A day at the Argyle mine
In the year 2021 the last Argyle pink diamond will be unearthed, right before the underground crushers, conveyors, and trucks shutdown for the last time.
Research & Insights
Undertones VS modifiers
In the world of fancy color diamonds, we apply a large number of terms to describe a stone. Some of these terms portray the stone’s general beauty, some its gemological attributes, and some its color. Many terms were invented by the GIA and became industry standards after decades of use. Other terms, such as “Tint, Tone, Shade, Pure, Dirty, Sweet, a touch of…”, etc.
Why are Zimmi Vivid Yellow Diamonds So Special?
The FCRF continually brings members the highest quality data in order to add more talking points to the fancy color diamond sales process. As part of these efforts, we have asked a preeminent diamond expert to shed light on one of the most desirable items in the fancy color world: The exceptional Vivid Yellow diamonds that are mined next to a small village by the name of Zimmi in Sierra Leone. This article explains why these stones have unique saturation that fetches extremely high prices.
The Risk in Fancy Color Diamond Manufacturing
In this article FCRF continues to raise awareness about issues that are generally hidden from the professional public. In a unique achievement, FCRF was able to get hold of a fully documented case in which the polishing of a high value stone went terribly wrong, with photos that illustrate each stage. This is an exceptional opportunity to illustrate the risks that manufacturers face and the possible gloomy outcome.
Defining “Not Applicable”
After conducting a small survey among diamond wholesalers, we recognized an uncertainty in the trade regarding the term “Not Applicable”, which appears on GIA fancy color reports. Collectively, wholesalers felt that this term does not express a desirable attribute – but they could not clearly explain its implications.
Using the Right ‘Tool Box’
Whether you are a diamond dealer or a sales person in a jewelry store, the 4C’s system is the first and only methodology used for classifying colorless diamonds. Efficient and easy to employ, each category in the system has its own hierarchy. Once its basic principles are understood, anyone can evaluate a colorless diamond accompanied with a report.
‘Bubbles’ in Diamonds?
Although this article does not discuss fancy color diamonds it is a relevant topic for all diamond industry professionals, as this phenomenon is very common in fancy color, particularly in pink diamonds.
Not My ‘Type’: Common Misconceptions About Type IIa Pink Diamonds
The romance around Type IIa diamonds first began when scientists found a link between diamonds sourced from the legendary Golconda mine in India and the fact that stones hailing from this area were commonly Type IIa. As we all know by now, the collective assumption is that Type IIa diamonds – which are distinguished for their absence of nitrogen – are known to be more ‘white’ than most D color diamonds.
Fancy Color Newcomers
In recent years, the fancy color community witnessed a shift that altered every part of its territory and slowly became familiar to the entire industry: the migration of white diamond companies’ capital toward fancy color diamonds. Newcomers to this segment disrupted the balance of power, a sector that was dominated by veteran fancy color hegemony for decades.
The Geographic Cutting Fingerprint for Fancy Color Diamonds
Traditions, rituals and cultural identities are inherent within the cut of a fancy color diamond.