Pink Diamonds
Argyle Pink Diamonds are beyond rare. As a child I remember walking past Argyle stand of the Brisbane world Expo 1988 and it stopped me in my tracks. I was intrigued and little did I know it may have been the trigger for me to start on the road to become a goldsmith. I have enjoyed drawing since a child and had the pleasure of creating 1000’s of pieces of jewellery featuring pink diamonds. They still are my favourite stones to work with. To create a piece of jewellery that brings pleasure to their owners whilst also being an investment to them is truly rewarding.
Majority of the pink diamonds are mined at Argyle Mine in Western Australia North East Kimberley region. Admired by many but worn by so few there is a reason behind why you won’t see these most precious of gems worn in masses. Pink Diamonds are one of the rarest gemstones found, accounting for less than 0.01% of Argyles total diamond production annually. In fact, the amount of production stones per year weighing over half a carat would easily fit in the palm of your hand. The rarity of these gems alone has investors and collectors rushing to claim their own piece of what is already considered a dwindling supply and with reports that the mine has not many years of production left, the demand and price are climbing. The Australian mine lays claim to the highest quality pink diamonds, whilst those found elsewhere literally pale in comparison.
Unlike white diamonds which are prized for their lack of colour, pink diamonds are scored on their presence of hue. An internationally recognized grading system introduced by Argyle in the 80’s grades the diamonds on a 1-9 scale. 1P being the most intense, through to 9P, with just a hint of pink. Other off shoots from this are the PP scale, for purple pink colour, and RP for Rose Pink colour. Pink Champagne diamonds are described on a shorter scale PC1-through PC3 and have a dusty rose blush to them. Highly prized red diamonds are in a grading league of their own and are described simply as ‘RED’.
You don’t know the beauty of a pink diamond until you see one, the flash of colour, the way it ‘blushes’, the amazing play of light. So, if you ever do come across one, bask in the moment, as the chance to see these most precious gems will be gone all too soon. We stock a range of pink diamonds at the store so feel free to pop in and see their beauty with your own eyes.
Coloured Diamonds
The Australian mine is not only known for their production of pinks, but also of natural coloured diamonds. Fancy colour diamonds come in almost any colour you can imagine. Red, green, purple, and orange are generally the rarest, followed by pink and blue. You can also find black, greys and fancy whites.
Champagne and Cognacs are the most commonly found, followed by Yellow diamonds ranging from light cape to strong canary colours.
Coloured diamonds don’t have a similar colour scale than the colourless diamonds. The stronger the colour in these gems the rarer and more valuable and obviously the bigger the stone the more expensive it is. Colour hides inclusions so clarity is not as important when choosing the diamond. Usually they are cut to enhance the beautiful colour.
