Fancy Red Diamonds from Argyle Mine

Do you know what is the number of world population? It's more than 7 billion of people and it's constantly increasing. Let's write it in full — 7,000,000,000. Now compare it with 3. It looks like a tiny needle in a huge haystack, the contrast is vivid. This example was taken to illustrate how high the price for a product would be if there is an uncommonly small supply but an incredibly great demand. By the way, three is the number of fancy red diamonds presented at the Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender, the grand event where the most sought-after diamond gems are showcased and sold.

10UMX – The Most Fast-Penetrating Diamond Drill To Extract Diamonds

Diamond is the hardest stone in the world, it ranks number 10 on the Mohs scale which, in fact, is based on contrasting other minerals against diamonds to see how different/close they are. This is also the most hard-to-mine mineral: apart from that it lays deep in the Earth bowels, it is also very hard for extracting – don't forget, this is the hardest stone in the world. As you can see now that there is only one strong and powerful tool that can bring diamonds on the surface – diamond. It sound like a vicious circle but that is the thing.

This is not a novel discovery, but it was in the 20th century, so since that time diamonds are widely applied in industry for making cutting, sawing, drilling tools. So today the tools are not created but rather upgraded to make them work in better way. This is what Boart Longyear Company has recently done.

The mineral exploration drilling company has launched new diamond core bit, the 10 Ultramix (UMX). The 10UMX was specifically designed to quickly penetrate the hardest rock strata. According to Boart Longyear, this is the most efficient bit so far that can perfectly cut in whatever drilling conditions it is used. The technologies applied to produce such a driller are known as 'diamond coring' having a double meaning: aiming to drill diamond with the help of a diamond drill. Specialists at Boart Longyear used the UMX patented formula to make the drill, that is large synthetic diamonds within the matrix. They claim that alongside quick penetration the 10UMX provides longer life of a tool. Weird it may sound but it looks like they use lab-grown eco-friendly diamonds to mine natural ones. We hope that one day synthetic diamonds of gem quality will be highly appreciated by all sort of customers, thus there is no need to extract natural stones any more. But until that time comes a range of companies in Africa are now actively using the super efficient drill.

If the Cap Fits Wear It, Especially If It's Diamond

Actually this is not the cap but a gorgeous diamond tiara encrusted with rare pink diamonds from Argyle Mine, a world known source of pink diamonds. Rio Tinto's 178 pink diamond gems of various hues and sizes make girls envy. To see this unbelievable beauty one should visit London within the next few days where the Masterpieces London Fair is going to take place from June 24 to June 26.

Though the tiara is shaped in up-to-date style it seems to keep the air of the past era. Pink masterpiece is priced at $2 million. Surely this is not the thing girls can't live without but it is just perfect for important events like the Red Carpet event or marriage. Speaking of marriages, a country music star Carrie Underwood wore pink diamond tiara at her wedding party on July 10 this year. This was the present of her then-husband Mike Fisher. 40 carat pale pink tiara was a perfect complement to Underwood's brilliant happy smile.

As you see such cute but expensive things like diamond tiaras also have demand regardless the high price tags. This one will possibly find its owner too. To see more of unique and rare things you are welcome to visit the Fair where pink diamond jewelry including the pink tiara will be showcased by Asprey. Fresh news about the exhibits of the Masterpiece London Fair coming soon.

Chin-chin: Champagne Diamonds

Nowadays not a single socialite can do without diamonds, that serve as essential part of the whole wardrobe to create an inimitable style of the wearer. While white diamonds are usually worn in the day time champagne diamonds are worn only at night to underline the elegance of the evening gown.

Rare, charming, exotic, unique and amazing champagne diamonds are fairly loved by women. Indeed, champagne diamonds exist in a wide range of colors: from light straw to fancy cognac. They are just perfect for red carpet events as they match nearly each color. To let you realize the uniqueness of champagne diamonds in full let's view their history and origin.

A greater part of champagne diamonds – about 95% of all champagne diamonds – come from Argyle Diamond mine, Australia. This mine is considered to be the largest producer of diamonds in the world, though only 5% of all mined diamonds are qualified as gems and a tiny part of them are champagne and cognac. Even Australian aborigines believe that the origin of fancy colored diamonds is mythical: they are a part of barramundi fish that was lucky to escape through the net.

The largest fancy cognac diamond in the world is the Golden Jubilee mined in Jagersfontein, Africa. This yellow-brown diamond is pear-shaped and weights 111.59 carats – it is the largest faceted diamond on the planet. In 1983 Stephen Zbova bought it for $900,000. Surely, the price would be much higher these days.

The way this and the rest of champagne diamonds were formed in nature is that the lattice structure of diamond was changed due to very high pressure caused by plastic deformation. As a result, champagne and cognac as well as red and pink diamonds appeared. Judging from all these facts, most likely you would think champagne diamonds are very rare and you surely would be right but for created diamonds.

There is a good news for fans of fancy yellow diamond: fancy colored diamonds can be grown by man. Due to modern technologies and studies people were able to recreate natural conditions with intensely high pressure and temperature in a chamber. So, currently there is no need to wait while fancy cognac diamond will be dug from under the ground – it may take years to wait. Instead it can be grown in the laboratory. What is more, diamonds created by man are real with absolutely the same quality of naturally-occurring diamonds. And the price pleases each customer. While mined cognac diamonds cost a real fortune, man made diamonds are several times cheaper.

Probably, man made diamond were created to give an average person an opportunity to feel himself like a real celebrity, what do you think?

Images in this post are the courtesy of it's respective owners: Champagnediamondcenter.com.

Would You Play With Me?

Barbie doll is one of the most famous dolls in the world mostly due to that fact that her designers could create an image of a modern stylish lady that all the girls are eager to become one day. Barbie has everything the girls are dreaming about.. even diamonds!

Mattel Inc. collaborated with a world known jewelry designer Stefano Canturi to created the most expensive chick Barbie to celebrate the opening of the Barbie Basics Collection in Australia. The diamonds chosen by Canturi for Barbie's necklace come from Argyle Mine, Australia. Argyle Mine is famous for its pink diamonds, which considered to be the most rare diamond gems in the world, thus the most pricey. The price tag for pink beauty sometimes goes over $1,000,000 per carat. One of such awesome pink Argyle Mine's diamonds is set in Barbie's stunning necklace and surrounded by a number of white diamonds of rectangular shape.

Actually the fashionable doll wears a set of jewelry not just a single necklace. One could notice a beautiful cubic ring with emerald-cut diamond set inside. All these pretties greatly enhanced the price of the doll: while a Barbie doll in a common toy shop would cost you not more than $20, to own this diamond Barbie you'll have to pay almost $550,000 - a pretty nice sum of money. So, are you ready to pay to play with the most expensive Barbie doll?