, but they’re definitely harder to find than pink gems. Did You Know? In 2018, Gem Diamonds found a 910-carat diamond known as the "Lesotho Legend" at the Letseng mine that eventually sold for $40 million. Blue diamonds are so rare, they comprise only about 0.02% mined diamonds but their beauty and value is such that they include some of the world’s most famous jewels. Taking a closer look at only blue diamonds, the ones with stronger hues are more difficult to find than others. When seawater infiltrates the ocean floor, it causes chemical reactions that deposit boron into the oceanic lithosphere. In Africa, diamonds are found in Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Tanzania. South Africa continues to be one of the largest producers of diamonds in th… At this great depth, the increased temperature and pressure break down the hydrous minerals, which then release a boron-enriched fluid that triggers diamond growth. Who knows what the earth will still deliver? This one was first known as the ‘Perfect Blue’ before it was purchased by Harry Winston in 2014. Let’s dive in. Only about 0.02 percent of diamonds are blue, making them a rarity among rarities. Travel to Petra Diamonds’ mine in Cullinan, South Africa and there you’ll find the place where most of these blue gems are mined. Some would say it’s the most famous diamond known to man. The … Type IIb diamonds have long remained a geological enigma, but new research published in the August 2, 2018 issue of Nature reveals they are “superdeep” diamonds, meaning they crystallized much deeper in the earth than most other gem diamonds. The connection with subducted oceanic lithosphere suggests that boron, responsible for the blue color in type IIb diamonds, may have been carried down from the earth’s surface. Of course, the presence of kimberlite does not necessarily guarantee that the precious stones will be present, simply that the volcanic upsurge originated at sufficient depth that diamonds could have formed. The last significant discovery was a 20.08 carat blue gem found at the site in September 2019, which sold for $14.9 million to an anonymous buyer. They’ve captured people’s attention in the past and if you ever see them they’ll impress you too: Now we can wait in anticipation of the next blue diamonds that will be mined. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP. Once, blue diamonds were mined in Indias famous Golconda mine as well. According to NCDIA, the latter is the only place you’ll find blue stones that fluoresce. Diamonds have been found in Russia as far back as the 18th century. The blue diamonds – They fall into the group of second-most scarce of all diamonds. Remarkably, the boron atoms contained in these blue gems may have originally been derived from ancient oceans. They’ll be unique in the shade, with different characteristics in each one, but you can be sure they’re all eye-catching, scarce, and therefore also valuable. An African company recovers a rare blue diamond, thought to be worth $10m (£6.5m), from its mine in South Africa. The diamonds, which have very low levels of impurities, make up about 0.1% of all natural diamonds. A fabulous fluke of nature, a blue diamond is produced by the random presence of the atomic lattice-bound trace element boron within the stone’s carbon structure during its formation deep in the earth’s core. Petra Diamonds purchased the 122.52 carat stone in a partnership with an anonymous polishing partner Miner Petra Diamonds Ltd. announced the recovery of the stones from the Cullinan Mine Wednesday, describing them as top color and clarity and noting they are not believed to have broken off the same rough diamond. The boron content of type IIb diamonds is therefore unexpected and challenging to explain. Earth’s mantle is that deep, hot layer between Earth’s crust and core. For more information on the program and to register, visit symposium.GIA.edu. Its hue is grey-blue and it has an interesting backstory: people believe it has a curse. Prior to this study, no mineral inclusion had ever been identified in a type IIb diamond. This new study proposes a model whereby some of this boron is subducted with hydrous (water-bearing) minerals down to the lower mantle. And it’s here that these diamonds are born. Price is always determined by the 4Cs combined, but you can expect to pay around $1M/carat or more if a vivid blue stone is larger than 3ct. They’re still novelties to own, partly because yearly so few of them are added to the diamond market: usually only 2 to 4 in a given year. Boron particles absorb light yellow, resulting in a blue reflection. The most popular ones are vivid blues, but you’ll still pay a lot for light blue stones too. The famous Hope diamond is a perfect example of this blue diamond variety. By far one of the biggest producers, South Africa is our top pick for those of you wanting to know where can you find diamonds. Collectors and investors purchase the natural blue diamonds at auctions & these events keep seeing record prices paid for blue stones. Rare blue diamond found in South Africa sold for £17m. Comprehensive CAD/CAM For Jewelry Certificate, Advanced Laboratory-Grown Diamond Seminar, Blue boron-bearing diamonds from Earth’s lower mantle. Pink diamonds are also found in Brazil, Russia, Siberia, South. The first significant production occurred in 1957 from the Mir kimberlite pipe and its adjacent placers. These mines include the Cullinan mine near Pretoria, South Africa, and the Argyle mine in Australia. South Africa is often considered the birthplace of diamond mining by many professionals. According to NCDIA, the latter is the only place you’ll find blue stones that fluoresce. On Monday, a rare 20.08 carat blue diamond was found in the Cullinan Diamond Mine, 40km east of Pretoria, Petra Diamonds announced. Cullinan mine is one of the world's most important sources of blue diamonds, according to the company. Thus, many of the world’s most expensive and dazzling gem diamonds are superdeep diamonds, making them invaluable physical samples from the convecting mantle hundreds of kilometers beneath our feet. Collectors and investors purchase the natural. The pear-shaped gem cost him $24.24 and its value is thanks to it being flawless and vivid blue in color. Remarkably, the boron atoms contained in these blue gems may … Where blue diamonds come from is a question that’s eluded scientists for centuries. A 29.6-carat blue diamond is discovered in Cullinan mine in South Africa, which is famed for its production of the