~ Pink Diamonds

Argyle Pink Prices Skyrocket

By Gary Roskin, G.G., FGA

JCK-Jewelers Circular Keystone,

1/1/2008The 23rd annual Rio Tinto Diamonds Argyle Pink Diamond Tender held last September in Hong Kong, New York, and Perth, Australia, was, as usual, exciting and unpredictable. Sixty-five diamonds—64 saturated pinks and reds and one violet—were sold to 17 successful bidders at record-breaking prices.Making up the 65 special selections were 28 straight pinks, 28 purplish pinks, four purple pinks, four Fancy Purplish-Reds, and a 0.77 ct. shield-cut Fancy Dark Gray-Violet. Not many exceeded 1.50 cts., and clarities this year were notably lower, with three I₂s, and 19 I₁s.

Colored-diamond suppliers generally were overbid by retailers and collectors for the Fancy Intense, Vivid, and Deep pinks. The collectors, unconcerned with resale value at this point, were able to place bids high enough to guarantee a win.

View Full Article: http://www.jckonline.com/article/CA6516131.html

Pink Fantasy: Sophistication and Piece de Resistance for Gem Connoisseurs.

Solitaire Magazine

Story Joshua Lamothe

Regarded as the ultimate incarnation of youthfulness, femininity and love, pink is the most cherished colour of women across the globe and is often the staple blush in the wardrobes of many well-heeled socialites. It stands to reason therefore that natural fancy pink diamonds are among the most widely desired of all natural colour diamonds.

Encompassing a variety of hues, ranging from subtle shades of faint ‘baby’ pink, to more vivacious flavours of ‘bubblegum’ and ‘raspberry’ observed in intense and vivid pinks, pink diamonds embody an air of sophistication and beauty unmatched by any other gemstone. As an understated accent in a cocktail ring or diamond drop earrings, or as the opulent centrepiece of a statement-making ensemble such as a large pendant, natural colour pink diamonds can be the pièce de resistance for any woman wishing to define her personal style. Like the diamonds themselves, the existence of pink colouration within a diamond is unique. Distinct from their colourful counterparts, such as yellow and blue diamonds, which generally contain trace elements in addition to their primary carbon make-up, a pink diamond’s colour is caused by microscopic imperfections known as graining. This effect of pressure exerted on the diamond rough while deep within the earth.Pink diamonds, like all other natural colour diamonds, often contain additional hues known as secondary colour modifiers. These colours, such as purple, orange or brown, can alter the appearance of the diamond, widening the spectrum of available pink hues, and creating the warm shades of brownish and orangy pinks or the vibrant purplish pinks.Historically, pink diamonds have been unearthed in areas of Asia, Africa and South America and until recently were reserved for the elite. Today, the premier source of natural colour pink diamonds is the Argyle mine in northwestern Australia, which produces 90-95% of world supply. The Argyle mine is famous for generating the deep and vivid pinks that have recently become popular among collectors.

Each year Argyle holds an invitationonly auction known as the ‘Annual Pink Diamond Tender.’ Here, select diamond dealers are given the opportunity to view and place bids on the year’s top production, generating instant buzz and increased accessibility for the sophisticated consumer. For private investors discerning enough to obtain one of these gems, pricing can be gauged on a yearly basis, offering a rare opportunity to track their value over time.

Once selected only for the privileged few and always coveted for their extreme beauty and charm, the natural colour pink diamond has captivated hearts for centuries. While the fashion-savvy will enjoy the attention that comes with donning a miraculous gift of nature, the fiscally savvy will be delighted knowing that their investment in a natural pink diamond will flourish over time. Among those in the know, the lure is undeniable: natural pink diamonds are creating a true passion for pink. S

To read more about gems under this series, click here.

View Original Article: http://www.solitaire.com.sg/magazine/story5.html

What Are The Meanings For Different Color Diamonds

By Yolanda Nash

On the day your handsome prince pops that all important question, it is the beginning of one of the most exciting and romantic periods in your life. The engagement ring he presents to you will be one you wear for many years to come, and you may want something different than the conventional crystal, clear colored diamond. There are diamonds of different hues and each one has a sentiment for giving behind it.

Pink Diamonds for a Creative Lady

If you are a creative and artistic type of person, wearing a pink diamond is a reflection of that aspect of your personality. Of course, you may only get a pink diamond if money is no object. A pink diamond is one of the rarest types in the world and those who purchase them have plenty of money to spend on this valued prize.

