This is a picture of mining giant Rio Tinto’s one-of-a-kind Argyle pink diamond tiara, which added some sparkle to the Masterpieces London Fair, a unique event that showcased fine art, wine, jewellery and cars in June.
Have a look at the picture below and I am sure you will be amazed at the amount of pink diamonds used in this magnificent tiara. The symmetry on this is superb, the craftsman really got down into the detail here as you can see from all the “waves” and they way they all have the same motion and direction on either side of the centre. They really did an excellentr job of this piece of jewellery
Argyle Pink Diamond Tiara
Can you imagine wearing this on your wedding day!, what a statement it would make for your special wedding…
If you follow the link to the Pink Diamond Tiara, you will be able to find the full story on how our Pink Diamonds are wowing the world!
I have mentioned it in a few earlier posts, the Argyle diamond mine is now beginning to halt the production of it world famous pink diamonds. There is a finite amount of pink diamonds in the mine and they know they will run out in 2018. The price of rare pink diamonds has begun to increase steadily due to this fact, along with the fact that there has been NO significant find for quite some time…
The Argyle diamond mine produces 95% of the worlds pink diamonds, and the other mines in India and Brazil do not produce the colour with anywhere near the same sort of intensity of colour…
Hopefully there will be another find of these most magnificent diamonds.
A marriage proposal is one of the most important and personal events of a lifetime. A very special engagement ring will reflect the significance of this event. When you become engaged, you and your partner can create a lasting symbol of your unique love for each other with a custom engagement ring design. With the help of an experienced jeweller, the process of designing a custom engagement ring will bring you and your loved one closer and help you create a ring that both of you will treasure forever.
The Design Process
Once you’ve decided to create an engagement ring that will reflect you and your partner’s personalities and taste, the next step is to consult a jeweller who specializes in custom engagement ring design. An experienced jeweller has the technical expertise required to guide you through the design process. Your jeweller will explain the process to you in simple terms and make sure you have input at every step. You will gain an understanding and appreciation of how much is involved in custom designing and creation of your engagement ring.
Your jeweller will help you make a series of important design decisions related to ring design, including:
Diamonds – Which one is Right for you? – Your jeweller will help run you through what makes a diamond sparkle with “Fire and Brilliance” and how the different characteristics affect the value of the diamond. Diamonds are a traditional choice for engagement rings, but a truly unique design can be created using other types of stones. Emeralds, rubies and pearls can be striking alternatives to diamonds.
The Size and Shape of the Diamond or Gemstone – Once the type of stone is chosen, your jeweller can recommend suitable sizes and shapes. When recommending a diamond or gemstone, your jeweller will take into account your personalities, what you want to communicate through your engagement ring and a host of other considerations.
The Style of the Setting – The design details of the setting will have a major impact on the overall style and look of the ring. The setting can be traditional, with a clean and crisp look that will allow your diamond or gemstone to sparkle with its own “fire and brilliance” or it may be embellished with side stones, engraving or filigrees, adding more detail and intrigue to the design.
Platinum or Gold? – Which one is Best for your Setting? – The setting design, the diamond and gemstones used and the ring budget will determine the best metal for the engagement ring.
After you have expressed your design preferences, your jeweller will create a custom design for your approval. Many couples have seen another ring that they want to copy, or they may want to combine 2 or 3 design elements from other rings. If this is the case with your ring design, feel free to bring in drawings or photos to give your jeweller an idea of what you have in mind. A talented jeweller will incorporate these suggestions into a single cohesive ring design, adding any details that may be needed to complete the design and convey what you would like to have represented in your ring.
The Surprise Engagement Ring
A marriage proposal and engagement ring are often planned as a surprise. In this case, the design decisions will be made solely by the man. His fiancée’s lifestyle, looks, body size and shape, personality and taste in jewellery should be taken into account when designing a custom engagement ring. Family members or close friends can be a great help in creating a design that will be cherished for a lifetime.
