DIAMOND BLOG

Most people know that natural diamonds are found deep beneath the Earth’s surface. Mines are created to recover these magnificent artifacts, sometimes so large they can be seen from space. What may come as somewhat of a surprise though, is the fact that diamonds can be found beneath the ocean as well! Millions of years ago, the Orange River carried mass amounts of diamonds from the middle of South Africa and deposited these stones on the bottom of the sea. Although it might sound somewhat far fetched, it is indeed a fact. So much so that the well-known De Beers Company recently started a venture called Debmarine Namibia, as it is a collaborative endeavor between the diamond mining company and the government of Namibia. Ships are currently harvesting diamonds from the ocean floor off of Africa’s Atlantic coast.   How it Works While natural pearls may be floating around within some salt-water oysters somewhere in middle of the ocean, these ocean diamonds are retrieved from 400 feet below sea level. It might be quite the undertaking, and an expensive one at that, but the rewards speak for themselves.   The Findings Seafloor diamonds currently make up 4% of De Beers’ yearly production, which in reality translates into 13% because of their incredibly high quality. The project is entitled to mine a 2,300-square-mile space off the African shores, and so far has only managed to cover 3% of that number.   The Cost The saying “you need money to make money,” could not be truer than in the instance of this very exciting and unique venture. De Beers is shoveling buckets of money into this under-the-sea project with an existing ship and another sampling ship in the works, with an overhead of $166 million. This is all being done in hopes of experiencing the success they have been seeing this far all the way down below the deep blue sea. Their efforts are paying off as some of the world’s finest diamonds are being uncovered in the least likely of places. In an industry that is first and foremost scientific, it is simply electrifying to learn about further sources for diamonds, the way in which they came to be, and how they can be obtained from their newly discovered locations. This discovery is remarkably significant for the diamond-mining world and the diamond industry as one. Take a look at some of the most impressive diamonds that exist in the market.

Red diamonds are the rarest of all fancy color diamonds, which is why this color diamond was chosen to adorn this year’s Argyle Coin, said to be worth approximately $761,020 or one million Australian dollars. The 0.54-carat diamond alone is valued at nearly $550,000 since at $1.3 million to $1.4 million per carat; even the smallest red diamond will cost you an arm and a leg. The gold coin adds another $32,000 or so, with the remaining sum going toward overhead such as labor and production costs. Dubbed the ‘Kimberley Treasure,’ the coin is intended as an investment piece and is not the first of its kind to be released.   The Coin The 2.2-pound (1 kg) coin was released by Perth Mint in collaboration with Rio Tinto and is believed to be the most valuable coin of its kind in history. Made from almost 100% pure gold (99.99% to be exact), the cherry on top is most definitely the red diamond, which according to Perth Mint Chief Executive, Richard Hayes, is one of a select few that are mined each year. In fact, Argyle pink diamonds are so rare that an entire year’s worth of stones above 1.00 carat can fit into the palm of one’s hand. And red diamonds are even rarer than those! An image of a kangaroo holding the red stone is etched upon the coin with the words “Australian Kangaroo” written above it, and “2016 1 Kilo 9999 Gold” inscribed beneath it.   Additional Coins While the ‘Kimberley Treasure’ is certainly unique and valuable, it is not the only coin to be released by Rio Tinto. Just a few months back, 40 coins known as the ‘Kimberley Sunset’ coins were introduced to the world. Each one of these coins was crafted from rose gold and consisted of a pink diamond weighing between 0.035 and 0.045 carats. Similar to the kangaroo displayed upon the ‘Kimberley Treasure,’ an animal native to Australia, the ‘Kimberley Sunset’ showcased a boab tree, a tree from Australian culture. These coins contained only 2 ounces of pink gold in contrast to the 2.2 pound yellow gold ‘Kimberley Treasure.’ It’s no wonder the price tag on the Sunset editions was $9,000.   Additional Collaborations Another collaboration between Rio Tinto and Perth Mint was in the form of ingots, which interestingly enough also included an image of the Australian boab tree and pink diamonds. 168 of these ingots were created, each priced at $4,000. The rose gold bar is the size of a credit card and weighs one ounce. With the official launch of the Argyle Tender around the corner, the ‘Kimberley Treasure’ coin will surely stir up some curiosity and excitement, as the world anticipates the reveal of the an extraordinarily rare violet diamond, which is the centerfold of the tender. Though the diamond industry may be experiencing some bumps, it’s stones like these that keep the ball rolling. The Argyle mine is scheduled to close in the coming years. Take a look through our collection of Argyle diamonds, and get them while these stones are still available!  

