Glossary
Australia
Australia was home to the Argyle mine, the most important source of pink and red diamonds. Argyle in the north-west of the country produced from 1983 until 3 November 2020. More than 90 percent of the world’s pink and red diamonds come from there.
Argyle
Only a tiny fraction of production was pink; the finest stones were offered each year in a special tender. Argyle also produced blue and violet diamonds. Since the closure, supply has been limited, and stones with documented Argyle origin are particularly sought after.
Sapphire
In Queensland and New South Wales sapphires from basalt regions are found, mostly dark blue, green or yellow. Production today is much smaller than in the 1970s.
Read more
- KnowledgeHow to read a gemstone dossierA dossier brings together everything that describes a stone – from the laboratory report to custody. Here is how to read it in the right order.Read more
- Laboratory reportsUnderstanding a laboratory reportA laboratory report is a gemstone's most important document. Which information it contains, how to read it and what it does not say.Read more
- GlossaryAbsorption spectrumWhen light passes through a gemstone, the stone absorbs certain wavelengths – the rest make up its colour.Read more
- GlossaryAfghanistanAfghanistan is an old source of ruby and emerald; both are mined in the mountains of the Hindu Kush.Read more
Updated 2026-10-06