Rockwell Provides Production Update for Third Quarter of Fiscal 2013 Ending November 31, 2012

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Third quarter operational update:

Volume and carat production for the Company's operational mines for the quarter ended November 31, 2012 was as follows:

Saxendrift Complex and Middle Orange River Prospects:

Tirisano:

Klipdam:

"Our overall throughput and diamond production volumes are consistently tracking closer to expectations, with stable overall diamond production of 5,950 carats for the quarter. We are pleased with the continued performance at the Saxendrift Complex, whose diamond yield increased by 59%, including the Bulk X-ray system that will be key to any future Rockwell mine developments in the region," says James Campbell, CEO, Rockwell Diamonds. "We have taken decisive action to address Tirisano's persistent financial losses, putting our operations at the mine on care and maintenance in order to preserve our cash resources while appropriately planning the way forward. With the initial royalty mining contracts having made a positive contribution to overall production, we are working on additional agreements to extend these revenue streams."

About Rockwell Diamonds:

Rockwell is engaged in the business of operating and developing alluvial diamond deposits, with a goal to become a mid-tier diamond production company. The Company has two operational mines, which it is progressively optimizing, as well as a third mine which will come into production in the first quarter of 2013. Rockwell also has two development projects and a pipeline of earlier stage properties with future development potential. The operations are based on high throughput processing capability and Saxendrift, the flagship mine has among the lowest unit costs in the industry, as a result of implementing fit for purpose technologies.

The Company is known for producing large, high-quality gemstones comprising a major portion of its diamond recoveries. Rockwell's involvement in a beneficiation joint venture enables it to benefit in the profits from the sale of the polished diamonds.

Rockwell also evaluates merger and acquisition opportunities which have the potential to expand its mineral resources and production profile and would provide accretive value to the Company.

No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this news release.

Forward Looking Statements

Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include uncertainties and costs related to exploration and development activities, such as those related to determining whether mineral resources exist on a property; uncertainties related to expected production rates, timing of production and cash and total costs of production and milling; uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary licenses, permits, electricity, surface rights and title for development projects; operating and technical difficulties in connection with mining development activities; uncertainties related to the accuracy of our mineral resource estimates and our estimates of future production and future cash and total costs of production and diminishing quantities or grades if mineral resources; uncertainties related to unexpected judicial or regulatory procedures or changes in, and the effects of, the laws, regulations and government policies affecting our mining operations; changes in general economic conditions, the financial markets and the demand and market price for mineral commodities such as diesel fuel, steel, concrete, electricity, and other forms of energy, mining equipment, and fluctuations in exchange rates, particularly with respect to the value of the US dollar, Canadian dollar and South African Rand; changes in accounting policies and methods that we use to report our financial condition, including uncertainties associated with critical accounting assumptions and estimates; environmental issues and liabilities associated with mining and processing; geopolitical uncertainty and political and economic instability in countries in which we operate; and labour strikes, work stoppages, or other interruptions to, or difficulties in, the employment of labour in markets in which we operate our mines, or environmental hazards, industrial accidents or other events or occurrences, including third party interference that interrupt operation of our mines or development projects.

For further information on Rockwell, Investors should review Rockwell's home jurisdiction filings that are available at http://www.sedar.com. 

For further information:

For further information on Rockwell and its operations in South Africa, please contact

James Campbell 
CEO
+27(0)83-457-3724

Stéphanie Leclercq 
Investor Relations
+27(0)83-307-7587