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Tasmanian Gemmologist
Diamonds 1
GAA Information and contact details
2
Red Diamonds Continued 3
Red Diamonds Continued 4
Four Remaining Hero
Diamonds
5
Cempaka Diamond Mine 6,7
From the Past 8
GAA Federal Conference 9,10,
11,12
13
Australian Opal Centre 14,15
Back Page 16
The Voice of the
Tasmania Division
What’s inside
Diamonds
Diamonds
Diamonds
Coloured Diamonds from the Argyle
Diamond Mine in Western Australia
These five coloured diamonds each individually named so there is a
permanent record of their contribution to the world’s history of these
spectacular diamonds.
Rio Tinto took these amazing diamonds to a world exclusive preview
in New York as part of the 58 diamonds on display at the 2017 Argyle
Pink Diamonds Tender, aptly named “Custodians of Rare Beauty” in
honour of the rich provenance and honourable pedigree. The Tender
weighed a total of 49.39 carats and the 58 diamonds included four Fancy
Red diamonds, four Purplish Red diamonds, two Violet diamonds and
one Blue diamond.
The largest Fancy Red diamond in the 33 year history of the Argyle
Pink Diamond Tender, held annually, weighs 2.11 carats and named The
Argyle Everglow. Estimated to sell for over $10 millon. Rio Tinto
invites a select few collectors, wealthy people and dealers to submit
sealed bids. Besides Rio Tinto, no one knows how much bidders offer
for the diamonds, and the company does not report how much the
winning bidders pay. Image credit: Rio Tinto
The Five Hero Diamonds
Page 2
(Tasmania Division) Inc.
President: Byron Nicol Ph: 6247 7619 Email: [email protected]
Vice President: Jewel Beresford Ph: 6261 4233 Email: [email protected]
Secretary: Maree Prickett Ph: 6297 8311 Email: [email protected]
Treasurer: Byron Nicol Ph: 6247 7619 Email: [email protected]
Committee Peter Murray Ph: 0407 975 281 Email: [email protected]
Robert Long Ph: 6249 8845 Email: [email protected]
Syd Prickett Ph: 6271 3500 Email: [email protected]
John De Ruyter Ph: 6225 5312 Email: [email protected]
Jewel Beresford Ph: 6261 4233 Email: [email protected]
Jorge Pavez Ph: 0408 034 489 Email: [email protected]
Giselle Devereaux Ph: 6278 3998 Email: [email protected]
Education contacts: Jewel Beresford 6261 4233 [email protected] - Education Officer
Syd Prickett 6271 3500 [email protected] - Education Officer
Correspondence address:
P.O. Box 2138
Howrah
TAS 7018
Tutorial address:
“Philip Smith Centre”
2 Edward Street, Hobart
Contact details:
Ph / Fax; 03 62614233
Email; [email protected]
URL; www.gem.org.au/tasdivf.htm
Newsletter Reminder
This newsletter contains important
information technological updates, humour,
news of your division etc., but it also has
details of forthcoming events about which
you will not receive any other notices !!
Therefore failure to read this may result in
you missing out on events. Your feed back
would also be appreciated and if you think
more articles about, whatever could or
should be included…..
Send them in.
The Gemmological Association of Australia
Written contributions to this newsletter are
very welcome. If you have any material you
would like to be published please forward it
in either written or electronic form
(preferred) to [email protected]
It does not have to be a large item
Page 3 Red Diamonds continued
Fancy Red diamonds are the rarest in the world. Red diamonds became center stage back in 1987 when a 0.95 carat round brilliant red diamond was sold for $880,000 at an auction in New York. Ever since, the world has been obsessed with red diamonds, and justifiably so.
The 2.11 carat Fancy Red radiant Argyle Everglow diamond is the largest red diamond to be mined and produced since the Argyle mine’s inception in 1984.
Rio Tinto claims the previous record holder of the largest red diamond produced by the mine was the Argyle Phoenix which weighed 1.56 carat and sold at auction by the Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender in 2013 at $2 million, or $1.3 million per carat.
The 0.95 carat Fancy Red “Hancock Red” diamond
Image credit: Christie’s
The 1.56 carat Fancy Red round brilliant “Argyle Phoenix” diamond
Image credit: Rio Tinto
In 2014 a Fancy Red heart shaped diamond weighing 2.09 carats owned by famous jewelers Moussaieff was sold at auction in Hong Kong. At that time it broke the world record paid for red diamonds and sold at $5.1 million per carat. Not well known is that this stone was a lot presented by the Argyle Tender in 1992. As with all Argyle diamonds it was classified by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America), back in 1992 the GIA classified it as a Fancy Purple-Pink (proving that even the GIA has had to push its own education and improve its own grading for fancy coloured diamonds).