Similar to some things in life, there are colors that are definitive and there are colors that are less so, whether it is because they are a combination of primary colors or because they are a specific shade of a preexisting color combination. Violet is seen like one of these “sub” colors although technically, violet is present in the visible light spectrum while purple, a very similar color, is simply a combination of the primary colors red and blue. In fact, violet vibrations are the highest in the visible spectrum. Furthermore, violet is seen in a different tone than purple is seen, putting it in a completely separate category altogether. Nevertheless, the two colors share many similarities, both in appearance and in meaning. Let us take a look at this intriguing color and its implications. GIA published a book on the beauty of LEIBISH's 1.00 carat violet diamond   A Little of Red, A Little of Blue Since violet has a similar appearance to purple, which is the combination of red and blue, both of these colors play a part in terms of the meaning of violet. Like red, violet contains a strong energy, and like blue, it exudes integrity and spirituality. Together, red and blue create the coming together of body and soul, and ultimately form a balance between the physical and the spiritual. Learn more about violet diamonds.   Humanitarian Violet Above all, violet promotes sensitivity to our surroundings. This includes an unconditional, selfless, and compassionate attitude toward the environment. Diamonds are rarely found with a primary violet color, but when they are, true excitement is seen on all the faces of those who view the stones. Leibish is in awe of the beauty of his 1.03 carat Fancy Deep Gray Violet diamond   The Violet Effect Violet is a magical color that can have an array of effects on its wearers. Stones containing the beautiful soft hue can awaken romantic and nostalgic feelings, calm the nerves, provide one with a sense of spirituality, and encourage creativity. It is a color often associated with femininity, youth, and luxury. Check out our collection of Violet Diamonds. While purple comes across as royal, regal, and magical in the wizardry and sorcery sense, violet projects a more subtle and delicate vibe. This translates into very romantic and feminine when displayed through a natural gemstone such as violet diamonds, jade, quartz, garnet, spinel, and amethyst. They are exquisite additions to any ensemble and present an ideal balance of physical energy and emotional energy without being too feminine.  

Ordinary items that are covered in diamonds are not a new concept, nor are the various unorthodox types of diamond body jewelry, including diamond grills. However, despite the ever-growing popularity of these tooth ornaments, the appearance (and price) of such embellishments can come as quite the shock. Recently rapper Travis Scott shelled out a steep $25,000 on 10-carat blue, white, pink, and brown diamond 18K gold grills by Johnny Dang (aka TV Johnny.) Though the extraordinary pieces of jewelry have yet to be revealed, the jeweler announced the purchase via Instagram.   Diamond Grills Diamond-studded teeth are not new to the rapper scene, with the likes of Kanye West already rocking blingy teeth several years ago, in 2010. He showed off his gold and diamond bottom teeth, which may or may not have replaced his original teeth due to a car crash. In his case, they were his actual teeth and not a grill. Paul Wall, T-Pain, Nelly, and Lil Wayne are other examples of celebs that have gone for the grill look. Paul Wall not only sports the glitzy mouthpieces, but designs them as well. T-Pain spent $30,000 on his choice of grill, which was adorned with yellow diamonds. Nelly loves grills so much that he wrote a song about it “Grillz,” and Lil Wayne has one of the most expensive smiles in Hollywood with his $150,000 grill.   Grill Competition Given the fact that diamond grills are very pricey as well as extremely “out there,” one would think they still exude plenty of individuality. Nevertheless there are those celebrities who feel fellow grill wearers are stepping on their toes and stealing their thunder. Tyga’s purple grill seems to have started some trouble, although each artist’s choice of mouth jewelry appears to be a reflection of his own personal taste and style. For instance, “happy” Pharrel Williams has a delightful rainbow colored set to match his bright personality. Controversy or no controversy, we look forward to the debut of these color diamonds grills, which are scheduled to make an appearance when Scott hits the stage later this month as part of Rihanna’s ANTI World Tour. He should wear them in good health! Interested in seeing the different types of jewelry Leibish creates? Browse through the gallery and let us know if you see anything you like!

Diamonds are stunning, and one would say that the sky is the limit when it comes to how many diamonds one should have, if budget allows. However, at a certain point, an excessive amount of diamonds used for a mundane item could collectively be agreed on as perhaps being perhaps, a little over the top? A quarter of a million dollars can go a long way to supporting one's lifestyle rather handsomely. When this amount of money is spent on a diamond-encrusted soccer ball, it definitely raises a few eyebrows. Nevertheless, this is precisely how Karim Benzema, an international French soccer star, chose to celebrate his accomplishments.    The Soccer Ball Intended to be home décor piece that will according to many, most likely be an intriguing conversation starter, the standard sized soccer ball consists of 72,000 color diamonds totaling 1,250 carats. The ball was a collaboration between Dimitry Shimanov, a New York based celebrity jeweler also known as Dave Bling, and Will Selby, better known as Will Da Boss. Benzema approached these jewelers in hopes of crafting his dream soccer ball, the final product was in fact quite impressive.   Most Expensive Soccer Ball Though this unique soccer ball is certainly far pricier than any standard soccer ball, the Real Madrid player did not succeed in beating the current holder of the world's most expensive soccer ball. In 2012, South African jeweler, Yair Shimansky, created a ball featuring 6,620 white diamonds and 2,640 black diamonds. The total carat weight of this $2.5 million ball comes to 3,500 carats. This very rare soccer ball covered in stunning South African diamonds weighs 2.2 kilograms and will never be used in an actual soccer game. Not only is it too expensive to risk playing with, but the ball is also not approved by FIFA. There is no question that this unusual ball has attracted a lot of attention. Regardless of what your opinions are on flamboyant purchases, there is no arguing about the beauty of these pieces. The fact that as far as we are concerned they would look much better set in a remarkable color diamond ring, necklace, earrings, and bracelet settings is a whole different story.  