Wedding Band Considerations
The design for your wedding bands should be considered when designing your engagement ring, especially if a bridal set consisting of the two rings is desired. Using similar stones, metals and design motifs is the best way to tie together the engagement and wedding rings.
Generally speaking, if you use a similar design in both engagement ring and wedding bands, you will gain the benefit of having them look they were designed together at the same time. When the engagement and wedding ring are worn together they will truly look like a matched set and not two unmatched rings that were bought at different times and places and thrown together.
Custom Engagement Ring Budget
You and your partner need to be aware that a custom designed engagement ring may cost a bit more than purchasing a mass market existing design due to the exclusivity of having an engagement ring designed specifically for you. It’s important to establish a budget and to work with your jeweller to stick with your budget. Your jeweller will be prepared to offer many suggestions on how to stick with your budget. Be prepared to listen to your jeweller’s suggestions and work with the options that are presented to you.
If you are looking for the kind of investment that is what the ultra wealthy make without the vast majority of people knowing – then this is one of them.
Pink diamonds have averaged a 15% increases in value, year on year, for the past 20 years – that is 15% each and every year… for 20 years…
Don’t just take my word for it, watch the video below and then if this is something that is right for you and you want to start making an investment in Pink Diamonds – you will want to contact me through my website http://www.EskaeJeweller.com.au
Your discretion is my focus, and making an investment in Pink Diamonds does have an entry level of $50,000. I have very well established contacts here in Sydney, which means for you, that I am able to supply you with the best available selection given the fact that we are looking at a product with dwindling supply levels.
Throughout this blog you will also find many posts that point to record breaking sales of pink diamonds throughout the world. The demand is there and these posts prove that fact.
The Argyle Dimaond mine at the moment has put production on hold and has started the next phase of its mining operation – called “piping” where they are drilling verticle holes into the ground so they can access the remaining diamond deposits there. Once they have finished with the piping phase, they will start to drill across the pipes which is called “caverning”
There is a finite amount of Pink Diamond left in the ground in the Argyle mine, which accounts for 90-95% of the worlds pink and coloured diamonds. The investment worth of these rare and magnificent diamonds will esclate in line with the decline in supply.
When would NOW be a good time to start looking at an investment in one of the earths most wonderful creations?
Get in touch with me via my website or the contact form on the right, so that I can help you make an investment in Pink Diamonds.
Rumor has it diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but have they always held such status in the eye of the beholder? While it’s true the durability, beauty, rarity and strength of the diamond make it appealing, it also stands as the ultimate symbol of love passion, elegance and glamour.
For centuries, only the wealthiest were able to own diamonds, increasing their status symbol among the rich. In today’s society, diamonds are much more accessible, broadening their appeal for the masses. Even today, however diamonds have saturated the global market, they are viewed as status symbols; the cut and quality of the diamond demonstrating investment made.
This widespread appeal was sparked by the innovative marketing strategy launched by De Beers in the 1930s. This campaign elevated the diamond from the focal point on engagement and wedding rings to the gem of status among those in the public eye. This campaign included the presentation of diamonds to Hollywood starlets, photo shoots and movie productions, asking that the jewels be included in photo opportunities, cover layouts and movie scenes.
In 1947, the same company launched the “A Diamond is Forever” campaign that is still well and alive today, demonstrating the eternal status of love and social placement the diamond represents. While these marketing campaigns launched a whole new home for diamonds among jewelry lovers everywhere – married or not – they also unwittingly created another social platform for establishing status for years to come.
In today’s materialistic society, the classes are not as clearly defined as they once were in previous generations. When De Beers launched their first campaign, cars were not owned by nearly every citizen in an urban area; clothing was not piling up at second hand stores; and flat screen televisions weren’t even a figment of anyone’s imagination.