Its very important to stay up to date with all new techniques and new discoveries in Gemmology
Page 3
The 2.09 crat Fancy Red heart shaped Moussaeiff diamond
Image credit: Christie’s
Page 4 Red Diamonds Continued
In November 2007 a fancy Purplish Red diamond was sold at Christie’s Geneva auction for $1.18 million a carat. The stone weighed 2.26 carats and at the time did not break any records but it was the first red diamond ever sold at auction.
The 2.26 carat Fancy Purplish Red diamond The 1.92 carat Fancy Red diamond
Image credit: Christie’s Image credit: Christie’s
In 2013 also at Christie’s in Geneva a Fancy Red diamond sold for $1.694 million a carat, weight was 1.92 carats. The same diamond was previously sold 12 years earlier in 2001 at Christie’s for $860k per carat, half the price it brought 12 years later.
The 2.26 carat Fancy Purplish Red diamond and the 2.09 carat Fancy Red heart shaped diamond are the only red diamonds over 2 carats to sell at auction until the Argyle Everglow was sold last year weighing 2.11 carats. It is even more interesting that over 30 years have passed since the first red diamond was sold at auction. It reinforces that large red diamonds are extremely difficult to find, and large in the world of red diamonds is not as large as in some other coloured diamonds because red diamonds are so very rare.
So I ask you ‘What did the Argyle Everglow sell for?’
Who knows…. the sky is the limit.
What do you think?
Will the price ever be made public like the Argyle Phoenix that sold at $1.3 mil lion per carat?
Will it break the world record per carat ever paid for a diamond or gem?
Will it be revealed at all?
The Argyle Everglow is a 2.11-carat radiant shaped Fancy Red diamond.
Image credit: Rio Tinto
Four remaining Hero Diamonds Page 5
Argyle Liberte
0.91carat / radiant
Argyle Pink Diamonds Grade: /BL3 / S12
GIA Grade: Fancy Deep Gray-Violet / S12
Argyle Kalina
1.50 carat / Oval
Argyle Pink Diamonds Grade: Red S12
GIA Grade: Fancy Deep Pink / S1
Argyle Avaline
2.42 carat / Cushion
Argyle Pink Diamonds Grade: 7PP / VS2
GIA Grade: Fancy Purple-Pink / VS2
Argyle Isla
1.14 Carat / Radiant
Argyle Pink Diamonds Grade: pRED / P1
GIA Grade: Fancy Red I1
Page 6 Cempaka Diamond Mine
Will Indonesian diamonds shine on the global market? Local entrepreneur wants to restart mining operations in Cempaka.
BANJARMASIN, Indonesia -- Cempaka Diamond Mine in southern Kalimantan, the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo, is seen by some experts as one of the richest diamond fields in the world. But with the halt of large-scale mining, halted due to environmental and other problems, local people now engage in traditional methods of diamond hunting. Recently, however, a local entrepreneur has begun an effort to revive industrial mining in the area. Although the hurdles to resuming full-scale operations appear high, expectations are growing that once begun, such work will contribute to the local economy. The hopes are that Indonesia will shine in the global jewelry industry.
Cempaka, a small village roughly 45km from Banjarmasin, the capital of the province of South Kalimantan, is pocked with large man-made holes. At the bottom of one, local men sift earth and sand in basins in a small pond panning for diamonds. By rotating the basins quickly, they can separate the precious stones from sand and pebbles due to the difference in the diamonds' specific gravity. The miners sometimes find gold and other gemstones.
In May 2017, a local newspaper carried a long story about Ahmad Dahlan, a 49-year-old villager, who discovered a 39-carat diamond.
A joint venture between Indonesian nonferrous metal producer Aneka Tambang (Persero) and a Singaporean company has the right to mine diamonds in Cempaka, while most of land in the village is owned by the provincial government of South Kalimantan. The residents are thus hunting for diamonds without permission.
The traditional methods used by local residents are illegal, according to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, which is responsible for managing Indonesia's subterranean resources. But the government's message is a mixed one: The Tourism Ministry's "Wonderful Indonesia" website shows miners panning for diamonds in the old-fashioned way. Local residents rarely think of what they are doing as illegal. And with the joint venture's mining halted in 2009, they have little incentive to stop.
A leading global diamond producer, Gem Diamonds, which owned 80% the Cempaka Diamond Mine's rights at the time, said it decided to discontinue the work "due to the impact of the declining price of Cempaka's rough diamonds following the global financial crisis. The diamond mine has been placed on care and maintenance but local people attributed the halt to environmental contamination. The mine has not resumed operations since.