Brown diamonds, also referred to as brown, champagne, and cognac, are among the more affordable fancy color diamonds because there are so many available. Still, as part of the world of color diamonds, they attract many customers with an array of questions. Brown diamond jewelry, (otherwise known as Champagne or Brown diamond jewelry) from our Cocoa Collection  In order to provide you with some of the most useful information about these stones and the best ways to go about purchasing them, we have come up with a list of the most frequently asked question about brown diamonds.   1. What are brown diamonds and are they real? The first question most people seem to have is: what are brown diamonds to begin with? Well, for those of you unfamiliar with the term fancy color diamonds, welcome to a whole new world of 100% natural diamonds, filled with the most miraculous colors. Although the word diamond brings up instant images of a clear, colorless stone, diamonds can actually be found in a rainbow of colors ranging from red to brown and an opaque black to a bright canary vivid yellow stone. These stones can be found with a beautiful brown coloring present in the stone. Like all color diamonds, brown diamonds are mainly graded based on their color, which is broken down into color and color intensity. Obviously, the purer and the more vivid the color, the more valuable the stone. Check out our collection of natural brown diamonds. Different shades and intensities of natural brown diamonds   2. Are brown diamonds expensive? Asking whether or not brown diamonds are expensive is almost like asking whether cars are pricey. Diamonds, like cars, are costly items to begin with. However, their prices vary greatly, and this of course applies to brown diamonds as well. Though brown diamonds are generally more affordable than some other of their color diamond counterparts such as pink diamonds due to their rather abundant production in contrast to many other colors, their prices can still reach staggering numbers. Brown diamond prices depend on the hue and intensity of the color and also the diamond's size, color, clarity level, and cut. A large, low quality stone can be cheaper than a small flawless one. Therefore, each diamond needs to be looked at and considered based on its own individual specifications.   3. How rare are brown diamonds? Let us begin by saying that as gemstones go, all fancy color diamonds are rare. Since color diamonds as a whole are only a tiny fraction of the world's diamonds at what is referred to as gem quality, we are already looking at a very rare specimen. Having said that, brown diamonds do number higher than most other fancy color diamonds and are considered one of the more common and less expensive color diamonds. This does not mean that you will be able to by these precious stones by the dozens, unless you are multi millionaire of course. It does though mean that if you fancy a color diamond and don't have the highest budget, you might just be able to squeeze a brown diamond in. In fact, the lower intensities are even more affordable than a high quality colorless stone, so have a look through our champagne diamond rings. LEIBISH fancy brown diamond ring   4.Why are brown diamonds brown? Every diamond is made up of compound elements and may or may or not contain impurities, all which can affect the visual appearance of the stone. Nitrogen, an impurity found in yellow diamonds, is the component responsible for the yellow or brownish coloring. A brown diamond also receives a large part of its unique color from the light that was absorbed through structural defects in the stone's crystal lattice.   5.Where are brown diamonds mined? Brown diamonds are found all around the world, including the famous Argyle mine in Australia and in South Africa. In fact, it was the Argyle mine, which is responsible for a great deal of the world's brown diamond production that turned the rather dull color diamond into a must-have item through an ingenious marketing tactic. The mine dubbed the brown diamond a “champagne diamond,” instantly giving it a classy and desirable image. The plan worked like a charm, and brown diamonds, which are now referred to as cognac diamonds along with brown diamonds, are seen as romantic color stones similar in color to some of our famous drinks and foods.   6. Are all brown diamonds real? A brown diamond can naturally brown or real, but not natural. What does that mean? Brown diamonds are diamonds found in nature with a brown color as a result of the compound structure. However, since this is such a rare occurrence, some individuals attempt to achieve the brown hue by enhancing a natural colorless diamond, thus giving it a brown color. These are what are known as artificially enhanced diamonds. While this type of diamond is a genuine diamond, it is not a genuine brown diamond. Therefore, when shopping for brown diamonds, it is important to clarify that you are looking for a natural brown diamond and not a color enhanced stone. Matching Champagne diamond jewelry 7. Can brown diamonds be set in jewelry pieces? Not only can a brown diamond be set in a jewelry piece but it absolutely should! There is no reason why any of these miraculous stones shouldn't be showcased in an elegant setting. Wearing jewelry is a great way to keep an eye on the stone at all times and also enables you to show off your beloved investment. The gold or platinum setting only adds to the piece's value and makes the stone look all that more impressive. Champagne diamonds also contrast really well with colorless stones, so making a 3 stone ring, or pave set champagne diamond ring is a sure way to attract a lot of attention! Brown diamond earring studs, a pendant, a ring, and drop earring set They might not be as bright as canary diamonds or as feminine as pink diamonds, but brown diamonds have much to offer and certainly come in an attractive price range. From a delicate light brown diamond to a deep brown colored stone, brown diamonds can be suitable for many personality types as well as skin tones. They are eye catching as studs, a pendant necklace, and of course, as a stunning diamond engagement ring. Always make sure to do the necessary research before your purchase, and enjoy your stone if and when you decide to take the plunge.

