Natural Argyle Diamonds

They do seem to have had a major price hike. I noticed that in November when Don Kogen showed this collection. He had spent two months scouring N Australia seeking out old gem collectors who had found the rough coloured diamonds pre Rio Tinto taking over the mine.

Debbie was selling them last August and the prices seemed much better, perhaps they were smaller stones then but still VVS, VS and SI quality. I have to admit to being tempted!

Funny enough I flipped over and saw that particular ring. Like you I would rather have smoky quartz. Its one of my favourite stones.

I have a brown star sapphire and that's beautiful. It looked nothing like chocolate sapphires they were selling yesterday. Its a cabuchon cut and the stone is opaque. Its a very dark chocolate brown. Its a very pretty ring. You don't see many of them these days.

That does sound unusual Tinks and bought at source also. You may be interested in the link below, it's written by gem expert Richard W Hughes as a potted history of mining areas in Thailand and Cambodia, both major sapphire producers.

www.ruby-sapphire.com/chanthaburi-history-of-moontown.htm