That may soon change, with the appearance on the scene of an influential local entrepreneur in spring 2017. According to a local newspaper, Banjarmasin Post, H. Norhin, who runs a shopping mall and other facilities in the area, demanded in April 2017 that the resources ministry grant mining rights to him. The ministry has acknowledged receiving a request from a local entrepreneur.
The Indonesian government granted extraction rights in Cempaka to foreign businesses in the 1990s, arousing hopes that Indonesian diamonds would appear on the global market. But Gem Diamonds' decision to shut down has prevented that. A bumpy road lies ahead. The resources ministry is taking a cautious line on Norhin's request, pointing out that the mining rights granted to the joint venture remain valid for another 15 years or so.
Indonesia is a bit-player in diamonds, but production at the Cempaka mine started when the country was still under Dutch rule.
Page 7 Cempaka Diamond Mine cont.
In 1965, a huge 166-carat diamond, called Trisakti, was discovered in Cempaka, triggering a mining boom.
Nevertheless, many local people believe high-quality diamonds lie underground in Cempaka and should not be wasted. Hundreds of local men are panning, hoping to hit the jackpot. Diamonds discovered by local residents are mostly processed in nearby cities and sold domestically. They thus are shut off from the global market. But if full-scale mining resumes, the diamonds are expected to attract customers not only in major markets such as the U.S., China and India, but also in Indonesia, which is seeing continued economic growth.
Sales of diamonds in 2016 leveled off at around $80 billion, according to De Beers, a leader in the diamond business. .
Some of the more important findings from the Cempaka district over the years are as follows :-
1) Three diamonds weighing 12.0, 13.3, and 20.0 carats discovered in 1846.
2) Two diamonds weighing 106.67 and 77.0 carats discovered in 1850.
3) The 166.75-carat Trishakti diamond and a 29.0-carat diamond discovered in 1965
4) A 13.0 carat diamond discovered in 1970.
5) Three diamonds weighing 14.0, 33.0, and 50.0 carats discovered in 1987.
6) A 39 carat diamond discovered in May 2017
Page 8 From the Past
Phoenix Harmonies Natural Gemstones
Sterling Silver Jewellery
Hand made Gemstone Jewelley
Website -
WWW.PhoenixHarmonies.com.au
Phone; 0408 190 455
See us at
Salamanca Market
Hobart Site 91
Adamsfield Osmiridium
Osmiridium was discovered in 1925 at Adamsfield, a locality in Tasmania, by the Stacey Brothers. It
was announced in the local paper that Osmiridium had been discovered at Adams Rivulet in South West
Tasmania. So began the story of Adamsfield, a mining camp that soon became home to over 2000
workers all living in tents. In those days Osmiridium was worth a lot of money, 38 pounds per ounce
when gold was only worth 4 pounds per ounce. It was used to manufacture fountain pens and surgical
instruments. In nature Osmiridium is extremely rare so to find it in such a rich vein was a great boost
for the Tasmanian economy and meant a large influx of people arrived hoping to make their fortune. By
the 1950’s the rush was over and the town slowly died.
Amongst the people who mined the area was a man by the name of James Wakefield. As we now know
Osmiridium was worth more than gold and money was not plentiful. The photos below show a hand
made gold ring by a jeweller in Hobart and set with Osmiridium.
The ring belongs to Barry Hosking and James Wakefield was his Grand-
father. It’s not known if James Wakefield had the ring made as an
engagement ring or if it was just a gift
for his wife.
What a wonderful item to have with
such special memories of the early
history of family and Adamsfield.
Page 9 Federal Conference 2018
GAA Federal Conference May 2018 The conference was met with enthusiasm by all who attended.
The Meetings
Thursday and Friday kept everyone busy with meetings and the usual business that conferences are all
about.
Friday night after the AGM was time to
wind down with a few nibbles and some
much needed Tasmanian wines. It was
great to relax and catch up with the other
state representatives.
Guest Speaker
John
Bradshaw
The AGM
Saturday was full of lots of interesting information as we listened to our guest speakers.
Grant Hamid who facilitated an excellent workshop while elsewhere in the building
Stan Prickett presented a great talk on Antique Glass and Pottery followed by John
Bradshaw who spoke on Very Rare Gemstones. Katherine Wyatt provided an
informative talk of Antique Jewellery followed by our very own Dr Peter Murray who
enlightened us about Gemmology of Ancient Organisms.
Saturday BBQ lunch time saw people enjoying themselves.
Page 10 Federal Conference 2018 Cont.
Saturday Night was the conference dinner and the evening was started with the presentation of the Diploma
Chris Holdsworth (GAA Federal President), Heidi Swanson (Diploma Student) & Rob Long Lecturer
Tasmanian Division.
The rest of the
evening was filled
with good food, good
wine, good company
and a few prizes.