As one of the rarest of all color diamonds, there is much to know about red diamonds, even though they are so difficult to find. From just how rare red diamonds are, what intensities these stones are found with, to where in the world one can find these remarkable stones. Many questions have been asked about this incredibly unique color diamond. Here is a compilation of some of the most frequently asked questions about red diamonds.  LEIBISH red diamond ring with a 0.53 carat fancy red LEIBISH red diamond ring with an 0.80 carat oval diamond What are red diamonds and are they real? Red diamonds are genuine, natural diamonds found with a surprising crimson color. They are not rubies, garnets, or any other type of gemstone. They are diamonds with all the amazing aspects of a diamond, including its unbelievably durability. On top of that, they have the perk of being magnificently red. Also, although most fancy colors can be found in one of 9 different intensities, red diamonds only exist in one single intensity - Fancy Red. Albeit they are in one intensity, there are different hues of red available. Fancy red diamonds in different hues of red color How rare are red diamonds? While yellow and brown diamonds are some of the more common color diamonds, red diamonds are considered among the rarest of all color diamonds, surpassing purple, orange, and pink diamonds. An 0.80 carat Fancy Red Red Argyle Tender diamond Where are reds diamonds found? Red diamonds are found in few mines around the globe including Australia, Brazil, Russia, and India. In far, the Argyle mine which is renowned for their production of some of the most amazing pinks, blues and reds, will often include the best reds they find each year in their annual Argyle Tender. The Tender is comprised of a collection of anywhere between 40-60 of the best of the best and usually will include only 1, 2, or 3 red diamonds. Where are red diamonds sold? Unlike most other diamonds, including color diamonds such as yellow and even pink diamonds, most red diamonds are not bought by consumers, but rather, by collectors seeking to complete their lavish collections. These stones are sold at very high prices and therefore sought after only by those who seek out only the very best diamonds available. Red diamonds are generally not for sale at local jewelers and must be tracked down at auction houses and various specialty sales dedicated to collectors and investors. Needless to say, there are few of the high-end luxury companies sell them to the general public, but again, there are not many that are available! Have a look at LEIBISH's red diamond collection! The red diamond catalog page on LEIBISH's website What makes red diamonds red? Every color diamond has a cause for the unique color. In yellow and blue diamonds for example, the colors are caused by impurities present in the stones. Nitrogen and boron, respectively, cause the yellow and blue colors. Pink diamonds are a whole different story. It is believed that the color is a result of deformations in the crystal lattice structure of the diamond. This process occurred due to the immense pressure diamonds endured under the earth's surface for millions of years. Red diamonds are basically a very intensely concentrated version of pink diamonds, resulting in a deep and savory rare red diamond.   A beautiful collection of LEIBISH red diamonds Prices for red diamonds, which are usually found in small sizes due to their rarity, are very high, and not within budget for the average jewelry consumer. As an example, the largest red diamond recorded is the Moussaieff Red, which is only 5.11 carats. Nevertheless, red diamonds make intriguing passion investment pieces and are always cherished by those lucky enough to own them.

Having been mined originally in South Africa by De Beers as a 132.5 carat rough diamond, the stone reached the hands of the Steinmetz Company, who was responsible for cutting it. Two year and fifty practice models later, “The Steinmetz Pink” was born. It was then displayed in Monaco in 2003, and later sold privately in 2007, upon which its owner renamed it the Pink Star. Finally, The Type IIa 59.60-carat vivid pink IF oval shaped diamond was sold at auction at Sotheby’s in 2013. The starting price for the Pink Star at auction was $48 million and was initially estimated to bring in over $60 million at its final price. After being bought for an all-time high of $83.2 million, well above its highest estimates, it was immediately renamed the Pink Dream by its new owners. Unlike most bidders, the bidder of the Pink Dream did not remain anonymous. He revealed himself and made it clear that he was buying the stone as an investment piece along with other investors in hopes of seeing it appreciate greatly over time. Unfortunately, the bidder, diamond cutter Isaac Wolf on behalf of an investment consortium, did not come through with the payment, and the future of the fascinating Pink Dream was thrown in question. As the world’s largest Fancy Vivid Pink diamond, it was not too shocking that the former Pink Star managed to rake in such a sum. What was surprising, however, is that the bidder, who outbid three other strong contenders, managed to back out. The $83.2 million total, which includes all of the fees, is more than double the amount that the previous “most expensive diamond ever sold at auction”, the Graff Pink, managed to sell for. Though Sotheby’s, which held the auction, is still in touch with Isaac Wolf, it has since bought the diamond back in order to keep their word to the previous owners. The Pink Dream will most likely be put up for auction sometime in the near future.

