That's a very large greyish bluish violet diamond. (Photo: Rio Tinto)
Diamonds, most famously, are colorless and sparkly. But some diamonds, either because of chemical impurities or structural differences at the molecular level, have color. Among these rare diamonds are pink diamonds—most of which have been turned up at just one mine, in Western Australia. Now, that same mine has coughed up an even rarer violet diamond, the largest the mine has ever produced.
In its original, rough state, the diamond was more than 9 carats; after being cut and polished, it is 2.83 carats—more than twice the size of the largest violet diamond this mine, the Rio Tinto Argyle mine, had previously produced.
Colored diamonds are graded on a different color scale than regular colorless to yellowish diamonds; they’re described with a degree of saturation and a color. This one has a “fancy deep” saturation and a “bluish violet” color (as opposed to violetish-blue or just violet) and a tinge of grey. So, officially, it’s a Fancy Deep Grayish Bluish Violet diamond.
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Every day, we highlight one newly found object, curiosity or wonder. Discover something amazing? Tell us about it! Send your finds to sarah.laskow@atlasobscura.com.