What Are Natural Pink Argyle Diamonds?
Pink diamonds are some of the rarest in the world and they can only be found in seven regions across the globe. These include Siberia, South Africa, Russia, Brazil, Canada and Tanzania – but the seventh region plays host to the most elusive of all pink variants of this precious gemstone; they can be found in none other than the Australian Argyle Mine and make perfect wedding rings.
This is what gives natural pink argyle diamonds their name, but what are they, what makes them different to other types of diamond and why are they so highly sought after?
What are pink diamonds?
Although regular white (or clear) diamonds are rare, pink variants are even rarer; they only occur when exposed to the most unique of underground activities. This is why they are so much rarer than their transparent counterparts – and why they demand such a high price when purchased from jewellers, or even at auction.
The pink hue occurs when the diamond begins its voyage from an underground layer of sediment, to a layer that can be found closer to the surface of the earth. When the Argyle Mine was established, multiple routes to sources of this ‘climb’ were developed – and as newer layers emerge, the diamonds can be sourced quite consistently in their raw form.
Unlike other types of diamond that rely on introductions of specific chemicals to change their colour, such as boron which makes diamonds turn blue and nitrogen which can lead to green and yellow alternatives; pink diamonds only need the introduction of oxygen. As the atoms within the structure of the diamond interact with electrons, a pink hue begins to develop; with greater volumes resulting in a brighter hue (from light pink to dark red).
How different are they to other types of diamond?
Beyond their colour, which can differ greatly when compared to others around the world, Argyle diamonds also possess a unique atomic structure due to their exposure to electrons. As they climb to the surface layer of earth from underground, the different levels of exposure can have an impact on the atomic structure of the diamonds themselves.
In most cases the electrons can act to reinforce the stability of atoms, making pink diamonds far more resilient to scratching than regular types; which still comprise of one of the hardest materials known to man. This is due to the fact that all diamonds are made of carbon – which when put under pressure over large amounts of time, can develop into an incredibly hard substance that can only be cut by tempered steels and other diamond-edge tools.
When used for wedding jewellery these diamonds make a fitting example of wealth, love and passion – and those that are lucky enough to own them, especially when sourced from the Argyle mine, are in possession of one of the rarest natural formations of gemstone on earth