Yellow Diamonds for the Selfless Bride

If your fiancé thinks you are one of the most thoughtful and considerate people he knows, he may want to show his appreciation for those qualities by presenting you with a yellow diamond. The yellow diamond celebrates the sweetness of the bride’s personality as well as her willingness to come to the aid of others.

Blue Diamonds for Peace and Good Health

It is said that the groom who purchases a blue diamond for his soon to be bride will be promoting serenity and calm in all of their communication. This may be a lucky charm that keeps you from having a fight that may send you home, crying to your mother. The blue diamond also represents good health for the blushing bride to be.

The Bold and Beautiful Red Diamond

If the groom looks on his future bride as a source of strength and stability, he may consider purchasing an engagement ring that is a beautiful shade of red. It is thought that a red diamond is also a tool to relieve stress, so it can help your emotional and mental health once you begin your journey of life together.

Deciding what color and style of engagement ring may be a daunting task for many prospective grooms. You can drop hints by pointing out the styles and designs you like for an engagement ring. When your groom uses color to make a statement of his love for his new bride, it shows that he too is kind and considerate and is dedicated to showing his new wife just how much she means to him.

If you need some wedding favors such as beach wedding favors, silver wedding favors, coaster favors and more we got you covered.

Also we have a wide variety of bottle stopper favors that will be great for your cocktail hour.

Don’t forget the ladies either purchase them some nice bridesmaid gifts they’ll love.

Article Source:

A Language to Describe Natural Color Diamonds Or A Rose by Any Other Name

 by Alan Bronstein

The structure and design of one universally accepted system for grading natural colored diamonds has been dominated for 30 years as the standard for the gemstone and jewelry industry. It presents communication limitations that often inhibit consumers and retailers from having confidence in their own judgment of what is perceived attractive, charming, desirable and beautiful. We can state with great confidence, however, that the color grading of colorless and near colorless diamonds has achieved a standard of objective, consistent repeatability. Natural color diamonds, because of their subtle and infinite possibilities, remain difficult if not impossible to describe on a consistent basis of nomenclature that is universal and does not create a hierarchy of relative importance. In truth there may never be a perfect system that can accurately describe the color of a diamond or any other object without reducing it to a code, such as used in other industries, standardized by color specialists Pantone Corporation and Munsell Corporation. This is the equivalent of describing the features and beauty of a human being by presenting their DNA code.

Colored diamonds, whether they be a pure color (hue) or modified by one or more colors will always fall in a range of description based on its primary color (hue) and modifiers if any; (saturation), the strength, vividness or amount of color present; and the (value or tone), the scale or measurement of lightness to darkness, or white to black of an object.

The present use of terms used by most labs in the world such as Light, Fancy Light, Fancy. Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid, Fancy Deep and Fancy Dark; take into account all levels of lightness, saturation, value and tone. The demarcations of such grades can often vary between competing labs. The terms used to describe the color of a diamond for example, Purplish Pink, will presumably take into account any stone that has a primary visible color (hue) of pink, and a secondary or modified color of purple. As long as the primary color is seen as pink, the percentage of purple as the modifier can theoretically vary from 1%-49%. While this may be the best way to scientifically describe natural colored diamonds, subjectivity of grading and nomenclature choices, in addition to differences of opinion between labs, does become a factor. The hierarchy of this language thus has an effect on perceived value and desirability.

We feel it is necessary to assist the process of decision making for the retailer and most of all the consumers, in a way that gets everyone involved in a non technical dialogue that opens up the perception of color relative to the natural and fashion world around us. This process does not create the concept of one color being superior or inferior to another. Could one describe sky blue as more or less desirable, then ocean blue? If we were to use these terms, do we imply the sky at a particular time of day or the ocean in a particular part of the world? Color terms in nature and fashion are not absolute and often are interchangeable with other descriptive terms. They are used to enhance the mental image of an object. The use of common color terms in nature and fashion, are analogies that allows the potential customer to experience the color on an emotional and personal level. They now have a language, even though it is subjective and probably interchangeable with a variety of other terms, which they can relate to.

In no way does the use of such terms reduce the scientific and technical information supplied which provides the crucial “color origin.” Is the diamond natural color, manmade, enhanced, altered or treated? The primary color and modifiers are identified to the highest standards, and under controlled conditions. All identifying characteristics, measurements, etc. required and requested by the submitting owner are documented.

The addition of common color terms as a possible description is strictly for the purpose of romancing the stone and allowing the clients to relate to colored diamonds in a new light.

Scientific language and color descriptions are all too powerful in the consumers mind. Often what is perceived as an unfavorable description creates a negative attitude towards a stone that may be truly unique and beautiful. The concept of what is desirable shouldn’t be interpreted by the attempt to define the color by scientific means.

