our past and the brilliant future that we have as northern Canadians.

"It is an honour to provide these gifts that combine Harry Winston design and craftsmanship with the natural beauty of Northwest Territories diamonds," Robert Gannicott, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Harry Winston says.

The diamond is the official gem stone of the Northwest Territories.  Nearly 80 million carats of gem quality diamonds have been mined in the NWT, worth an estimated $11.4 billion Canadian.  With its fourth mine in development, the NWT already produces 15% of the world’s rough diamonds positioning Canada as the world’s third-largest diamond producer by value after Botswana and Russia.

Harry Winston Diamond Corporation is a Canadian company with a 40% interest in Diavik Diamond Mine Inc., Canada’s largest diamond mine.  Diavik diamonds are highly regarded in the international commercial marketplace.  With guaranteed authenticity of origin, most are one carat or larger, white in color and have good clarity. Diavik’s exceptional grades make it one of the most valuable and profitable diamond mines in the world.

Harry Winston Inc., the Company's luxury brand division, is a premier diamond jeweller and retailer of luxury timepieces, with a growing international network of sales salons in major cities around the world.

For more information or photos of the jewellery please contact:

Megan Holsapple
Senior Communications Advisor
Department of Executive
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: 867-920-3498

Meredith Keller
Director of Public Relations
Harry Winston, Inc.
Tel: 212-245-2000
Email: mkeller@harrywinston.com