On Feb. 13th, they sent out a press release about the two new stones.

They list the stones as two rough diamonds (a 162.06 carat type II diamond and a 161.74 carat type I diamond).  Companies don’t usually state any color/clarity of the diamonds at this point so you have to try and follow them through the market (often difficult to do) to get the details about them.

Both diamonds were recovered in largely undamaged condition and will be sold via tender later this month.

I will try and find keep track of the 162.06ct diamond, since it is a Type II it is possible that this diamond could be color treated.  Imaging if – by remote chance – it was a Type IIb and could be turned blue.  The three photos here are the Type II diamond, just from looking at the color it does not look like something that you would want to alter the color of – it looks quite white already and treating it would probably not increase the value but the potential is there due to it being Type II.

It was only a few month ago that the same mine produced a 12.47ct natural blue diamond.  The company announced the blue diamond on September 30th and it was sold via tender in Antwerp on October 11th for $4.8 million USD ($59,173 per carat).

Photos courtesy of Gem Diamonds Limited

• Faint Blue (sample GIA report)
• Very Light Blue (sample GIA report)
• Light Blue (sample GIA report)
• Fancy Light Blue (sample GIA report)
• Fancy Blue
• Fancy Intense Blue (sample GIA report)
• Fancy Vivid Blue
• Fancy Dark Blue
• Fancy Deep Blue (sample GIA report)

Most ‘blue’ diamonds will have a secondary color, which could be grey, green or yellow.  With the secondary color’s you end up with color descriptions of all types like fancy vivid green-blue, fancy light greenish blue or fancy intense blue-green etc.  Finding a blue diamond without a color modifier is almost as rare as finding a blue diamond itself

Let me explain.

There are four ways to get a blue diamond.

1. Buy a natural blue diamond (not really an option, they are too expensive)
2. Have a diamond irradiated (a treatment), the end result never looks natural to me.
3. Have a diamond coated, I have done this in the past will do up a post on it.
4. Turn a natural diamond blue through HPHT

While HPHT is considered a treatment, the result of the process is permanent and looks much more authentic than diamonds that are irradiated.

As part of my quest I will do several articles on the types of diamonds, the HPHT process, some lab equipment and hopefully I can get some experts in the field to provide some technical content as well.

Today they announced the sale of a 12.47ct blue diamond for $7.5 million dollars, or $603,047 per carat.  The sale was via tender in Antwerp, Belgium – they also sold an 82ct white diamond a the same tender for $4.8 million.

The diamond may not look  super blue to most, but the diamond will be cut in the best possible way to maximize the blue of the diamond… or at least it better for $7.5 million!

Photos courtesy of Gem Diamonds Limited