Today, the possessions of the middle class easily emulate those of the rich, making it more difficult to clearly identify social status. When diamonds enter the picture, however, they are able to take the similarities and separate the two. Diamonds remain today one of the most distinguishable status symbols available, found in mother-baby diamond tennis bracelet sets, 4 carat emerald cut right-hand rings and even the man’s diamond stud earrings.
Each of these items can be considered a symbol of the individual’s status in society, business and life. Many will view their diamond purchase and ownership as a demonstration of success, proof they have arrived into a status that most only dream of and never achieve. Diamonds represent a brilliant beauty that can have no bounds when money is no object.
No matter what the intention is for the purchase of the diamond, the selection of shape, cut and colour depends greatly upon the status it is meant to project. Diamonds truly are a girl’s best friend and a status symbol of love, wealth and happiness. The beauty is that the wearer of the piece gets to decide just what he or she wishing to communicate.
‘Vivid pink’ diamond sells for record $11.7 million
This is a slightly older article that I found again recently while doing some research for a client. It points to the fact that the coloured diamond market was able to pick itself up again during the middle of the 2009 GFC. testament to the inherent value and investment worth of such a diamond.
The article also goes on to talk about some of the previous sales at auction for these wonderful and rare diamonds, they highlight the fact that coloured diamonds generally used to fetch about US$1M per carat, and now that this barrier has been broken they are expecting to see the price per carat rise -however in time.
There is plenty of research and available information that points to coloured and pink diamonds in particular being some t=of the worlds best investments available. The Sovereign Society, from Scotland, an organisation that gives legal asset protection advice to its clients recently advised them that “coloured diamonds are the worlds most concentrated form of wealth. A coloured diamond portfolio of any size can be easily and legaly transported in almost anywhere in the world, then sold in most major cities around the globe.”
You do not need a significant space to keep your diamonds, in fact a wallet of any size could actually hold many hundreds of thousands of dollars to several millions of dollars worth of coloured diamonds, so transporting them is easy and can be very convenient.
The real value of a coloured or pink diamond portfolio is that since 1949 their value has increased EVERY year by an average of 15%. This means that roughly every 5-6 years they double in value.
Yes thats right double in value… every 5-6 years…
So the question becomes – when would now be a good time to start purchasing coloured diamonds?
If you are interested in something like this, then you will need to get in touch with me via my website Eskae Jeweller and I will be able to help you find the best fit for your needs and budget.
Auction house Sotheby’s said it sold a rare 7.03 carat blue diamond for a record price of 9.5 million US dollars (7.0 million euros) to an anonymous bidder.
“This total represents the highest price for a fancy vivid blue diamond sold at auction and the record price per carat for any gemstone sold at auction,” said Sotheby’s in a statement.
This is representative of the way that prices for coloured diamonds is going – UP – at an accelerating rate. The demand for these rare and wonderful pieces of the earth is starting to boil, along with he fact that the supply capacity for them dwindling at the same time. The Argyle diamond in Western Australia has begun to decrease the supply of their world famous coloured diamonds, 1 full year earlier than planned due to the GFC, because the supply in that rich diamond mine is finite and is expected to cease in or before 2018.
This fact is pushing the prices of coloured diamonds sky high at an accelerating rate going forward. The diamond cartel DeBeer’s released a statement last year saying that “…if the current demand for coloured diamonds continues at the same rate, we expect that prices for coloured diamonds, in particular pink diamonds, could double in value in the next two years…”
Lending some serious weight to the fact that these prices are now running and not walking.
If this is something that you might consider as an investment or even if you simply want to own one of the rarest diamonds in the world then go to the Eskae Jeweller website and fill out the contact form to book an appointment with me so that I can help you along the way of making one of the best diamond purchases you will make.
In this recent series of exploring the differences between natural diamonds and cubic zirconias (CZ), we have examined the toughness, hardness, dispersion, weight and colour of each of these stones. While we have identified glaring differences between the quality of the CZ when compared with the natural diamond, perhaps the most fascinating differences are in their simple creation.
