TORONTO, May 4 /CNW/ - Harry Winston Diamond Corporation (TSX: HW, NYSE:

HWD) (the "Company") is pleased to provide an update to the Diavik Diamond

Mine plan as a result of a revised budget for calendar 2009 that was recently

approved by both Rio Tinto plc, the operator of the Diavik Diamond Mine, and

the Company. The updated plan incorporates various production options that

will enable the operation to adapt to changes in the diamond market. The plan

allows for changes to carat production by varying the mix of ore that comes

from the A-418 kimberlite pipe and the higher grade A-154 South pit. The base

plan for calendar year 2009 foresees Diavik production of 5.4 million carats

from the processing of 1.3 million tonnes of ore, and contemplates two 6-week

shutdown periods in mid-summer and at year-end. A new mining technique is

under consideration for the potential mining of the A-21 resource and

exploration work has identified extensions at depth to the A-418 and A-154

North kimberlite pipes.

Production

In calendar 2009, it is estimated that 1.3 million tonnes of open pit ore

will be mined, the majority of which will come from the A-418 kimberlite pipe,

with the remaining production coming from the A-154 South open pit. However,

if market conditions improve, additional carats can be produced by shifting

the mix of ore from A-418 to the higher grade A-154 South. Total carat

production is expected to be between 5 and 6 million carats on a 100% basis.

In calendar 2010, the A-418 kimberlite open pit is expected to be the

primary ore source supplemented by A-154 South, where open pit mining is

planned to be complete by the second quarter. Total open pit ore mined is

expected to be 1.5 million tonnes. In addition, underground mining is

scheduled to commence on a limited scale with approximately 0.5 million tonnes

of ore during the year, sourced mainly from the A-154 North pipe.

In calendar 2011, underground mining is expected to ramp up to 0.9

million tonnes a year, principally from the A-154 North and South pipes.

Production from the A-418 open pit is expected to peak at 1.5 million tonnes

as the strip ratio is reduced during the later phases of open pit mining.

In the absence of production from A-21, calendar 2012 is expected to be

the final year of open pit mining. An amended pit plan for A-418 is expected

to allow the open pit depth to be extended by 10 meters to 9200 elevation,

reallocating 240,000 tonnes of A-418 ore from underground to open pit for a

total of 0.3 million tonnes from open pit in calendar 2012. Underground mining

in 2012 is expected to reach approximately 1.0 million tonnes.

By 2013, underground mining is expected to reach its ongoing capacity of

1.5 million tonnes a year with a blend of ore from A-154 North, A-154 South,

and A-418. Additional production capacity beyond 1.5 million tonnes a year or

to extend production beyond 2022 will be dependent on, among other things,

bringing resources and exploratory tonnages in to reserves.

Cost of Sales

The summer and winter production shutdowns are planned to last six weeks

each, during which time diamond production will temporarily cease and the mine

will be placed on a short-term care and maintenance schedule. The summer

shutdown is scheduled for July 14, 2009 to August 24, 2009 inclusive and would

reduce goods available for sale by the Company in the third quarter of fiscal

2010.

The winter shutdown is scheduled for December 1, 2009 to January 11, 2010

inclusive, and can be reversed at short notice should market conditions

improve. If this shutdown were to go ahead it would reduce availability of

goods for sale in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.

Cost of sales for the mining segment for fiscal 2009 included proceeds of

an insurance settlement related to a Diavik Diamond Mine shovel fire and

significant costs attributable to development activity versus production

activity during the A-418 pre-production period. After adjusting for these

factors, the Company expects cost of sales for the mining segment to increase

in fiscal 2010 by an estimated 10% to approximately $185 million. The 10%

increase is due in part to year-end operating costs that would normally be

carried over as cost of sales in the next fiscal year being expensed in the

current year due to the planned winter shutdown, and costs associated with

unsold inventory at the end of fiscal 2009.

The expected increase in cost of sales for fiscal 2010 is specific to the

Company's mining segment and is not indicative of the trend in operating costs

at the Diavik Diamond Mine. On a Canadian dollar basis cash operating costs at

the mine are expected to be slightly lower in calendar 2009 compared with

calendar 2008.

