Argyle Diamonds are pink diamonds mined in the Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia. The Argyle mine is one of the world's largest sources of natural diamonds, particularly of the pink variant. In this account, we tell you everything you need to know about Argyle Diamonds including their history, colours, rarity, value, and sustainability.
Argyle Diamonds | Pink Diamonds
- The History Of Argyle Diamonds
- The Colours Of Argyle Diamonds
- The Rarity Of Argyle Diamonds
- Argyle Diamonds Sustainability
- Australian Diamonds
- Argyle Diamond Alternatives | Pink Lab-Grown Diamonds
The History Of Argyle Diamonds
The infamous Argyle Diamond mine is situated in a remote part of Western Australia’s Kimberley region. The history of the Argyle mine is perhaps the most ground-breaking discovery on Australian soil, producing more than 875 million carats of rough diamonds in its 37 years of operation and placing Australia 4th on the world scale for the biggest diamond-producing country in the world.
The Argyle diamond mine is most famous for its pink and red diamonds, which are among the rarest and most valuable types of diamonds in the world. The mine also produced a range of other diamonds, including white, champagne, and cognac diamonds, but it’s the pink variant known as the Argyle diamond that remains the most renowned.
In 1996, the Argyle Pink Jubilee diamond was discovered, which is one of the largest pink diamonds ever found. The diamond weighed 12.76 carats and was sold for a record price of over $10 million.
In the year 2020, Rio Tinto; the company responsible for mining the Argyle site in Australia, announced that it would be closing the Argyle mine due to the depletion of the diamond supply. The company held its final diamond tender in November 2020, which included a collection of pink, red, and blue diamonds; all of which received record-breaking results.
For over 3 decades, the Argyle mine has been a major source of rare, coloured diamonds to the world, and the closure of the site has marked the end of an era for the diamond industry. Despite its cease of operations though, the legacy of Argyle diamonds lives on in the exquisite jewellery and precious gems that have been created in its wake.
The Colours Of Argyle Diamonds
Argyle Diamonds come in a wide range of colours that are predominantly of pink varieties and are separated into categories by their unique attributes. There are four main categories of argyle diamonds, Purplish Pink (PP), Pink (P), Pink Rose (PR), and Pink Champagne (PC). Then there are the rare varieties of argyle diamonds that include blue violet and red. Once the diamonds are placed into a category they are then graded for their colour intensity which is determined by measuring the diamonds hue, saturation, and tone.
If you’ve ever wondered how argyle diamonds get their unique pink colour sets it's all due to nature. Diamonds are composed of carbon atoms arranged in a specific crystal-like structure. When diamonds develop, certain conditions they are exposed to such as high pressure, temperature, and their chemical environment can interfere with the carbon atoms’ molecular structure resulting in coloured distortions. In the case of pink diamonds, these coloured distortions are caused by the presence of trace elements in their crystal lattice.
It’s important to note that not all diamonds with a pink hue are classified as "Argyle pink diamonds," as the term specifically refers to diamonds that are mined from the Argyle mine and meet certain criteria in terms of colour intensity and consistency.
Get The Look | Pink Diamonds
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The Rarity Of Argyle Diamonds
The most valuable and rare of all Argyle Diamonds are the pink and red diamonds. These diamonds account for less than 0.1% of the mine's total production but they are by far the most coveted. The diamond-bearing rocks found in the Argyle mine are over 1.5 billion years old and of the 110 acres of land the mine occupies, the diamond deposits unearthed there have accounted for 90% of the world’s total diamond supply.
Of the total mined diamonds in the Argyle mine, the pink diamond deposits found there were relatively small, but their exceptional quality and intense colour sets that included pink, red, and blue are some of the rarest diamond colours in existence.
Today Argyle diamonds are in limited supply following the closing of the Argyle diamond mine, making Argyle diamonds even rarer. As a result, the value of Argyle diamonds is expected to increase significantly in the coming years.
