Thanks to their scarcity and beauty, fancy colour diamonds have become increasingly coveted over the past decades. A kaleidoscope of hues, the queen of the rainbow is, without a doubt, the pink diamond. Pink diamond jewellery has that magic combination of rarity and unrivalled femininity.
In fact, we may well witness a new world record for a pink diamond at the upcoming Sotheby's Hong Kong auction this autumn. An extremely rare, Fancy Vivid, internally flawless, purple-pink beauty sits in pride of place waiting for the best bidder to claim her. Will she outdo the current record held by the Graff pink diamond, sold for $46 million in 2010? Weighing a third less than her Graff sister, the new contender outclasses the Graff diamond with her Fancy Vivid colour grading, and the fact that she is internally flawless.
The Australian Argyle mines, which produce 90% of the world's raw pink diamonds, estimate that pink diamonds attract 20 times the price of an equivalent white diamond. And there is a reason: after shifting around 12 million tonnes of earth per year, only 0.01 % of the diamonds they unearth are pink. In addition to their rarity, pink diamonds cannot be mined forever because it is estimated the mines will be depleted by 2020, putting an additional premium on their price.
The genesis of the mysterious pink diamond, which does not obtain its colour from impurities like other diamonds, is thanks to a combination of extreme heat and pressure deep within the Earth's core before being spewed up to the surface by volcanic activity.
In addition to their rarity, pink diamonds are truly beautiful. From the softest powder pink blush up the scale to a vivid purple red, the spectrum has seduced jewellers like Alexandre Reza, one of the most important collectors of gemstones in the world. The Toi & Moi pink diamond ring features a superb Fancy Pink, internally flawless, pear-shaped diamond weighing 5.04 carats that meets its match in the form of a powerful, bright green Zambian emerald.
David Morris has also fallen prey to the captivating beauty of pink diamonds. An impressive 8.06 carat pear-shaped pink diamond ring, surrounded by a band of pink diamonds, will form part of this family-run jewellery firm's Biennale debut.
Opposites attract and, when arranged symmetrically, create a unified whole. The Boodles Gemini Ring collection (named after the sign of the twins) pairs pear-shaped pink diamonds with brilliant white diamonds. The A True Gemini ring features a natural light pink, pear-shaped diamond on one prong, mirrored by its soul mate, a stunning D colour white diamond on the other.
Laurence Graff OBE, founder of the House of Graff in 1960 and the current owner of the world's most expensive diamond, known as the Graff Pink, has a predilection for collecting the most fabulous gemstones on Earth. The centrepiece of one delicate, feminine Graff necklace is a huge 30.94 carat very light pink briolette diamond. Weightlessly suspended within a rose gold frame and accentuated with a cascade of white and pink diamonds, the entire surface of the pear-shaped briolette jewel has been faceted to illuminate the delicate pink hue of the stone from every possible direction.
Australian jeweller John Calleija is a leading specialist in Argyle Pink diamonds and a regular bidder at the annual Argyle Tender. His Elyssa and Camelia Argyle pink diamond rings will appeal to the romantic at heart and make for very special engagement rings. Calleija is keenly aware of the increasing value and rarity of pink diamonds in light of the upcoming extinction of the Argyle Diamond mine. "Born over billions of years, these incredible diamonds are one of nature's rarest creations and one of the world's sublime wonders," explains Calleija. "These are truly unique heirloom diamonds that you may only ever see once in a lifetime."
