'Most precious' of diamonds revealed in Perth
Under tight security in Rio Tinto's hidden cutting room somewhere in Perth, lies the finished product of a discovery that was kept secret for months: A violet diamond so rare, it is impossible to put a price on.
It was found in the rough of Western Australia’s Kimberley region, at Rio Tinto's Argyle Mine and weighs just over half a gram.
7 News was given access to the diamond, which is so precious it reduced some staff to tears.
The Argyle Mine is famous for its pink diamonds, but violet stones are even more rare. In 32 years, only about 12 carats of polished violet diamonds have been produced.
“The only other diamond that is over a carat that is violet was found in 2008, so this is a complete fluke of nature,” Josephine Archer from Argyle Pink Diamonds said.
The rough diamond discovered last year was 9.17 carats. The polished stone is 2.83 carats and weighs just over half a gram.
Its colour means it is worth millions.
“Typically they’re purchased by collectors and gem connoisseurs, the luxury jewellery houses,” Ms Archer said.
The violet diamond will soon go on tour to Copenhagen, Hong Kong and New York, taking WA’s finest to the world stage.