Capital Expenditures

During the next three years, the Company's portion of the planned capital

expenditure is expected to be approximately U.S.$130 million at an assumed

Canadian/US dollar average exchange rate of Canadian $1.00 = U.S.$0.86. The

Company's portion of capital expenditure for the fiscal year ending January,

31, 2010 is expected to be U.S.$47 million at an assumed Canadian/US dollar

average exchange rate of Canadian $1.00 = U.S.$0.85, the majority of which is

related to underground development.

By August 2009, the underground development is expected to be at a stage

when limited production could commence, although further development work that

will allow for optimum production levels by use of different mining methods

will be deferred until calendar 2010 and 2011. The Company expects to

contribute U.S.$53 million over the following two years, assuming a

Canadian/US dollar average exchange rate of Canadian $1.00 = U.S.$0.86, in

support of this stage of underground development. The balance of capital

expenditures during this period represents sustaining requirements.

The Diavik Diamond Mine is one of the highest operating margin diamond

mines in the world. Even in these distressed and uncertain times it delivers a

significant cash margin as a producer of a premium diamond product in a secure

political environment. It has a reserve and resource base to take it well into

a future of improved demand as world economic recovery meets a fundamentally

undersupplied diamond market.

Conference Call and Webcast

Harry Winston Diamond Corporation will host a conference call for

analysts, investors and other interested parties on Tuesday, May 5, beginning

at 10:30AM (EST). Listeners may access a live broadcast of the conference call

on the company's investor relations web site at

http://investor.harrywinston.com or by dialing 800-901-5248 within North

America or 617-786-4512 from international locations and entering passcode

73640767.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information in this news release that is not current or historical

factual information may constitute forward-looking information or statements

within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Implicit in this

information, particularly in respect of statements as to the updated Diavik

Diamond Mine plan, the estimated capital expenditures that will be required to

be made by the Company, the timing and nature of future mining activities and

production levels at the Diavik Diamond Mine or the future operating results

and economic performance of Harry Winston Diamond Corporation, are factors and

assumptions regarding, among other things, mining, production, construction

and exploration activities at the Diavik Diamond Mine, world economic

conditions, projected revenue and expenses, diamond prices, construction

timelines and mine operating plans and budgets, ore grades and the Canadian/US

dollar exchange rate. These assumptions, although considered reasonable by

Harry Winston Diamond Corporation at the time of preparation, may prove to be

incorrect. Forward-looking information is subject to certain factors,

including risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ

materially from what we currently expect. These factors include, among other

things, the uncertain nature of mining and mine development activities, risks

associated with underground construction activities, risks associated with

joint venture operations, risks associated with the remote location of the

Diavik Diamond Mine site, risks associated with regulatory and financing

requirements, fluctuations in diamond prices, changes in world economic

conditions, increased competition from other luxury goods retailers, changes

in consumer preferences and tastes in jewelry, and the risk of continued

fluctuations in the Canadian/US dollar exchange rate.

About Harry Winston Diamond Corporation

Harry Winston Diamond Corporation is a specialist diamond enterprise with

assets in the mining and retail segments of the diamond industry. Harry

Winston supplies rough diamonds to the global market from its 40 per cent

ownership interest in the Diavik Diamond Mine (economic ownership of 31%).

The company's retail division is a premier diamond jeweler and luxury

timepiece retailer with salons in key locations, including New York, Paris,

London, Beijing, Tokyo, and Beverly Hills.

The Company focuses on the two most profitable segments of the diamond

industry, mining and retail, in which its expertise creates shareholder value.

This unique business model provides key competitive advantages; rough diamond

sales and polished diamond purchases provide market intelligence that enhances

the Company's overall performance.

Harry Winston sells its diamonds into the global rough diamond market

following strict corporate governance and chain of custody guidelines.

Harry Winston's policy is to purchase polished diamonds from legitimate

sources that subscribe to an international system of certification and

warranties, known as the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and the System

of Warranties.