‘Juliet Pink’ and Argyle Violet diamonds make US debut

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County recently announced details for its coming exhibition, “Diamonds: Rare Brilliance,” which will bring together rare coloured gemstones never before seen in the US inside the museum’s Gem and Mineral Hall.

At the centre of “Rare Brilliance” will be the “Juliet Pink Diamond,” which is an extremely rare pink diamond of over 30 carats, and a Fancy Deep Greyish Bluish Violet named the “Argyle Violet” after the eponymous Argyle mine in Western Australia, where it was discovered in 2015. Through stunning examples, such as the fluorescent lighting of a “rainbow” diamond necklace and a very rare Victorian Orchid Vivid Purple diamond, the exhibition will bring to light the rare properties of coloured gemstones, the science behind natural coloured diamonds, and how the interplay of light and chemistry gives diamonds colour. Organised in partnership with L.J. West Diamonds, “Rare Brilliance” will be on view from December 16, 2016 through March 19, 2017.   

“We are thrilled to share these gems, which are incredibly rare in colour, intensity, quality and size – and so brilliantly fashioned from the original roughs – with museum visitors, providing opportunities to learn about the geology, physics and chemistry behind each diamond’s sparkle and hue,” said Dr. Aaron Celestian, NHM’s Associate Mineralogy Curator. “These jewels, on loan from L.J. West, capture the imagination and will shine among the museum’s world-renowned collection of gems and minerals.”

“Throughout history diamonds have been synonymous with love and romance. The Juliet Pink captures this connection with its vibrant, strong pink colour that is both alluring and seductive. After understanding the stone’s importance and colour, we decided to name the stone the ‘Juliet Pink Diamond,’ as the stone captivates passion and ultimate beauty,” said Scott West, vice president of L.J. West Diamonds.

The Juliet Pink Diamond, which will be set in a necklace with marquise, pear and round-cut white diamonds totalling 98.70 carats for the exhibition, has been designated a type IIa diamond by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) for its remarkable chemical purity and clarity. Natural coloured diamonds are a strikingly rare phenomenon, occurring in an estimated one out of every 10,000 gems, and the precise science behind individual colours remains a mystery.

In addition to the Juliet Pink Diamond, “Diamonds: Rare Brilliance” will introduce US audiences to one of the world’s rarest diamonds – a Fancy Deep Greyish Bluish Violet named the “Argyle Violet” after the Argyle mine in Western Australia. There are no other known diamonds of this combination of colours or with the same clarity and size, and it is the largest Violet to be discovered in the Argyle Diamond Mine, according to the diamond dealer.

The 9.17-carat original rough stone was an unusual shape characterized by deep grooves and an uneven surface. After more than 80 hours of carving and polishing, the diamond on view in NHM’s Gem Vault is a 2.83-carat oval that is set in a designer ring surrounded by Argyle Vivid Pink Diamonds.

“We are so pleased to be able to share these exceptional stones with the public through the ‘Rare Brilliance’ exhibition at the Natural History Museum of LA,” West said. “Just as the ring and necklace settings provide a backdrop to highlight the brilliance of the cut stones, the excellent company of NHM’s Gem and Mineral Hall collection will provide the perfect context for these rare and important diamonds.”