SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The owner of the former Laurelton Diamonds polishing plant on Diamond Row has sold the building and while the buyer remains undisclosed, one sign points to a New York City-based diamond wholesaler named Esskay Gems.

Tiffany and Company - whose subsidiary, Laurelton Diamonds, closed its doors and laid off 25 employees early this year - completed the sale of the plant last summer but would not say who bought the building.

"What I will confirm for you is that the sale of it was completed in July, but I can't you give you a company name of who it was sold to," said Linda Buckley, vice-president of publicity for Tiffany and Co. "It would be up to them to say if they wanted to admit or disclose that they had purchased it."

As of Monday, calls to the plant went directly to Esskay Gems.

Esskay Gems did not return calls to Yellowknifer.

"I don't know that company name," Buckley said when asked about Esskay. "I don't know any of that information. I don't know who they are."

According to Esskay Gems' website, the company, which sells both graded and ungraded diamonds, has been "in business for more than 50 years," and offers "manufactured high quality goods."

Yellowknife's secondary diamond industry was dealt several blows in the wake of the global economic crisis and reduced demand for diamonds among retailers.

In addition to the closure of Laurelton Diamonds, its neighbour on Diamond Row, Arslanian Cutting Works, laid off 35 staff members early this year. Gradually, Arslanian has rehired several workers.