The Bigger the Better

 

 

If you've been following mining news lately, you'll be astonished again and again. The bigger the better seems to rule the day with recent diamond discoveries. Mammoth white diamond crystals have been recovered with some regularity and have dazzled the global diamond community with their size and potential. 

Large diamonds are exceedingly rare. Natural fancy colored diamonds occur at about the rate of 1 per 10,000 diamonds recovered. 

Then There's Blue

The rarest fancy color diamond hue is red. Then there's blue. They are almost as rare as red diamonds. Most fancy blues are classified as Type IIb diamonds, acquiring their coloration from the inclusion of the element boron thought to have originated deep within the earth’s oceans. A rarity within a rarity, fancy color blue diamonds account to about 0.1% of gem quality diamonds discovered.

Recently Petra Diamonds Ltd., Cullinan Mine announced the finding of a 39.34 carat Type IIb diamond. They say it is of exceptional quality in both its color and clarity. When it comes to quality characteristics, those two traits top the list of desirability for a fancy color diamond. 

 

                Cullinan mine worker inspects the sorting belts carrying ore in to the plant for sorting

With rough fancy color diamond crystals, the higher the clarity means less to cut away for the finished stone. Diamonds can lose a great percentage of their rough in order to attain a finished stone of the highest clarity which is valued more than larger stones of a lower grade clarity.

Finished Stone

With this stone's clarity prognosticators guess that this stone may yield at about a 40%-meaning perhaps a polished stone of 15 or 16 carats. This particular blue tint is unusual and will appeal colored diamond collectors worldwide. 

If you're in the bidding mood, this stone will go to auction July 12, 2021 where it's projected to earn close to a million dollars a carat. Any interest?