Collection Pan Arab Luxury Magazine
Related Articles
Diamonds have never stopped thrilling humanity since ancient times; these gems have always been the most adored by women and the most sought after by men as a sign of wealth and power.
Created within the earth’s core during hundred million of years and under extreme pressure and temperature, diamonds are brought to the surface by ancient volcanic activities. Valued for many characteristics such as hardness, weight, clarity and shape, they are valued above all for their lack of color, even though they are rarely found in nature in a remarkable rainbow of colors called “Fancy Color”.
Color diamonds of any kind and pinks in particular became very trendy in the market lately with higher consumer demand. Treatment of a diamond to turn it pink also became a popular option as the result is often pinks of great clarity and quality.
WHEN DIAMONDS ARE PINK
Sparkling, mysterious, and magical, pink diamonds drive us into an enchanted world of dream and romance. They come in a range of stunning hues, from light cool lilac undertones to bubble gum pink, and fancy vivid slightly reddish pink. They are graded according to the intensity of color in each individual stone.
Scientists know what gives color to a number of Fancy Color diamonds however when it comes to pink diamonds it is still a mystery as they have no nitrogen present in them. What is sure is that pink diamonds don’t grow up with a pink color: it is a post-growth process that makes diamonds acquire a pink color.
Pink diamonds have been recovered from several localities like Brazil, Canada, Russia, Siberia, South Africa and Tanzania before the discovery of the Argyle mines in Australia which produced more than 90 per cent of the world’s supply of pink diamonds. It is the mine where the world’s intense pink diamonds are found. However its life expectancy is short and according to experts the Argyle mine will be exhausted by 2022.
THE INCREDIBLE BEAUTY OF PINK DIAMONDS
Diamonds have long been worn by royalty but pink diamonds specifically appeared at the centre of some of the most famous pieces. The most famous pink diamonds in history are:
The Darya-i-Nur
The largest pink diamond in the world is the Darya-i-Nur or Sea of Light of 175 carats. The discovery of this diamond dates back to 1642 and it was part of the crown jewels of India until 1739 when it was taken by the invading Persian army and carried to Iran where it remains today.
The Pink Conde
Also called Le Grand Conde diamond, it is a 9-carat pear shaped diamond given to Louis de Bourbon, Prince of Conde in 1643 by King Louis 13th of France in recognition of war service, which he placed as the centerpiece of his bejeweled walking stick. It was later placed in the French Crown.
The Williamson Pink
Elizabeth II was given a 54-carat rough pink found in Tanzania Africa on her wedding in November 1947. The then Princess Elizabeth of England had the stone cut into a brilliant of 23.60-carats, and set as the centre of a brooch in the form of a jonquil flower, designed by Cartier in 1953.
The Pink Star
The Steinmetz Pink is a vivid pink diamond of 59.6 carats unveiled in Monaco in May, 2003. Sotheby’s acquired the “Pink Star” diamond after its buyer couldn’t pay. The preset owner is the New York based diamond cutter Isaac Wolf who outbid three rivals last November to pay $83.02 million for the flawless pink diamond in an auction guaranteed by Sotheby’s, and renamed it The Pink Dream.
The Graff Pink
This rare 24.78-carat pink diamond, once owned by Harry Winston, has been described as “one of the greatest diamonds ever discovered”. The diamond, mounted in a ring, was sold by Sotheby’s in Geneva, on 16 November 2010 for US $46 million. It then became the most expensive single jewel ever sold at auction at that time. The diamond was unnamed for all this time till bought by diamond dealer Laurence Graff of Graff Diamonds who named it the Graff Pink.
The Martian Pink
The largest round fancy intense pink diamond, and one of only two known round pink diamonds of significant size in the world to ever appear at auction was part of Christie’s Hong Kong Magnificent Jewels sale on May 2012. Owned by a private collector, this rare diamond was purchased from Harry Winston in 1976, and called the “Martian Pink” to honor the historic event of the first US satellite launched on a mission to Mars in the same year.
CELEBRITIES AND PINKS
Priced from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars per carat, pink diamonds have recently been seen worn by many celebrities and quickly became one of the hottest accessories on demand.
In February 2003 Nicole Kidman graced the red carpet in a 4 million dollar Bulgari pink diamond necklace. At the Academy Awards, Salma Hayek sparkled in a 6.17-carat, Fancy-Intense Pink diamond ring. Jennifer Lopez returned her multi-million dollar 6.5-carat heart shape pink diamond ring to former fiancé Ben Affleck, just prior to her recent marriage. Russian tennis pro Anna Kournikova recently showed off her giant 6-carat pink diamond engagement pear shaped ring, a 5 million dollar gift from Enrique Iglesias. US popstar Britney Spears has several pink diamond necklaces in her multi-million dollar collection of jewellery and dazzles audiences with her pink diamond bellychains. The stunning Miss World Australia 2006, Sabrina Houssami, has been showcasing pink diamonds to the world through her sponsorship with Kimberley Fine Diamonds. David Beckham bought his wife a $1 million worth 10-carat pink diamond ring with matching earrings, as a surprise birthday present. Pop star Kelly Price dazzled the Grammy Awards by wearing a heart-shaped pink diamond. Actress Calista Flockhart and supermodel Kate Moss have been spotted flaunting their pastel pink diamonds as well.
GOOD TO KNOW:
Keep your diamond jewellery in a fabric lined jewellery case or box with compartments or dividers as Diamonds can scratch other jewellery and each other.
Try to clean your diamond at least once a month, preferably using warm to hot water with a mild liquid detergent.
Don’t let your jewellery come into contact with chlorine, bleach or other chemicals because they can pit or discolour the mounting, the diamond however will not be affected.
See your jeweller at least once a year to have your jewellery professionally checked and cleaned.
If you have a piece of diamond jewellery that you no longer wear, or a piece you inherited and have never worn, you can have it renovated or redesigned.
How long will this legacy remain? Nobody knows… however diamond collectors can expect Pink and Red Diamonds will continue to escalate in value and rarity, becoming a legacy for future generations.
