Argyle Diamonds

Situated in the north East of Western Australia lies the Argyle diamond mine. Located some 2200km from Perth city, it is the largest volume producer of natural diamonds in the world. This West Australian Mine produces an average of 30-35 million carats of diamonds per year, supplying a quarter of the annual world production.

Argyle diamonds have two unique features that set them apart from diamonds of other origins. They are harder than other diamonds and they tend to fluoresce under Ultra violet light. The hardness factor is said to be due to its host rock origin.

The Argyle diamond mine is well renowned for its production of fancy coloured diamonds. These include the ever popular Champagne and Cognac diamonds as well as the most prized and rare pink diamonds. Pink diamonds are known as the rarest and most valuable diamonds in the world. Argyle diamond mine is the primary source of these unique diamonds.

Solid Gold currently hosts the largest selection of Argyle diamonds available to view in Australia.

Unlike white diamonds, which are graded according to their lack of colour, Coloured diamonds are graded according to their intensity of colour. As a general rule, coloured diamonds tend to be more included than white diamonds. It is extremely rare to find a near flawless coloured diamond.

Pink and Champagne Diamonds

Argyle Champagne diamonds are graded from C1 to C7, depending on intensity of colour.

   C1 & C2-   Light Champagne

   C3 & C4-   Medium Champagne

   C5 & C6-   Dark Champagne

   C7-            Fancy Cognac

Argyle pink diamonds are graded in four categories. Listed from the most prized Purple pink through to the pink champagne.

Purplish pink colours range from 1PP through to 8PP. The most intense being the 1PP.

Pink diamonds range from 1P through to 8P. As with the purple pinks, the 1P is the most intense of pinks graded in this category.

Brown Pinks are graded from 1BP through to 8BP. With the 8BP diamond having the lowest intensity of colour.

Pink champagnes however, are graded opposite to all other pinks. Ranging from PC1 to PC3, the PC3 has the highest colour intensity.

The cause of colour in most diamonds is due to trace elements. However, it is thought that the colour of Argyle pink diamonds is caused by their crystal structure. The distorted lattice crystal causes the diamond to absorb light differently and most importantly, reflect different colours. Because of this phenomena, it has been said that Argyle pink diamonds "blush when you look at them".