Owning luxurious items such as expensive cars and fancy jewelry is reserved mainly for those with deep pockets, but you know you are really doing really well when buying an $817 scoop of ice cream is no big deal at all. In Dubai, this is a reality, as the Scoopi Café offers, along with its more ordinary flavors, the Black Diamond, an extravagantly topped vanilla ice cream scoop served in a Versace bowl. Although the edible gold flakes that adorn the scoop justify the steep price, most people cannot afford to spend nearly $1,000 on a few bites of ice cream. However, this is Dubai after all, where “normal” takes on a whole new meaning. Additionally, as hard as it is to believe, a more expensive ice cream does exist.  The Scoop Made from a rather plain Madagascar vanilla-bean ice cream base, the Black Diamond is topped with Italian truffles, a very unique Iranian saffron that goes for up to $100 an ounce, and for the finishing touch, edible 23K gold flakes. The extravagant dessert is served in a Versace bowl, which can be taken home, along with the matching Versace spoon.    Guinness Book of World Records’ Most Expensive Dessert The Black Diamond may be called the world’s most expensive ice cream, but there is in fact another ice cream named the most expensive dessert in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records. The $25,000 Frozen Haute is actually a sundae and consists of an ice cream made from 28 blends of cocoa, including 14 of the most expensive in the world, and is covered with edible 23K gold flakes. The base of the ice cream can be taken home and is adorned with an 18K gold bracelet set with one carat of colorless diamonds. On top of all of that, you get to take home a gold spoon embellished with colorless and brown diamonds. This remarkable dessert was the result of the collaboration between the famed Serendipity 3 restaurant and the jewelry company, Euphoria, New York. Although the Black Diamond may not be everyone’s idea of the ideal ice cream or a real indulgence, it is most definitely unique. For those with an unlimited budget, it is simply one other lavish new thing to try out. The rest of us “ordinary” folks will have to make do with $2 or so ice cream cones and stick with gold items that last more than a few minutes.  

Many items in our world today include some sort of serial number or another. Aside for their original purpose of inventory, they don't seem like much importance to us. However, the inscription numbers found on a GIA certified diamond are quite different from those other numbers in that they play an extremely important role in the safety of your stone. Each GIA certified diamond with a serial number is registered in the GIA records with the name and contact information of he who sent the stone in to be assessed. The number is inscribed on girdle of the diamond, and if found, can be looked up in order to track down who rightfully owns it. This is precisely what occurred just recently to a newly engaged couple, who, if not for these ingenious identification numbers, would have never seen their diamond again. The laser inscribed serial number on an Argyle pink diamond Lost Diamond Ring Returned to Lawndale Woman Miriam Castellanos, of Lawndale, California, was devastated to discover one morning that her beautiful diamond engagement ring was missing. Luckily, a very honest woman from El Sugando was alert enough to notice a shiny object on the ground as she was pumping fuel into her car at the gas station. After notifying the authorities regarding the find, the ring was appraised and then looked up through GIA so that it could be reunited with its owner. Somehow the ring had managed to slip off of Miriam’s finger while she was at a Costco gas station in Hawthorne. The ring was estimated at $15,000 and was luckily returned to the ecstatic couple.   About the Inscriptions As wonderful as it is to know that diamonds can be traced to their owners, it also might concern some that something is inscribed on their diamond. No need to worry because such inscriptions are only detectable by a very select few, and only with the appropriate tools. You cannot easily see numbers on it, nor do they become apparent with a simple diamond loupe or average magnifying glass. They require much more high-powered equipment to be seen. These inscriptions are here to protect diamonds while maintaining their beauty. A diamond loupe, for examining diamonds at a 10X magnification Thanks to the wonderful technology we have today, diamonds can be marked in such a way that they can be returned to their owners in case they are lost. Furthermore, a serial number can also help track a stone once purchased. Imagine this, these little piece of data can help thwart against diamond thefts since if someone if offered something too good to be true and looks into it, they can essentially identify if the stone was reported as stolen in the past. This is done, all the while keeping their beauty intact. Not every person who comes upon a diamond will be honest enough to return it. Similarly, not all lost diamonds are found. Therefore much precaution regarding one’s diamond should always be taken as well as ensuring that the stones are properly insured.

