The Argyle Pink Jubilee is a rough pink diamond and the largest rough pink diamond unearthed in Australia. It was found at the Rio Tinto Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia.[2][3]

Argyle Pink Jubilee
Weight8.01 carats (1.602 g)
Colorlight pink
Cutrough
Country of originAustralia
Mine of originArgyle diamond mine
DiscoveredAugust 2011[1]
Cut byRichard How Kim Kam
Original ownerRio Tinto Group
OwnerMuseum Victoria

Large stones like the Jubilee typically go to museums or end up at high-profile auction houses like Christie's. Christie's has only auctioned 18 polished pink diamonds larger than 10 carats in its 244-year history.[4] The Jubilee was expected to tour internationally before sold at an invitation-only tender.[4]

Originally weighing 12.76 carats (2.552 g), the light pink diamond started its cut in Perth in February 2012[3] by Richard How Kim Kam.[5] While being cut, the diamond was found to have "one major internal fault line that could not be overcome."[6] Only roughly formed and polished, and down to 8.01 carats (1.602 g), the diamond was donated to the Melbourne Museum.[7]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Australia's largest pink diamond". Museum Victoria. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  2. ^ "Pink diamond set to fetch $10m for Rio Tinto". Australian Associated Press. 22 February 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Australia's largest rough pink diamond unearthed". BBC News. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Rio finds 'unprecedented' 12.76 carat pink diamond in the Kimberley". Agence France-Presse. 22 February 2012.
  5. ^ "Rio's biggest pink diamond gets the cut". AAP. 21 February 2012. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  6. ^ Kerr, Peter (19 May 2012). "Rare diamond fails inspection". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 14 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  7. ^ "Precious pink sparkler lights up museum". AAP. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2013.

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