The belief that a pure color, (i.e. pink, blue, green, purple) is somehow more desirable or attractive than a modified color has created a false and unrealistic goal for color diamond collectors. As a matter of fact most so called pure color diamonds are not pure colors at all with blue diamonds containing gray as a modifying component; pink diamonds containing purple, orange or brown; red diamonds containing purple or brown; green diamonds containing yellow, blue or gray; and purple diamonds containing pink, brown or gray. Color differences in diamonds require analogies from other natural or fashion objects to visually identify their appearance.

Thus a blue diamond can be cornflower, sky, sea, ink, navy, etc
A pink diamond can be shell, strawberry, shrimp, bubblegum, etc.
A red diamond can be wine, garnet, maroon, burgundy, etc
A green diamond can be jade, grass, sea foam, teal, lime, etc.
A purple diamond can be lilac, plum, orchid, eggplant, etc.
This was the language of color description before the development of the lab created color scales of the last few decades.

When we look beyond the scientific description to the colors we see in nature, our mind and taste can open to express what excites us, makes us happy, and one should not be intimidated by the possibility of making a bad choice. There is no wrong choice if it is your taste.

There is no flower or color that is universally favored by everyone. We must go beyond the diagnostic limitation to the personal experience that is unique and satisfying to each of us. Let the imagination and the language of color run wild. The world of diamonds is too magnificent and diverse to be contained in a one or two word description.

In no way do we suggest that the terms used are other than the opinion of the individual and are possibly interchangeable with another similar color description. In no way does our description imply the rarity, value, desirability or beauty of the diamond. Beauty cannot be defined by any grading report or color description because beauty is different to every individual in every part of the world. The use of common color terms is open to interpretation and is only meant to encourage discussion and greater enthusiasm for a broader range of natural color diamonds that cannot be classified by gemological terms that imply something is the rarest, best, or most valuable of gemstones.

Ultimately it is up to consumers to follow due diligence before buying any product. This approach to color and language will assist consumers in making more meaningful choices.

A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet and be as beautiful.

View Original Source: http://www.auroragems.com/articles.html

Photo Courtesy of The Aurora Collection at British Natural History Museum.

Rio Tinto’s Pink Tender Breaks Records

National Jeweler

October 25

Antwerp, Belgium—All 65 pink diamonds included in the 23rd annual Rio Tinto Diamonds Argyle Pink Diamond Tender sold to 17 different bidders from around the world, many at record-breaking prices.

The diamond sale featured some of the world’s rarest pink diamonds from the Argyle mine in Australia, with about 100 clientele personally viewing the diamonds in secret locations in Hong Kong, New York and Perth, Australia.

Details of the number of bidders, winning bids and the total revenue generated from the tender are not disclosed to protect successful bidders’ confidentiality; however, pink diamonds are known to fetch prices exceeding $400,000 per carat due to rarity and market demand.

The collection will become even more rare in the years to come, according to Gavin Pearce, senior sales executive for Argyle Diamonds. The mine will transition to an underground operation after 2008, cutting production by half, and is expected to run out completely by 2018.

Leading colored-diamond designer and luxury retailer John Calleija, participating for the 11th time in the tender, said this year’s collection exceeded the quality and depth of color seen in previous years.

“Competition is always fierce, and this year we had many interested parties who were very keen on acquiring such rare and spectacular diamonds,” Calleija said in a press release. “As a result, I was thrilled to successfully win four diamonds, including three of the incredible purplish-red diamonds.”

Calleija said he is already planning jewelry designs for the stones for his new London flagship store, to be opened in The Royal Arcade, Old Bond Street, in February 2008.

Jean-Marc Lieberherr, general manager of sales and marketing for Rio Tinto Diamonds, said this year the diamonds received an unprecedented amount of interest.

“Rio Tinto’s pink diamonds are coveted by diamond collectors worldwide for their color, energy and vibrancy that can literally take the breath away,” Lieberherr said. “But, as only a handful of such high-quality diamonds are produced each year, they are also a smart investment choice, guaranteed to grow in value.”

Editor’s note:For earlier developments in this story, see Pink tender on view in New York.

View Original Source: http://www.nationaljewelernetwork.com/njn/content_display/diamonds/e3i322308809550e01ba7892881ee3836e7

Winning Bids for Rio Tinto Pink Diamonds

JCK-Jewelers Circular Keystone

10/25/2007

A total of 65 pink diamonds were sold to 17 successful bidders from around the globe, many at record breaking prices, during the 23rd annual Rio Tinto Diamonds Argyle Pink Diamond Tender, held in Perth, Australia, Hong Kong, and New York.

