by The Argyle Diamond Mine, located in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia, produces more than 80% of the world’s pink diamonds. Argyle Pink Diamonds are the rarest and most valuable of all fancy coloured diamonds because they combine beautiful colourswith amazing clarity and brilliance that makes them stand out from other diamonds.
Here’s what you need to know about these incredible gems:
It wasn’t until the 1980’s that mining giant Rio Tinto discovered the world’s most prolific pink diamond mine at a remote site in Australia’s rugged North West Kimberley region.
The mine was named after its creek bed, Argyle, after the Duke of Argyll, Colonial Secretary for Scotland. The mining company has established a nearby town, and there are also several nearby Aboriginal communities.
In a fitting tribute to this unique and rare discovery, Rio Tinto named its operation The Argyle Diamond Mine after the nearby Argyle Creek.
Argyle Creek was named after the Earl of Argyle (on top of this page), who was governor of New South Wales from 1846 to 1855.
The diamond-bearing gravels of the Kimberley region were formed during an ancient period when Australia and Africa were part of one continent known as Gondwana, which also included Antarctica and India. Over 100 million years ago, rivers deposited sand and silt into shallow seas that covered much of northern Australia.
Since its discovery in 1979, the Argyle Diamond Mine has produced more than 800 million carats of rough diamonds and supplied approximately 80 per cent of the world’s pink diamonds – including the famous ‘Argyle Pink Jubilee,’ which at 12.76 carats is the largest fancy red diamond ever certified.
If you’re fortunate enough to find yourself in Western Australia, you’ll want to take advantage of all the Argyle Diamond Mine offers. Located at the centre of the largest expanse of Kimberlite pipes (pipes formed by ancient volcanic eruptions), it’s no wonder this location produces so many pink diamonds.
From their origins deep within the Earth – about 1.6 billion years ago –Argyle Pink Diamonds have been shaped by extreme heat and pressure into some of the most intensely coloured gemstones in existence, releasing their magnificent colour through a combination of natural forces as they are slowly brought to the surface over millions of years.
Argyle pink diamonds are among the rarest and most valuable coloured diamonds. The deepest mines on Earth reach depths greater than Mount Everest is tall; it takes several hours for light waves to travel from one end to another!
Not surprisingly, Argyle Pink Diamonds are among the most sought-after gemstones on Earth, commanding extraordinary prices at auction and only sold to elite buyers under strict confidentiality agreements.
As you can imagine, mining these rare and valuable diamonds requires extreme diligence in an area that is difficult to reach. As a result, the only way to unearth these pink beauties is through open-pit mining, where miners remove large chunks of Earth from a wide area in search of diamonds.
Conclusion
Argyle Pink Diamonds are your answer if you’re looking for the world’s most beautiful pink diamond. Argyle Pink Diamonds are among the most sought-after gems on Earth, commanding extraordinary prices at auction and only sold to elite buyers under strict confidentiality agreements.
Not surprisingly, then, Argyle Diamonds are among the oldest gemstones – with their origins stretching back nearly two billion years ago
