Western Australia’s Argyle mine is well known worldwide for its exceptional coloured diamonds, with its pink diamonds standing out the most.
In its 37 years of operation, the Argyle mine has produced more than 865 million carats of rough diamonds, but pink diamonds accounted for only 1% of all the diamonds mined.
However, the dazzling radiance of Argyle diamonds wasn’t limited to just one hue, the Argyle mine also produced some excellent blue, red, violet, yellow, green, champagne, and of course, white diamonds, in addition to the world’s most beautiful pink diamonds.
When it comes to the colour of diamonds Pink diamonds develop under extreme pressure due to atomic-level alterations within the stone, whereas most other colours found in diamonds, such as blue and yellow, are caused by impurities within the gemstone.
The Argyle Blue diamond is even more elusive than the pink diamond, with rising demand leading to a sharp increase in the price of blue Argyle diamonds. To put the rarity of blue diamonds into context, only one blue diamond was found for every 25 million carats of diamonds mined from the Argyle mine, making it one of the world’s rarest gemstones.
Red Argyle diamonds are considered the rarest of all the colours, since they are so scarce.
Since 1985, the Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia has produced over 90% of the world’s supply of natural pink diamonds. Some of the most outstanding examples of coloured diamonds ever mined from the Argyle were pink, but only a select few were saved, polished, and Argyle certified.
Most of the other 10% of mined and marketed pink diamonds come from other countries like Africa, India, and Brazil, with some pink-purple diamonds from Canada and Russia.
The GIA has conducted significant research into the genetic composition of pink diamonds and has determined that there are only two distinct types of diamonds, Type Ia and Type IIa.
Argyle pink diamonds are nearly always Type Ia, while most other pink diamonds from other countries around the world are often Type IIa.
As a result of the composition of these rare Argyle pink diamonds, they are known to shine with an intense pink vibrance that acts much like a gemmological fingerprint and it’s this intense pink vibrance that sets them apart from other pink diamonds mined from other counties around the world, making it even possible for an experts to identify Argyle diamonds from this mine just by looking at them through a magnification loupe!
The fact that Argyle pink diamonds are so unique in this way, is a significant point, as it is the very reason that makes them valuable as a collectable gemstone.
The pink diamonds mined in Argyle are considered among the highest quality in the world because of their unique, warm colour and are valued primarily for their hue and unique composition. When it comes to diamonds, pink is one of the rarest and most sought-after hues, the more vivid the hue the higher the value.
Due to their great rarity, Argyle certified pink diamonds can cost up to 50 times as much as white diamonds because no other source can compare to the quality found in Argyle pink diamonds.
The value of genuine Argyle certified pink diamonds keeps rising due to their increasing rarity and widespread acclaim.
Since the Argyle mine stopped producing pink diamonds in 2020, a pink diamond from the Australian Argyle diamond mine is therefore considered the ultimate limited edition collectable gemstone due to its deficient supply and rarity.
So while Argyle certified diamonds are considered rare, they are still available as an investment.
General Disclaimer:
Any information provided by Gemrock Investments is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute financial advice, either general or specific. You should assess whether the information is appropriate to your individual financial circumstances before making an investment decision.
Gemrock Investments are not financial advisors. You should always seek professional financial advice from your accountant or financial planner before making major financial decisions.
The information provided has been derived from research and sources believed to be reliable. However, no guarantee is expressed or implied as to their validity. Opinions included herein are subject to change without notice.
All investments involve different degrees of risk and you should be aware of your risk tolerance level and your financial situation at all times.
The gem market is speculative and unregulated and certification does not eliminate all risks associated with the grading of gems.
It is also important to remember that previous growth and returns demonstrated from gemstone investments are not an indicator of future growth nor is it intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any security or gemstone.
Gemrock Investments may also own gemstones in areas they feature or discuss.
Gemrock Investments urges you to obtain professional advice before proceeding with any gemstone investment decision.