The Creation of the Synthetic CZ
For generations, scientists have explored how to re-create the natural diamond in such a way that the synthetic could easily be substituted for the real thing. Simple class couldn’t come close to the brilliance of a natural diamond, but the cubic zirconia does a pretty good job of impersonation.
As the crystalline form of zirconium dioxide, the cubic zirconia is a synthesized material that is hard, optically flawless and usually colorless. Since 1976, this gem has been considered the most aggressive competitor against diamonds and is sometimes marketed under the brand name, “Diamonique.”[1]
While nature creates the perfect environment for the creation of a beautiful diamond, man must take the reigns when it comes to the CZ. During the synthesis of the cubic zirconia, zirconium oxide will create monoclinic crystals in a stable environment. To create that environment, a stabilizer must be used when the zirconia is heated to an impressive 2750 degrees Celsius in order to control the growth of the crystals.
Once the zirconia melts, a thin shell is left behind that remains solid as it is cooled by the water in the copper fingers. In this process, the zirconia and the stabilizing oxide are added. To achieve the desired uniformity in the stone, the contents are kept molten for a number of hours. While it is a proven process, it is one that takes precision and focus to produce a gem perfect enough to pass as a diamond substitute. [2]
The Creation of a Brilliant Natural Diamond
The creation of a natural diamond requires two important elements: carbon and time. When these two elements are combined under high pressure and high temperatures, a diamond can eventually emerge. The majority of natural diamonds are formed under such conditions in the earth’s mantle.
It is estimated that it takes from 1 billion to 3.3 billion years to complete the creation of the natural diamond. When this process is complete, the diamond must be brought closer to the surface of the earth in order to be mined – an action that also relies on nature. Deep volcanic eruptions can bring a diamond closer to the surface or continental plates can collide to push diamonds and other minerals upward. [3]
Extreme geological conditions are necessary to form a natural diamond. The temperature must be greater than 800 degrees Celsius and the pressure must be 50,000 times atmospheric pressure. Such conditions on earth only exist at 150km to 200km below the surface.
In such conditions there exists cratons, deep keel-like roots of old stable continental crust. These cratons formed near the bottom of plates at the same time and location as the formation of diamonds. Among the cratons, diamonds will remain unless they are brought to the surface through natural processes. [4]
While we have discussed that the brilliance, toughness and pure value of the diamond surpasses the cubic zirconia every time, perhaps the most important element of consideration is the fact that the natural diamond is rare. CZ stones can be created time and again, while there is a finite number of natural diamonds available and the waiting list for the next round is beyond our comprehension.
As we continue on our exploration of the differences between natural diamonds and cubic zirconias(CZ), we will now examine the toughness, hardness and dispersion of each of these stones. It is also important to talk about cleanliness as it is often a red flag for the experienced jeweller out to spot an imposter. [1]
Cleanliness is Not Next to Godliness
When discussing cleanliness of a diamond, this is not in reference to whether or not the stone is dirty, but rather the inside appearance of the stone. Natural diamonds gain much of their unique attributes from the inclusions within the stone. These natural features are found in natural minerals – like diamonds – and do not necessarily signal a flawed stone. A completely flawless stone under a 10-power jeweller’s loupe is most likely a cubic zirconia as the natural diamond version would be out of the financial reach of many a consumer.
How Tough is the Stone?
While cubic zirconias are known to outweigh natural diamonds nearly two to one, diamonds dominate when it comes to toughness. A material’s ability to resist breakage from a forceful impact is its toughness and diamonds tend to stand alone. In fact, the toughness of natural diamonds has been measured as 3.4 MN m-3/2; much stronger than the cubic zirconia stone, which tends to be more brittle than a natural diamond. A CZ stone can be scratched by other stones, while a diamond can only be scratched by other diamonds. [2]
Which Stone is Most Hardy?