rare stones. This inclusion is evidence that the diamond grew at extreme depths in the mantle. All rights reserved. Natural diamond sources have been discovered in approximately 35 different countries around the World across several continents. We Buy Gold, Jewelry, Diamonds, And Gemstones. Cullinan mine is one of the world’s most important sources of blue diamonds, according to the company. The vivid blue of the gem is quite striking. Boron is an element that is strongly concentrated at Earth’s surface. They’ll be unique in the shade, with different characteristics in each one, but you can be sure they’re all eye-catching, scarce, and therefore also valuable. For comparison, this is approximately four times deeper than most other kinds of diamonds, which form near the base of old and thick continents at depths of about 150–200 km. You can also travel to the Golconda mine in India, a place called Lesteng in Lesotho, or Zimbabwe to see where blue stones are mined. On Sept. 30, Gem Diamonds’ Letšeng mine discovered not only the 12 ct. blue, but an 83.9 ct. white described as “exceptional quality.” The mine’s statement did not comment on the blue stone’s quality. By mining into one of these kimberlite dikes, or kimberlite pipes, diamonds may be uncovered. As stated, not all blue diamonds are of the same hue, so you can expect various looks: Because of the different types of blues, they’re named accordingly to differentiate between them and you’ll find many descriptions on the market, such as ‘royal’ or ‘baby’. This makes it the hardest conductor in existence. They’re still novelties to own, partly because yearly so few of them are added to the diamond market: usually only 2 to 4 in a given year. In 2008, the Wittelsbach Diamond, a 35.56-carat (7.112 g) blue diamond once belonging to the King of Spain, fetched over US$24 million at a Christie's auction. After being polished and being made into a 12 carat stone it was named ‘Blue Moon’. Types refer to a diamond’s grading and you’ll come across: Another stone comparison experts make is to see how well gems handle heat & electricity conduction. Examining rough samples, such as these, can be a good opportunity to see inclusions, because inclusions are often skillfully cut and polished away to optimize the appearance of the faceted gem. You’ll get these details when you read through a diamond’s gemological grading report. Similar to red diamonds, no one knows for sure how pink diamonds get their color. However, systematic screening of diamonds submitted to GIA over two years made it possible to find and examine 46 type IIb diamonds with inclusions. Petra charged almost $1M/carat for a blue diamond that weighed in at 29.6ct, Reasons why you want GIA diamond certification. Captivating and enigmatic, blue diamonds are considered the rarest of them all. Blue diamonds are among the rarest diamonds out there, and a mine in Lesotho just hit the jackpot with the discovery of a 12 ct. one. Paler stones that resemble the sky when it’s clear. The inclusions also show that, at this great depth, the diamonds grew in the presence of ocean crust which was carried down to the lower mantle by the conveyor-belt-like process of subduction. An even bigger diamond—the biggest blue ever found—was measured as 122.52ct. Blue diamonds are among the rarest of gems. Scientists now think they’ve figured out how the boron got there. For every 100 Picasso canvases that are available for bidding at auctions, you’ll only find a single blue diamond. It is obvious now that the Cullinan mine is the most important source for natural blue diamonds of the highest quality. Type IIb diamonds are a rare variety of diamond distinguished by having boron within the crystal structure, which can impart an attractive blue color. Large-scale diamond mines are found in the country of Brazil. Required fields are marked *, Enter your details below and we will contact you back, [aweber listid=”5342734″ formid=”816229417″ formtype=”webform”], Perhaps part of the fascination of colored stones is that no two of these diamonds will be 100% similar. Russia, Botswana and South Africa are the world’s major gem quality diamond producers and Australia is the major industrial diamond producer. Figure 3: Inclusion of calcium silicate in a 0.21 carat blue diamond seen with the field view of 1.42 mm wide. While it is less common to discover these stones in other locations, they have been unearthed elsewhere, including the Golconda mine in India and the Lesteng mine in Lesotho. For larger stones, try Antwerp or New York. In this department blue diamonds perform well, being the only diamonds able to do it. The blue diamond engagement ring, The blue diamond wedding ring, or if you have natural blue diamonds – they are rare to find and precious. Blue diamonds are incredibly rare and can only be found in three areas of the world: Australia, South Africa, and India. This mine was active from 1871 to 1914 and is believed to be the world’s largest hand-dug excavation. Photo by Evan M. Smith. By closing this banner or using this site you agree to our revised Privacy Notice, Terms of Service and Cookie Policy. Blue diamonds are only found in a few mines around the world. You can also travel to the Golconda mine in India, a place called Lesteng in Lesotho, or Zimbabwe to see where blue stones are mined. But now, secrets of the scarcest stones in the world are coming to the surface. Your email address will not be published. You can also travel to the Golconda mine in India, a place called Lesteng in Lesotho, or Zimbabwe to see where blue stones are mined. Taking a closer look at only blue diamonds, the ones with stronger hues are more difficult to find than others. But in the mantle, where diamonds grow, the concentration of boron is extremely low. For every 10,000 gem-quality diamonds found, only one possesses brilliant and coveted color. Type IIb diamonds have long remained a geological enigma, but new research published in the August 2, 2018 issue of Nature reveals they are “superdeep” diamonds, meaning they crystallized much deeper in the earth than most other gem diamonds. The more intense the color of the blue diamond is, the more rare and expensive it is. With Diamonds, you’ll want to be searching in the 5-12 level range. You’ll see a price rise of 12%-17% most years and even with more stones coming onto the market, this saturation doesn’t prevent price hikes. Yet their blue hue comes from boron, an element not commonly found there. 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