Argyle

The super mine of pink diamonds stop




Diamonds? They are not forever. At some point they end, stop, that’s enough. In the world of jewelry there are those who cry already after the closure of one of the most famous diamond mines in the world, the Australian Argyle. Since 1983 this deposit has extracted 90% of the world’s pink diamonds. But now it has stopped out of business. It is estimated that the Argyle mine produced around 10,000 carats of diamonds a year before running out.

Diamante Aryle Avaline. Taglio a forma di cuscino, Fancy Purple Pink, 2,42 carati
Diamante Argyle Avaline. Taglio a forma di cuscino, Fancy Purple Pink, 2,42 carati

In recent years, the deposit has been one of the rare places on Earth where pink diamonds were found, perhaps the color most appreciated by collectors. Like the 24.78-carat Fancy Intense Pink that sold for over $ 46 million in 2010 and remained a record auction price for any diamond for many years. The top, however, belongs to the CTF Pink Star, a 59.60 carat Fancy Vivid Pink Internally Flawless diamond sold for 71.2 million dollars in 2017 in Hong Kong. But these two had been mined in Africa, not Australia.
Diamante Argyle Everglow, 2.11 carati, radiant shaped, Fancy Red diamond
Diamante Argyle Everglow, 2.11 carati, radiant shaped, Fancy Red diamond, Rio Tinto

The Argyle mine, which takes its name from the nearby lake, however, offered many more pink diamonds. The deposit was discovered in 1979. In all these years it has produced 865 million carats of rough diamonds. But it is the pink ones that entice collectors. In case you are interested, know that the latest Argyle Pinks in circulation are on sale at Lorraine Schwartz’s New York jewelry store.

Il diamante rosa Pink Star
Il diamante rosa Pink Star

Diamante rosa-violaceo (vivid purplish pin) estratto nella miniera di Argyle
Diamante rosa-violaceo (vivid purplish pin) estratto nella miniera di Argyle







Race for four with certified diamonds

The mining giant Rio Tinto has charged four of the most famous American designers to create lines of jewelry with stones coming exclusively from the Argyle mine in Australia, and selected in size from 0.01 to 0.07 carats and in hues of colorless, gray, champagne and cognac. An initiative named Diamond with a story, taken some years ago with the aim to make these products more salable. Jennifer Dawes, Suzanne Kalandjian, Sandy Leong and Matthew Campbell Laurenza, are the designers chosen for their attention to sustainability, to range of color and to non-traditional materials, each of them have created a collection of 18 pieces with a price range of between 500 to $ 5,000, which will be presented at the Jck in Las Vegas, the trade show that is held in the city of Nevada in May. A marketing idea very interesting, for now restricted to the American market, considering that until a few years ago this type of diamonds was unknown and then regarded as of poor quality. Now, however, there is even a color scale certified. How the Chinese saying goes? Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without. Monica BattistoniĀ 

Matthew Campbell Laurenza, anello in oro 18 carati con con diamanti colorati naturali Rio Tinto della miniera Argyle. Prezzo: 750 dollari
Matthew Campbell Laurenza, anello in oro 18 carati con con diamanti colorati naturali Rio Tinto della miniera Argyle. Prezzo: 750 dollari
Sandy Leong, bracciale rigido in oro 18 carati con diamanti colorati naturali Rio Tinto della miniera Argyle. Prezzo: 5000 dollari
Sandy Leong, bracciale rigido in oro 18 carati con diamanti colorati naturali Rio Tinto della miniera Argyle. Prezzo: 5000 dollari
Jennifer Dawes, orecchini in oro 18 carati con diamanti colorati naturali Rio Tinto della miniera Argyle. Prezzo: 1150 dollari
Jennifer Dawes, orecchini in oro 18 carati con diamanti colorati naturali Rio Tinto della miniera Argyle. Prezzo: 1150 dollari