Page 31 - Tropic Magazine Issue 33

TROPIC • COVER STORY

GIA certification
Ahead of The Diamond Hunter’s launch in 2017, Christina
obtained her credentials with the Gemological Institute of
America (GIA) – a not-for-profit research and educational
institution which exists to uphold integrity in the diamond
industry globally. Every rock she deals with is GIA certified with
a laser inscription number, only visible under a microscope,
which accesses its individual, internationally recognised
grading report.

Australian diamonds
Argyle mine, Western Australia
Once the world’s single largest source of diamonds, the Argyle
mine is world renowned for its rosy pink and deep red rocks,
although it also produced other naturally coloured diamonds
including champagne, cognac and a rare blue. The Rio Tinto
mine ceased operation in late 2020, and recently, the last of its
large pinks were sold in a silent auction. While dollar amounts
aren’t disclosed, the company said the global event was the ‘most
significant set of record-breaking results in its 38-year history’.
The most expensive Argyle stone in documented history is a
$70 million Pink Legacy diamond, sold in a 2018 auction.
The mine site and surrounding land is to be returned to
Traditional Owners, the Gija and Mirriuwung people, after a
significant restoration process.

Australia was once among the world’s
five largest producers of diamonds, but
today, not a single mine is operational.
There are, however, several companies
vying to reopen Western Australia’s
Ellendale mine and the Merlin mine in
the Northern Territory. Argyle Merlin

Ellendale
MORE: thediamondhunter.com.au

31 • tropicnow.com.au