Information on Champagne Diamonds
A large number of the Champagne brown colored diamonds are found in Kimberley region of Australia. In the remote North Western Australia are located the world’s largest diamond mine called Argyle Diamond Mine. The very first diamonds were discovered here in October 1979.
Officially Argyle Diamond Mine was opened in 1985, till then it had already produced over 700 million carats of diamonds. Considering the volume of this mine; it is the largest producing diamond mine in the world, but only 5 percent of the gem stones that are produced over here are considered gem-quality. Other diamond mines usually have about 20 percent considered gem-quality.
If we consider the causes for the color variations there are three primary causes. The first is some type of foreign element was trapped inside the diamond. Nitrogen is mostly responsible for the yellow and orange coloration. If boron is responsible then the color is blue. The second cause of color variations is the natural radiation which causes it to give a green color. These all types of diamonds are classified in type I diamonds.
Type II diamonds have a very few impurity. They get this color due to structural deformities caused during the crystal growth. The intense pressure down the earth changes the lattice structure of the diamond which in turn leads to formation of red, pink, brown and champagne colored diamonds.
The type II diamonds are very rare and expensive. There availability is a big question; they constitute less than 2 percent of the gem quality diamonds available. Most of the Australian productions of diamonds are of the Type II category.
Argyle Diamond mine in the Kimberley region of the north Western Australia produces over 95 percent of the champagne diamonds worldwide. They have developed a color grading scale that is been used by the majority of the gemologists today. Champagne diamonds range from rich cognac to light brown color.
Argyle color grading scale for Champagne Diamonds:
- C1 – C2 = Light Champagne
- C3 – C4 = Medium champagne
- C5 – C6 = Dark Champagne
- C7 = Fancy Cognac
Processing your request, Please wait....