Although the famed Argyle mine, in Western Australia, which opened in 1985 was shuttered by 2020, its legendary status remains stronger today than ever before. Famed for their pink and red diamond production, they also brought up other colors like blue and lavender. Today pink diamonds especially have found their sweet spot with true diamond connoisseurs---and the mine’s closing has only made them even more coveted. The reason for the mounting devotion to these rosy rocks? The answer lies in simply taking a look at them. Their mesmerizing beauty and elegant tints hold collectors spellbound. Like any rarity, there are no two pink or red diamonds exactly alike—each one with its distinct size and shape also exhibits a unique shade never to be repeated. That’s the hypnotic draw of genuine Argyle pink diamonds. While the Argyle mine was operating, over time they developed a way to both educate and entice collectors with their certification system. Their detailed method of describing color and clarity traits of each stone has become the standard for communicating Argyle diamond quality within the industry. For the last 30 years or so, the Argyle mine has been able to educate and promote its diamonds in very clever ways, a feat that not many mines have ever been able to accomplish. One example is that the mine, owned by Rio Tinto mining corporation, located in Kimberley, Western Australia founded its own certification method. Their certificate now stands as a recognized diamond certification system in its own right, in addition to that of the world renowned GIA (Gemological Institute of America). It has also created its own tender for its top and best quality diamonds that are mined annually. Once a year, it holds its annual Argyle Pink Diamond Tender in which it showcases its best pink, red, and even blue stones from the preceding year. The 7 Argyle diamonds won in the 2014 Tender My subsequent analysis follows my original August 18, 2014 report about this year’s tender. This report encompasses a 25 year period (I have all the tender information since 1990, except for 1993, so this is an analysis covering 24 out of 30 years of tender stones). During this time, it has offered a total of 1,278 diamonds on tender for a total of 1176.08 carats. This translates to an annual average of 53.25 stones, and an average weight of 49.00 carats per year. According to official Argyle mine information, it claims it produces 90% of global supply of pink diamonds (it is one of the world top volume diamond producers, but not by value). The Argyle mine claims it offers its top diamonds at the tender every year. My question is, how does it compare to the other 10% of the global supply, both by value and quality? According to publicly provided information, since the early days of the Argyle mine, over 750 million carats of diamond rough were mined (until 2013). 80% were brown color, 16% yellow, 2% white, 2% grey, and less than 1% of the diamonds were pink. From current information provided by Argyle, prices for their tender stones have tripled from the 2000 tender to the 2014 tender. During 2013, they claim that there were the most bids ever for over a million dollars per carat. A 2.09 carat heart, Lot #49 from the 1992 tender has just sold at Christie’s Hong Kong - for a total amount of $5,094,327, or $2,437,477 per carat, a world record   Shop Argyle Pink Diamonds     The Argyle Tender Activity Through the Years I decided to do a more in depth analysis of all of its offerings during the last 25 of 30 years of the tender stones, except for 1993, for which I did not have the information. The analysis took time, as I had to gather all the information and input it into 1 table with various criteria and groups; color, clarity, size. It was no surprise that pink diamonds were the majority of offering, standing at 92.41%. Their blue collection launched in 2009 and other colors, combined, stood at 4.23%, and the rest were red diamonds at 3.36%. When I looked at the various clarity grades, the majority of stones at 84.98% were in the I and SI clarity group, while 13.07% were of VS clarity. While the remaining 1.95% was of VVS clarity, NONE were in the IF or F clarity, making me question many things, which I will explore later on. Lastly, in terms of size, 55% or 702 diamonds were larger than 0.75 carats, while the rest were smaller. A good portion (38%, or 485) of the total diamonds were above 1.00 carats. From those above 1.00 carats, only 10 diamonds or 0.78% of the total offered were above 3.00 carats, a true rarity. Only 2001 had a stone larger than 4.00 carats; it was a 4.15 carat Fancy Intense Purplish Pink (1992 had a 5.04 carat stone but it was a grayish green-yellow, so I did not count it as above 4.00 carats). Based on the above information, how is it that some very special pink diamonds have sold in auctions, such as the Graff Pink, Pink Dream and others that were of significant size and superior clarity, and were not from Argyle? Color Analysis Red: In the last 24 years, Argyle has had 16 red diamonds sold at their tender events, a mere 1.25% of all tender stones. These were certified as Fancy Red stones on behalf of GIA; a true rarity. A further 27 stones, or 2.11% (out of 1,278 stones) were described as Fancy Purplish Red; also a rare breed. Having a secondary color such as purplish has never prevented from these stone of earning top dollar, similar to those of Fancy Red ones. In my analysis, the first Fancy Red diamond from Argyle was offered in 1999. In 2003 and 2004 there were 2 more stones, 1 each year. The real change had started in 2009, where every year since, has had Fancy Red diamonds offered on a yearly basis, peaking at 4 this last tender (2014). In 2013 there were 3, prior to that 1 in 2012, 1 in 2011, and 3 in 2010. Let me remind you that underground mining has started in 2013, but the decision to go underground had started much earlier, in around 2008-2009. On the other hand, Fancy Purplish Red diamonds have been offered more frequently since 1990, averaging a stone every year, and peaking at 4 stones in 2007. My conclusion is that the polishers have improved their skills and have maximized the color possibility for the tender offering (during 2009-2014 tenders, there were only 3 Fancy purplish Red diamonds offered compared to 13 Fancy reds). Argyle Fancy Reds vs. Fancy Purplish