The exclusive diamond sale featured the world’s rarest pink diamonds from the Argyle mine in Australia, with about 100 key clientele personally viewing the diamonds in secret locations.

The Argyle Signature Stones picked for 2007’s tender attracted substantial interest due to the range of vivid and deep colors. Purplish reds, deep pinks, and a rare grey-violet diamond were included in this year’s collection, Rio Tinto said in a statement. 

Details of winning bids for the diamonds, amount of bidders, and total revenue generated from the Tender are not disclosed to protect successful bidders’ confidentiality. However, Rio Tinto pink diamonds are known to command prices exceeding $400,000 per carat, 20 times the price of equivalent white diamonds, due to rarity and market demand.

Leading colored diamond designer and luxury retailer, John Calleija, did participate in the tender for the 11th consecutive year, and spoke about it.

“I was thrilled to successfully win four diamonds, including three of the incredible purplish red diamonds,” he said. “I am already planning jewellery designs for my Argyle Signature Stones, which will be the flagship of my new London store.”

The Rio Tinto Pink diamonds are predicted to run out by 2018.

View Original Article: http://www.jckonline.com/article/CA6494379.html?nid=3115

Pink Diamonds: Pink is Perfect

 Kimberly Fine Diamonds

http://www.kimberleydiamonds.com.au

Pink diamonds are truly one of the world’s best kept secrets. In a range of stunning hues and intensities, from a very intense purplish pink to a blush pink champagne, these diamonds are so rare most people will never see one.

The diamonds are mined in the far north of Western Australia, at the Argyle Diamond Mine, where the world’s only intense pink diamonds are found.

To put the true rarity of the gems into perspective, of every million tonnes of rough diamonds produced at the mine, a mere one carat is suitable for the exclusive Argyle Diamond tender. These diamonds are of superior quality and are sought by jewellers the world over.

Kimberley Fine Diamonds is Australia’s leading supplier of pink diamonds and is proud to also have acquired several pink diamonds from tender.

The pink diamonds are handcrafted into stunning fine jewellery pieces, the full collection of which is on display in our Kimberley showroom.

Kimberley Fine Diamonds has one of the finest collections of loose pink diamonds in Australia which can also be handcrafted into individually designed pieces to ensure your rare diamond purchase is displayed in a wholly unique fashion.

For all pink diamonds weighing 50 points or more a gem identification certificate is available upon request.

There is also a stunning array of Argyle pink champagne diamonds available.

The Colour of Passion

Pink diamonds are graded according to the intensity of colour in each individual stone. Argyle Diamonds uses a scale from 1 to 8 one being the most intense colour and eight the lightest colour.

The 1 to 8 grading is then given an additional grade according to each individual diamond hue.

Pink Diamonds Hue in order of rarity

• PP: Purplish Pink
• P : Pink
• BP: Brownish Pink
• PC: Pink Champagne

Intensity of Pink Diamonds

• Very intense
• Intense
• Strong
• Medium
• Medium Light
• Light
• Very Light
• Blush

We at Kimberley Fine Diamonds can help you to find a colour to match your Secret Passion. We have one of the finest collection of loose Pink Argyle diamonds in Australia and are therefore able to source particular requests.

For all pink diamonds weighing 50 points or more a gem identification certificate is available upon request.

Argyle Pink Champagne Diamonds

Argyle Pink Champagne Diamonds are a beautiful mixture of elegant champagne with whimsical pinks. Pink champagne diamonds are graded and valued according to the intensity of champagne hue.

• PC1- Pink and light champagne (C1 and C2)
• PC2- Pink and medium champagne (C3 and C4)
• PC3- Pink and dark champagne (C5, C6 and C7)

Pink Diamond Tender

The most exciting time of the year in the jewellery industry is the exclusive Argyle Pink Diamond Tender.

An invitation only event, Argyle Diamonds selects quality jewellers from across the world to view their very best pink diamonds. The tender diamond collection of just 50-60 diamonds, all over half a carat in weight each, travel to exclusive jewellers in Sydney, Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York, London and Geneva. These jewellers are invited to make a written offer on the diamonds and then eagerly wait to hear if it has been accepted. Kimberley Fine Diamonds has on six occasions been successful in acquiring these precious pink tender diamonds – making their collection of Argyle pink tender diamonds the largest in the country.

FAMOUS PINK DIAMONDS

Celebrities and Pink Diamonds

It was when US singer Jennifer Lopez whipped out a whopping 6 carat pink diamond engagement ring that the modern celebrity world stood up and took notice of the stunning gems. As celebrities learned of the rarity of the diamonds they quickly became one of the hottest accessories on demand.