Believe it or not, there is an abundance of conflicting information regarding the hardness of natural diamonds. It’s possible the confusion rests in the misunderstanding that this hardness is in reference to a natural mineral as diamonds are the hardest known natural material. [3] In examining the Mohs scale of hardness, natural diamonds score a 10, while the cubic zirconia is significantly softer, yet still respectfully hard, at an 8.5 rating.[4]
Dispersion – the Trick of the Eye
Dispersion is one area where the cubic zirconia is known to trick even the gemstone savvy customer. Dispersion occurs as a result of the gem’s refractive index, or how much a beam of light will bend, based on the direction in which it is passes between two different optical densities. In more basic language, dispersion is the breaking up of light into its spectral colors. A CZ stone has more dispersive power than a natural diamond – a 0.060 vs. 0.044 – creating more color and fire. Even with this difference, a CZ still cannot match the breathtaking brilliance of a natural diamond. [5]
While the toughness, hardness, dispersion and even cleanliness of the two stones are important to understand in the examination of the differences between cubic zirconias and natural diamonds; it could easily be the trip into the science of the creation of each of these gems that is the most fascinating. Check out our next post as we travel back in time.
In the world of fine gemstones, one of the most daunting questions among consumers is how to tell the difference between a natural diamond and cubic zirconias (CZ). To the untrained, naked eye, the less expensive could easily pass for the more exquisite, but value is not always in the eye of the beholder.
To accomplish mere flash, a CZ can easily fit the bill as it is designed to radiate light and create a spectacle of light and colour dancing off the stone. If you want to experience true brilliance and the marvel that is the natural diamond, let’s take a closer look at the differences between the gems created by nature and those fabricated in a lab.
Natural diamonds and CZ stones vary in a number of ways, including colour, weight, toughness, hardness, dispersion and even cleanliness, not to mention their creation. In truth, natural diamonds are superior to their CZ substitution, but without an understanding of the difference, it can seem a worthless investment. To begin this series, we will first examine colour and weight.
The Truth is in the Colour
In the process of searching for just the right stone, colour is an important priority. Colour is also one of the first tests for determining whether the stone is a CZ or a natural diamond. A tinge of yellow or brown is normal in natural diamonds that fall below acceptable quality standards, while cubic zirconia tends to be made entirely colourless when attempting to emulate the diamond. CZ stones are also available in a full range of colours, while only 0.01% of natural diamonds take on a more brilliant colour, enhancing the rare qualities of the stones.[1]
Expert diamond cutters will adhere to ideal proportions, causing the light to reflect from one facet to another, which is then dispersed through the top of the stone. When this light is refracted externally, it amplifies and disperses the refracted light to create a myriad of colours, concentrating the light, brilliance and lustre of the stone. The cubic zirconia, no matter the cut, has less brilliance than a diamond, but more flashes of colour. When examining the two, brilliance creates the “Wow” factor, while colour merely catches the eye.
The Scale Never Lies
Believe it or not; the cubic zirconia outweighs the natural diamond every time. In fact, the CZ is 70% heavier than the natural diamond. This is an important consideration for the price-conscious consumer who is considering the CZ purchase over the natural diamond in order to afford to larger gemstone. Purchasing the CZ over the diamond most certainly provides more stone for your dollar, but could be an impediment to purchase if the stone is too large and heavy for comfortable wear. [2]
While colour and weight provide keen insight into the differences between natural diamonds and cubic zirconia stones, this exploration of the two stones has merely just begun. Check out our next post as we examine the toughness, hardiness and dispersion of each of these stones, while also tapping into the red flag that is cleanliness.
I am currently working on developing some assets around using Pink Diamonds as an investment vehicle. I would like to develop a checklist that helps people who are interested in the investment opportunity to make the decision that will ultimately help get you to a position of making a profit on your investment. To do this I would like you to click on the following link and answer the question I have posted there -