Reds   Pink: Obviously, this Color category holds the majority of stones offered, as Argyle is known for offering 90% of global supply of pink diamonds. This color category has offered 1,181 stones, a 92.41% share of the total stones (1,278) offered at tender. The main offerings were Fancy Deep Pink and Fancy Intense Pink, holding 26.84% and 38.34% of the total offerings, respectively. On average 14 stones in the Fancy Deep Pink (FDP) have been offered annually, with a peak of 30 stones in 2000 to a low of 0 in 1990-1994 years and only one in 2014. Between 1995 and 2007 there was a consistent volume offered, and since 2008, there was a decline. On the other hand, Fancy Intense Pink (FIP) has averaged 20 stones during the same years, a peak of 42 stones in 2011, and a low of 0 in 1990-1991 and a single stone in 1992 and 1994. During the 24 years covered there has been a steady increase in FIP offered at the tender annual event. Fancy Vivid Pink (FVP) has had a more stable offering. On average 7 stones annually were offered as a Fancy Vivid Pink (FVP); with a peak of 19 in 2010 and a low of 0 in 1990-1994 and a single stone in 1995. But the offerings have been quite stable, and not as fluctuating as the FIP and FDP. Finally, Fancy Pink (FP) accounted for 172 stones or 13.46% of total offering. The interesting part is that 156 of them, or 90.70% of the FPs have been offered between 1990 and 1994. During that same period of the other 3; FIP, FVP, and FDP were just 2 stones in total. My assessment is that it took until the 1995 for Argyle to gain the experience necessary to reach such colors. Depth of Argyle Pink Diamonds at Tenders  Number of Pinks at Tender by Intensity by Year Other Colors Other colors, such as Yellow and Blue consisted of only 54 stones or just 4.23% of total offering. 1990-1994 period saw 17 stones offered. During 1995-2011, only 1 to 3 stones were offered, usually in the Grey and Bluish tones while in 2012 there was a 14 stone collection in the tender, only 3 in 2013, and none in 2014.  Argyle Tender Diamonds Blues & Others, by Year   Clarity Analysis It is not surprising that for the clarity of the majority of stones, 84.98% were in the SI and I groups. A further 13.07% were classified as VS, and a mere 1.80% was classified as VVS clarity. None of the tender stones were classified as IF or F clarity. Nearly half of the stones offered since 1990 (49.77%) were classified as SI stones. On average, 26.50 stones were offered yearly; the high being 37 in 2007 vs. the low of 16 in 1990. Except for 1990 and 1995, on average, the quantity offered ranged in the mid 20’s. For SI, consisting of 35.21% of all offering, the average yearly quantity was 18.75 stones. The range was a high of 30 stones offered in 1998 and a low of 9 offered in 2001. For the 3rd group, being in the VS clarity class, on average 6.96 stones have been offered yearly. The high was 20 stones offered in 2012, which also happens to be the year where there were the most stones offered, with a low of 1 in 1990. But most years, the quantity ranged between 4-6 stones. For VVS clarity, being that only 1.80% of stones offered were of this quality, it demonstrates the rarity of such Argyle diamonds. There were no diamonds offered in the tender that had either an IF or F clarity.   Clarity of Tender Diamonds, by Year Argyle Tender Diamond Clarity, %  Size Analysis In order to analyze the sizes of the tender stones, I decided to group them according to the same way colorless diamonds are traditionally grouped (less than 0.33 carats, 0.33cts to 0.49cts, 0.50cts to 0.65cts, 0.66cts to 0.74cts, 0.75cts to 0.99cts, 1.00ct to 1.49ct, 1.50ct to 1.99ct, 2.00ct to 2.99ct and 3.00cts+). The distribution had a shape of a wave. Low quantity on the small sizes under 0.50cts, then an increase, a low offering on 0.66ct to 0.74ct then an increase then a low again on the 1.50cts+ sizes. The group that had the most offered was in the 0.50ct to 0.66ct, which was 28.87% of total stones offered. The 2nd group is quite important as this group was in the 1.00ct to 1.50ct group, at 26.45% of offering. All the other groups were in the single digit percentage. Argyle Tender Diamonds Carat Weight, by % total   What was so different in 2012? That year was the last year before the mine went underground officially. That year also saw the following unusual offering (according to our analysis):- The most stones offered, a total of 70 stones (compare to a 34-65 range).- It offered 14 stones in the blue shade, the most ever (14 stones).- It offered the majority of stones under 0.33cts ever (10 out of 18).- Majority of stones were below 0.75cts in size (71% compared to 45% on average).- The lowest average size stone ever (0.61cts compared to 0.92cts on average).- The lowest quantity of stones over 1.00cts (9 compared to 20.21 on average).   Conclusion Although the analysis may not be favorable at times to Argyle, the conclusion remains the same as before - the demand for Argyle diamonds increases year after year no matter what. The fact remains that Argyle diamond prices continue to climb to new heights every year. The value has tripled in the last 14 years. For those that know pink diamonds, Argyle diamonds have a special bubble gum color which is a deeper color than pink diamonds from other mines, similar to the difference between a Zimmi yellow to a non Zimmi yellow diamond.  With the closing of the Argyle mine, an important era also met its demise. There are no more fancy pinks or reds to come up from this historic mine. So those in the safekeeping of visionaries like LEIBISH are even more sought after today. A good barometer of their desirability is seen within the auction market now. We witness the excitement generated prior to each sale of pink or red diamonds. By following the sale prices for these scarce diamonds it’s clear each new sale price eclipses the previous one. They are beautiful investments to treasure now and for establishing generational wealth.Collectors keep close watch on any more Argyle diamonds coming to market after its closure in 2020. The last Tender in 2021 saw some of the most coveted stones being won by LEIBISH. Currently tenders with small stones called “Art Series” offer 0.10, 0.20, 0.30 ct goods. LEIBISH has already participated in its first event, Art Series 1, with plans to join the future ones.