From Left
Isobel Johnstone, John Johnstone, Kay
Brightman, Rod Brightman and Gina
Baretta
From left -
Margaret Blood, Stacey Lim,
Lynne Cunningham, Janet Frost,
Leonie Rennie, Kate Foley
Page 11 Federal Conference 2018 Cont.
During the evening the Tasmanian Division were presented with their Distinguished Awards for service by
GAA Federal Patron Terry Coldham & Vice President, Tasmania Division, Jewel Beresford.
Richard Wright Byron Nicol Rob Long
Maree Prickett Andrew Friedrich Barry Fidock
Syd Prickett Rod Brightman Jewel Beresford
Rod Brightman
Joined GAA in 1975
Andrew Friedrich
Joined GAA in 1982
Barry Fidock
Joined GAA in 1985
Page 12 Federal Conference 2018 Cont.
Presentations Continued -
Rob Long
Joined GAA in 1983
Syd Prickett
Joined GAA in 2007
Jewel Beresford
Joined GAA in1978
40 years with the Tasmanian
GAA. What a record -
Congratulations Jewel
Page 13 Federal Conference 2018 Cont.
Sunday was Host Day where Tasmanian
Division showed their guests some of its finest
on the Red Decker Bus.
First a stop in Richmond to do some shopping
and Coffee of course. (Not that we were getting
over the night before!)
Then off to Puddle Duck Winery for some tast-
ings, then to Coal Valley Winery and restaurant
for a well deserved lunch.
After lunch and some relaxation we visited the
Whiskey Distillery at Cambridge.
Thank you all for being
Great Participants and
Thank you all for a
Memorable Conference
The Winery The Winery
The Lunch
Page 14 The Australian Opal Centre
The Australian Opal Centre seeks visionary patrons for new building
Proposed New Australian Opal Centre
The Australian Opal Centre (AOC) is on the cusp of realising its grand vision to build a landmark facility celebrating Australian Opal and positioning Lightning Ridge as the world’s leading destination for opal education, training and certification. GAA members are invited to join the action.
An exclusive group of supporters, called AOC Founders, are gathering to become patrons of the magnificent new Glenn Murcutt- and Wendy Lewin-designed AOC building.
AOC Founder contributions will help fund the construction of the new AOC and, importantly, help leverage over $20 million of vital NSW and Federal government funds to enable completion of the new facility. Located on the historic fields of Lightning Ridge, the $34 million state-of-the art facility will be a 21st century icon of Australian sustainable architecture, purpose-built to house, protect, celebrate and promote the world’s premier collection of Australian opal and rare opalised fossils.
GAA Federal Patron and AOC Founder, Terry Coldham, said: “The AOC is a bold initiative and I’m very impressed by its achievements. The concept of a national centre dedicated to opal is exciting - it’s an absolute game changer.
“There are very few times in life when you can affect really big change, but this is one of them. The opportunity to join such a fine group of people and do something magnificent that will be seen by millions of people for lifetimes to come is really remarkable.
“I encourage everyone in the gem and opal industry to join me in supporting this internationally significant project by becoming an AOC Founder. It’s a wonderful legacy to leave and gives you a great feeling to be able to participate in something so special.” The new AOC building will address an unmet global need for opal-related education, knowledge services and certification, providing infrastructure, facilities and programs to meet this demand. It will also contribute to world-class facilities and opportunities for students, researchers and lifelong learners from across the globe.
Importantly, the new AOC will facilitate coordinated promotion of Australian opal, growing awareness of and desire for the gemstone and increasing public awareness of, and access to, opalised fossils as uniquely Australian national treasures and scientific resources. AOC President, David Lane OAM, said the new AOC facility is expected to generate an extra $49 million for the NSW economy annually, with further benefits to the opal industry nationally. “The new AOC will be a world-class, distinctively Australian tourism asset that will create benefits throughout inland Australia and everywhere our National Gemstone is produced and sold. “We're proud to have a mutually beneficial relationship with the GAA and delighted to invite GAA members to join GAA Federal Patron Terry Coldham in becoming AOC Founders.” All AOC Founder contributions are tax deductible. AOC Founders will be honoured in perpetuity inside the new AOC building and enjoy other benefits stemming from membership of this elite group.
To find out more about the AOC Founders campaign please email [email protected] or call Olivia Ward on 0400 225 751.
GAA Federal Patron and
AOC Founder,
Terry Coldham,
Page 15 The Australian Opal Centre
Phoenix Harmonies
Natural Gemstones Sterling Silver Jeweller
Hand made Gemstone Jewellery
Website -
WWW.PhoenixHarmonies.com.au
Phone; 0408 190 455
See us at
Salamanca Market
Hobart Site 91