UK celebrity royalty Posh and Becks, model Helena Christiansen, Cilla Black and US actress Salma Hayek have all been spotted wearing pink diamonds to A-list events. Never to be outdone, US popstar Britney Spears has dazzled audiences with pink diamond bellychains and has several pink diamond necklaces in her multi-million dollar collection of jewellery.

The stunning Miss World Australia 2006, Sabrina Houssami, has been showcasing pink diamonds to the world through her sponsorship with Kimberley Fine Diamonds.

In fiction one of the most famous pink diamonds is the Pink Panther, brought to fame in the movies of the same name. More recently singer and actress Beyonce Knowles was adorned with a pink diamond necklace in the modern version of the film.

Famous pink diamonds in history

Diamonds have long been worn by royalty but it is pink diamonds that are at the centre of some of the most famous pieces.

The largest pink diamond in the world is the Darya-i-Nur or Sea of Light at 175 carats. The discovery of the light pink diamond dates back to 1642 and was part of the crown jewels of India until 1739 when is was taken by the invading Persian army and carried to Iran where it remains today.

The Pink Conde Diamond or Le Grand Conde is a 9 carat pear shaped diamond given to Louis de Bourbon, Prince of Conde in 1643 by King Louis 13th of France in recognition of war service, which he placed as the centerpiece of his bejeweled walking stick. It was later placed in the French Crown.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II received a 23 carat pink diamond as a wedding present. She had the diamond placed at the centre of a diamond encrusted brooch.

The largest vivid pink diamond, as graded by the Gemological Institute of America is the Steinmetz Pink at 59.6 carats, unveiled in Monaco in May, 2003.

View Original Article: http://www.kimberleydiamonds.com.au/diamonds_pink.php

JEWELLERY WORLD REVIEW: COLORED STONES

JANUARY 2007

The physical conditions necessary to color a diamond naturally occur very scarcely, making natural color diamonds extremely rare. How rare? For every natural color diamond, there are 10,000 colorless ones that have made the trip to the Earth’s surface. It is this entirely natural Process of geographical formation which ensures that each natural color diamond is one of a kind.

The formation of natural color diamonds is a process that requires the presence of not only the original magical formula for all diamond creation, but also the presence of additional trace elements and distortions to the typical diamond crystal. If an element interacts with carbon atoms during diamond creation, the diamond’s color can change. Radiation and pressure on a diamond’s structure will also impact its color as well.

What variables give diamonds their color?

Tremendous pressure exerted on a diamond deep in the earth can abnormally compress its structure, thus creating a red, pink, purple or brown stone. Evidence of graining, which scientists believe is attributed to tremendous pressures under the earth can be seen at 1Ox in many Argyle pink and cognac diamonds.

Natural radiation impacting already formed diamonds over millions of years can give thm a green hue.

Australian Pink Diamond

David Federman

Modern Jeweler

Call it either grace or irony. But scattered throughout western Australia’s mammoth but so far mediocre diamond output, comprised mostly of industrials selling for under $10 per carat, are a few fancy pink stones that have commanded up to $400,000 per carat at auction. “We’re talking pink with a capital ‘P,’” says a New York fancy color diamond specialist.

Before 1985, few pink diamonds deserved even a small “p.” So dealers settled for faintly colored stones, believing darker hues too much to expect from nature any more than once or twice in a century.

Fancy pink diamond image courtesy of Novel Collection.

View Full Article: http://www.modernjeweler.com/web/online/Diamond-Gem-Profiles/Australian-Pink-Diamond/2$280

Rio Tinto Announces Annual Argyle Pink Diamond Tender

Written by: ColorDia

Each year, the Argyle diamond mine in Perth, Australia – most notable for their yearly production of rare pink and champagne diamonds, hosts an invitation only, closed bid auction known as their Annual Pink Diamond Tender. Here, distinguished guests, among them the most influential dealers of natural color diamonds, will view the latest collection of pink diamonds, blue diamonds and the occasional rare red diamond.

This year’s collection features 65 diamonds totaling 62.20 carats and will be offered to invited dealers for closed bidding. An assortment of Vivid Pinks, Purplish Reds, and Violets will be available, all from the 2006-2007 Argyle Mine production year.

The bidding will take place in late September/early October of this year. Although it should be noted that prices will be hitting six digits, some invited dealers are partnering with select private investors in the hopes of offering high yield short term gains. It is recommended that you contact a reputable dealer with experience dealing directly with private clientelle for consultation.