The idea to create wealth from nothing has been examined and tested in every possible way since the dawn of time, beginning with the science of alchemy as far back as when history began. However, the concept of producing diamonds, the most precious and valuable substance in the world, from humble peanut butter, is downright genius. Shut the front door!    How It Works Diamonds are created from carbon, below Earth’s surface, where temperatures reach over 2,200 degrees Celsius and the pressure is 1.3 million times the pressure of our atmosphere. Scientists have already managed to create synthetic diamonds by recreating the natural process, and although it only takes a matter of days to construct these complication-free stones, these diamonds are not quite the real thing. However, they are used in jewelry, manufacturing, and electronics proving there is a need for such diamonds. That is what has brought Dan Frost from Bayerisches Geoinstitut in Germany to attempt to mimic the diamond creation process from an unconventional source: peanut butter. The tasty spread is used to provide the carbon, which, when exposed to the appropriate heat and pressure levels, will turn into a crystallized diamond.   Side angle of a LEIBISH colorless diamond   As fascinating as this process sounds, there is a catch. It takes three whole weeks to produce a 3-millimeter stone. That is smaller than a round 0.25-carat diamond. Furthermore, manufacturing diamonds in this fashion comes with a slight risk. Hydrogen bonded to the carbon atoms is released after the diamond is formed and this can lead to minor eruptions.   The Plan The long-term goal of Frost is not to replace the world’s supply of diamonds with peanut butter-produced stones, but rather, to learn from the process and use this knowledge to invent alternative formulas for synthetically grown diamonds that can service various industries. Stones with specialized properties can be achieved with minor changes made to the current recipe. For instance, by lining diamonds with boron, the amount of heat generated from such diamonds when used in semi conductors, which is generally a significant amount, can be reduced. Similarly, making use of carbon nanotubes can provide structural support for the diamond being created, resulting in a substance that is stronger than anything known to mankind.     Two completely natural LEIBISH triangle shaped colorless diamonds Frost explored many ideas and theories when coming up with this unique process, which involved analyzing the conditions in which diamonds are created. The crust, mantle, and core of the Earth have proven to be more complex than previously believed. It is assumed that meteorites and asteroids brought a great deal of material to prehistoric Earth, but it is uncertain where that material has been left. Finding the answer to this question will help Frost on his quest for understanding diamonds, and how they come to be.

Other than being beautiful, shiny, rare, and expensive, diamonds are well known for being one of the sturdiest substances on the planet. In fact, if you've ever heard of rubbing sandpaper on the diamond in order to check its authenticity that is because it's one of the hardest elements around. Still, all while this is most definitely reassuring, as the thought of losing a diamond or having it stolen is terrifying enough without having to worry about it breaking, it is by no means foolproof. Yes, even a diamond can get chipped, cracked, or split, especially from certain angles and on specific cuts and stone sizes. However, if and when such an incident occurs, there are ways to salvage the diamond, or at the very least, make the most of it. Here is how.   Recut/Polish the Diamond You might not be the clumsiest person in the world, and diamonds can be quite tough to chip, but you can still find yourself with a damaged stone after accidentally slamming your ring into the corner of your granite countertop or other sharp surface. Before you begin to mourn your marred diamond, analyze the damage, or bring it to your local jeweler to have a look. If the crack/chip is not very big, you are in luck. The diamond can be repolished or recut so that the damaged area is removed or perhaps polished down and perhaps after only losing a little bit of weight, the diamond can look as good as new. If, however, the chip is rather large, or the stone is very small, re-cutting may not be a practical option.  A diamond on the wheel being polished down to perfection   Reset the Stone A cracked diamond is a lot to digest, but there are other ways to salvage it besides for having it recut. Though a ring setting is a huge part of a diamond ring, it is usually far less expensive than the stone itself, and therefore much more affordable to replace. By choosing a setting that covers the imperfection, such as with a prong or decorative setting, a small or sentimental diamond that cannot be recut can be successfully salvaged. A loose diamond and its setting  Upgrading Your Diamond If all else fails, meaning you have looked at all of your options and none of them are relevant to the particular condition of your stone, look at the glass as half full and seize the opportunity to upgrade your stone. You have always wanted a different cut, larger stone, or possibly even a beautiful colored diamond. Now is your chance to get that stone, despite the rather dire circumstances that have gotten you here. Some jewelers may allow you to trade in your older stones, assuming that you are purchasing a larger and more expensive diamond. Nevertheless, you will still be paying less than buying a completely new stone from scratch. A pink Argyle diamond from LEIBISH No one should ever have the experience of chipping a diamond, but if it does happen, know that there are options, and many good ones too. The world does not end with a chipped diamond; life does go on. It may involve a new diamond cut, ring setting, or possibly a completely new diamond that comes at somewhat of a cost, but in any case, you will have learned a valuable lesson. Although diamonds are “forever,” they must be handled very cautiously, insured, and viewed as an asset that can be replaced if need be, and not just as the symbolic item that it is to you.