Argyle Diamonds Sustainability
While diamond mining has historically been associated with negative environmental and social impacts, Rio Tinto, the multinational mining company behind the Argyle mine, transformed its practices to include sustainability in its footprint.
Rio Tinto implemented a comprehensive environmental management plan that included measures to minimize water consumption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect local wildlife and vegetation with the use of rainwater for its operations and the implementation of reforestation programs to restore local ecosystems.
The company invested in social programs that supported local communities, including education and healthcare initiatives, and established a trust fund to provide ongoing support for the social and economic development of the East Kimberley region. They also implemented initiatives that supported ethical labour standards and supply chain transparency and were certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council for compliance with high standards for responsible business practices.
Following the closure of the Argyle Mine in November 2020, Rio Tinto implemented its action plan to respectfully close and revitalise the site and return the land to its traditional custodians.
Australian Diamonds
Australia is the world's third-largest producer of diamonds by volume and value after Russia and Botswana thanks to the Argyle Diamond Mine. Australian diamonds are known for their high quality and are often used in engagement rings and other fine jewellery. Australian diamonds come in a wide range of colours, including white, pink, yellow, and brown. The Australian diamond industry is highly regulated and adheres to strict ethical and environmental standards. The Australian Diamond Grading Laboratory is the country's leading diamond certification authority and is responsible for grading and certifying the quality of Australian diamonds. Australian diamonds are highly sought after by collectors and investors, considered to be rare and valuable commodities.
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The Argyle mine was Australia’s largest producer of diamonds producing predominantly brown diamonds but also pink diamonds including the famed Argyle Pink Jubilee diamond. Apart from the Argyle mine, Australia has other diamond mining sites that have produced and continue to produce quality diamonds for the world.
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Ellendale Diamond Mine
The Ellendale diamond mine resides in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia; the Ellendale Diamond Mine was one of the world's leading producers of yellow diamonds before it closed in 2015.
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Smoke Creek Diamond Mine
The Smoke Creed Diamond Mine is in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, the Smoke Creek Diamond Mine is a small-scale diamond mine that produces high-quality white diamonds.
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Merlin Diamond Mine
The Merlin Diamond Mine can be found in the Northern Territory, the Merlin Diamond Mine is known for producing large, high-quality diamonds, including a 104.73-carat diamond that was discovered in 2013.
The Brooking Diamond Project
Located in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia, the Brooking Diamond Project is a new diamond exploration project that is currently in the early stages of development.
Argyle Diamond Alternatives | Pink Lab-Grown Diamonds
The closing of the Argyle diamond mine has certainly caused a stir in the diamond industry. The Argyle diamonds that are currently in circulation are not only spectacular pink diamonds, but they are valuable commodities and excellent investments. The sad reality is that Argyle diamonds are in limited supply now more than ever, but the demand for these phenomenal diamonds will only continue to grow.
To keep up with the global demand for pink diamonds, the diamond industry has shifted its focus to pink lab-grown diamonds, which are made of the same natural components as argyle diamonds but in a lab-controlled environment.
Lab-grown diamonds are produced using two different processes: high pressure/high temperature (HPHT) and chemical vapour deposition (CVD). Both methods create diamonds that are identical to natural diamonds in terms of their chemical and physical properties, but with the advantage of being more environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and typically more affordable than their mined counterparts.
The pink colour in lab-grown diamonds can be achieved through a process called irradiation, which exposes the diamond to radiation, or by adding trace elements during the growth process. Pink lab-grown diamonds can come in various shades ranging from light pink to intense vivid pink. They are increasingly becoming a popular choice for engagement rings, jewellery, and other decorative applications ad alternates to argyle diamonds.
Apart from pink lab-grown diamonds, there are many sources of diamonds other than the Argyle mine, including mines in Canada, Russia, and Africa. While these diamonds may not have the same pink and red hues as Argyle diamonds, they can still be of high quality and beauty.
Luminesce pink lab-grown diamonds
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