Rare Colored Diamonds on Display in Tokyo’s next Pink Diamond Tender

September 8th, 2013 by Noam Flint

Colored diamonds may be booming in popularity, but they remain rare gemstones that command plenty of awe and special attention. With vivid colors, unique cuts and a small supply, these precious stones are among some of the most valuable – and beloved – precious stones in the world. As such, any affairs celebrating these jewels bring a lot of attention to the world of diamonds.

One event that is gaining steam is Tokyo’s upcoming Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender. While we have covered it anxiously back in May it just recently began, showing off the world’s most exclusive array of colored diamonds. With gems ranging in color from pink to red to blue, this showcase is among the most unique to ever take place.

 

What’s on display

In total, there are 64 precious diamonds making up the Argyle collection. The majority of these are pink diamonds – 58 in all – but there are also three blue and three red diamonds.

At the center of the showcase are a few diamonds that stand out from the rest. The Argyle Phoenix, a 1.56-carat red diamond, is one of the top items, and it is certainly a stone that rightfully commands attention. It is difficult to predict what the price of this incredibly distinct diamond will be, but early estimates peg the number in excess of $2.5 million – a small price to pay for one of what is only a few dozen red diamonds that have ever been discovered.

As Josephine Johnson, manager of Argyle Pink Diamonds, told The Telegraph:

This is the largest red stone that has ever come from the Argyle diamond mine, … The diamond world will be talking about this diamond for the next few months intensely. And there will be lots of discussion about the rarity of it, the value of it.

The Phoenix is just one of three red diamonds included in the collection – the first time in the sale’s history that milestone has been reached. When combined with the dozens of pink diamonds and the three blue gems, this array of precious stones creates one of the most expensive sets ever compiled.

A rare showcase

The Argyle Pink Diamonds collection had the world buzzing because the showcase is so rare. This is partly due to security matters, but it is also because it is extremely uncommon to find enough colored diamonds to warrant a display. However, with the impressive stones together, the time was right to bring the display to Japan, where interest in colored diamonds is high.

“We are delighted to be back in Tokyo to showcase the finest red, pink and blue diamonds from the Argyle mine in Western Australia,” Johnson said. “The Japanese market is very important to us, and over the past 20 years has shown and continues to show, an unerring demand for Argyle pink diamonds.”

These gems will be on display – albeit with tremendously tight security and limited viewings – until Oct. 2.

A treasure trove in Western Australia

All of the colored diamonds in the Argyle collection were mined in Western Australia at Rio Tinto’s Argyle Mine. The Argyle Diamond mine in this area produces more than 90 percent of the world’s high quality pink diamonds despite being just more than 1 mile in length, and while the shades may vary depending on the individual gem, the intrinsic value of these stunning stones does not. In fact, an assortment of stones of this size is extremely unusual, as the mine typically produces only a few handfuls of pink diamonds each year.

“They’re special because they’re so rare,” Peter Greene, the founder of one diamond company, told Western Australia Today. “With any product in the world, the rarer they are, the greater the demand. There’s no more precious commodity in the world, and there’s no product in the world that has more concentrated value in its size.”

Colored diamonds in many different hues continue to be discovered and mined in Western Australia, providing collectors all over the world with stunning pieces that are gorgeous enough to be the centerpiece of a new item of jewelry.

Show your love with pink diamonds

Pink diamonds may be rare, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make them part of your personal jewelry collection. Many gemstone fans in Japan have already discovered this, which has contributed to the surging popularity of the colored diamond market. The interest is spreading to other parts of the world, however, and now is the time to start looking into getting your own statement pieces.

Some people are drawn to unique selections like pink diamond rings. The ability to select the one-of-a-kind stones and then personalize the setting contributes to the allure of these pieces, and being able to flaunt one of these gems on a finger is a surefire way to show love and individuality.