About Australian Chocolate Diamonds
“No precious stone comes out of the ground perfectly formed. Invariably what enhances the worth of any gemstone is what is done to it once it is mined and brought to the House ultimately responsible for creating. We know that diamonds achieving the highest grade are those that adhere to what are traditionally known as the Four Cs—Cut, Clarity, Colour and Carat“
Fifth 'C' - Craftmanship
At ACD, we add a Fifth “C” to the paradigm: Craftsmanship. It is born out of years of research, expert mentorship, and not only mining the rarest stones but also establishing relationships with the finest stonecutters in the world. Having cultivated this craft to an art form after many years of creative refinement, we are proud to introduce you to the beauty and perfection of the Australian Chocolate Diamond—diamonds that are not only highly coveted but also individualised in ways that set ACD apart.
Unique in both presentation and its identity, every Australian Chocolate Diamond comes with its very own ‘Diamond Story’ certificate. The certificate contains specific information about each individual diamond: its point of origin, original rough weight, Argyle lot number, colour and clarity.
The Australian Chocolate Diamond ‘Birth Certificate’ acts as a guarantee that the gem you are investing in is an authentic, homegrown Australian Argyle Diamond mined from the red earth of the Australian Kimberley Region Western Australia. Even then, only a few make it to the global marketplace deemed worthy of becoming jewellery.
It is a little known fact that only about 20% of mined diamonds in the world are considered gem quality. With only one in a thousand polished diamonds weighing more than one carat, the process of selection and refinement inside an elite diamond house is both demanding and severe. The single largest effect on the value of any diamond is rarity. The larger the diamond, the cleaner or the more unusual the colour, the brighter the colour value—all are elements that make for an expensive stone.
Natural Pink Diamonds are a good example. The fact that they are intrinsically rare is reflected in the price of the stone. Australian Chocolate Diamonds are no different: the rarer the colour, the larger or the cleaner the stone, the more expensive it will be. However, Australian Chocolate Diamonds, being a relatively new trend in the market, are still priced very competitively; at least for the time being, with an Australian Chocolate Diamond costing on average half that of an equivalent good quality white diamond.
Like all Eternity Diamonds, each Australian Chocolate Diamond is independently graded and adheres to the highest standards set by the Australian Diamond Grading Laboratory. Independent grading gives you the confidence that you are purchasing a natural diamond at the specific colour, clarity and cut grade that you have been promised. Australian Chocolate Diamonds and Argyle Pink Diamonds are the only coloured diamonds whose hue and value does not result from impurities in the stone, rather the colour originates from a process known as ‘Plastic deformation and reformation’.
During plastic deformation heat and pressure severely alter the crystalline structure so that it completely loses the original parallel structure of white rough diamond and reforms into a freeform crystalline structure as it cools. Australian Chocolate Diamonds are colour graded against the Argyle Colour Grading Scale, ranging from C1 to C7 (see colour grading chart below), with C1 being the lightest stones and C7 the darkest. Most Australian Chocolate Diamonds grade within the C4 to C6 colour range.
Other important factors that affect the beauty of the stone include the following:
• The ‘cut’, which does not refer to the overall shape of the diamond but rather the quality of the cutting.
• The proportion, finish and symmetry of the external facets of the diamond. These are qualities that create the fire and the brilliance innate to the stone. (A diamond may be flawless but if it is not well cut it will appear dull and lifeless.)
• Clarity is also important in that it refers to the amount and size of natural imperfections in the diamond. This may be internal (inclusions) or external (blemishes) and recognising the differences and how to bring them out is part of the stonecutter’s craft.
Few things in nature are absolutely perfect; the closer to perfection, the more desirable the diamond…At ACD that is always our objective!
Colour Grading
Appropriate Value
We underscore the role of “art” in the refinement of Eternity Diamonds, and in that refinement there is something we call Appropriate Value. By dictionary definition for value (val•ue) as it relates to either graphics or perception of light. It is the relative degree of lightness or darkness of a particular colour.
Perhaps the most defining characteristics of a diamond is its cut. While high grades of colour, clarity, and carat weight affect a diamond, it is the cut that determines the symmetry of the stone’s facets, its overall proportions, and its ability to reflect light.
An expertly cut diamond will achieve high levels of brilliance, sparkle, and durability. Even if a diamond is graded well in other areas, a poor cut can result in a dull, muted effect
How they are Cut
ACD are precision cut by Masters
The Australian Chocolate Diamond cutting factory has 70 skilled diamond cutters who assess each rough piece of diamond individually. Unlike their white counterparts, coloured diamonds are cut to maximise colour while still maintaining a minimum cutting grade of VG VG.
Importantly, white diamonds are cut to computer specifications whereas the decision on how to best cut an Australian Chocolate Diamond rough crystal is completely in the hands of the master cutter. Each rough diamond must be balanced to maintain weight, VG VG cutting grade, choice of diamond shape and most importantly how to yield the most intense colour.
The Argyle Diamond Mine produces some of the hardest diamond rough in the world. This affects the cutting process in several ways. Rather than cleaving the top facet it is ground down, leaving no usable leftover rough. The cutters must display extra care with the degree of pressure and heat that is applied to avoid shattering the stone.
This extremely hard rough ensures maximum radiance from the cut stone but it does take more time. Where you may be able to cut 2 or 3 half carat white diamonds per day, it may take 3 days or longer to cut one half carat Australian Chocolate Diamond!
The Argyle Diamond Mine
Australian Chocolate Diamonds are sourced directly from the Australian Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia. Argyle is committed to being industry leaders in the areas of reducing environmental impact and building positive community relationships. Argyle works to minimise environmental disturbances and initiate rehabilitation as soon as practical. From a ‘fly in, fly out’ approach, Argyle has moved to localising their workforce, with an aim of 80% permanently based in the East Kimberly and the expectation that half this workforce will be indigenous. Argyle is specifically committed to local charities that are concerned with the advancement of children’s health and education.
The future of the Argyle Diamond Mine Diamond exploration in the Kimberley Region began in 1972 and culminated with the commission of the Australian Argyle Diamond Mine named after Lake Argyle in 1985. Argyle is presently transitioning from an above ground mine to a fully underground diamond mine. Having constructed an industry leading ‘block cave mine’ opened in April 2013, the Argyle diamond mine has lengthened its life span and will continue to be a source of Australian Chocolate Diamonds into the future. The Argyle Diamond Mine has a limited life span and may be decommissioned as early as 2025.