Coloured Diamonds
Only one of every 10,000 mined diamonds is a natural fancy coloured diamond. This means that most jewellers in the world have never seen a coloured diamond. Being located in Perth, Western Australia, Hope Diamonds are very familiar with coloured or fancy diamonds in part due to the proximity of the Argyle diamond mine.
Situated in the north East of Western Australia, the Argyle diamond mine is the largest volume producer of natural diamonds in the world. This Mine produces an average of 30-35 million carats of diamonds per year, supplying a quarter of the annual world production. One thing that sets the Argyle diamond mine apart from others around the world is its production of coloured diamonds especially champagne, and pinks.
Champagne/Cognac Diamonds
Although not as rare or prized as the pinks the champagne and cognacs diamonds are always popular as they offer great value for money.
Argyle Diamonds created the following scale specifically for champagne diamonds. The diamonds are graded on a C1-C7 colour scale. C1 and C2 represent light champagne, C3 and C4 medium champagne, and C5 and C6 dark champagne. The fancy cognac diamond is graded C7. See colour chart below.
Yellow Diamonds
Fancy yellow diamonds are among the most abundant of all coloured diamonds and defined as diamonds that exhibit colours beyond the D to Z diamond colour grading scale. The colour of yellow diamonds is intensified by the presence of nitrogen and varying amounts of this element allows for more vibrant colour saturations to exist beyond the faint yellow. Argyle and generally the educated industry, when grading yellow diamonds use the 1Y to 7Y grading scale which separates the tone or depth of colour progressively.
Pink Diamonds
The Pink diamond has long been known as the most rare and valuable diamond. Unlike white diamonds there is no price list that determines the value of pink diamonds. Since each stone is uniquely different, pricing will almost always fall within a range associated with its colour scale. Some of today’s most popular coloured diamonds are the purplish pink and pink diamonds from the Argyle mine in Australia which accounts for over 90% of the worlds pink diamonds. Argyles announcement that they will shut down all open-pit operations in 2008 and convert the facility into an underground mine has experts agreeing that with underground mining, there will be fewer quality stones and average sizes will continue to decrease. These factors are likely to lead to a substantial increase in pink diamond prices.
Argyle uses four principal categories: pink, purplish pink, brownish pink and pink champagne. These colours are in turn graded according to colour intensity in a range from very faint to very intense.
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.
Purplish pink colours range from 1PP through to 8PP. The most intense being the 1PP.
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.
Hope Diamonds have a very exclusive range of champagnes, cognacs, yellows and pink diamonds which are certified as Diamonds of Australia. For more information about coloured diamonds or about the exclusive Diamonds of Australia range contact us today.
