The largest collection of Australian pink diamonds shown in the world is glittering away inside Melbourne Museum. Gaze at over 100 unique gemstones found in the Australian East Kimberley region. These preciously pink jewels are extremely valuable, due to the rare physical conditions needed to create these naturally coloured diamonds. In fact, all of the Australian pink diamonds that have ever been sold can fit into just two champagne flutes. The world-first Pink Diamonds exhibition will stay at Melbourne Museum from now until January 29, 2023.
Pink Diamonds at Melbourne Museum
Museums Victoria partnered with New York based LJ West Diamonds, one of the largest collectors of natural colour diamonds, to make this exhibition possible. This collection will be on public display for the very first time. Australian pink diamonds make up 90 per cent of all pink diamonds in the global market. Among them is the 2.83 carat Argyle Violet, which is the only stone in its history to carry its particular colour grading, and was produced by the presence of hydrogen. According to Larry West, it is “100 times rarer than a pink diamond” and the “Picasso of the collection”.
“I have been building my collection of Argyle pink diamonds for 30 years, many of which have never been on public display,” said West. “I am thrilled for the best of the collection to be back in Australia and presented as the largest pink diamond exhibition ever.”
At the exhibition, you’ll see the spectacular hues, find out what gives the diamonds their distinctive colour, and learn the art behind cutting, polishing and setting diamonds as jewellery.
“Our planet created these flawless diamonds over 1.6 billion years ago,” said Dermot Henry, Museums Victoria Research Institute’s Head of Sciences. “Finding a pink diamond is like retrieving the ‘needle from the haystack’; only one carat in every million will display this intense pink colour. They remind us how truly wonderful nature is.”
Pink diamonds high tea at Mercury Restaurant
Complete your day out with a delightfully pink high tea. Overlooking the Royal Exhibition Building, you’ll dine inside the Museum’s Mercury Restaurant, with plenty of sweet treats and gourmet savouries. Sip on rose tea, sparkling rosé and a pink mocktail. This experience costs $75 each and has a minimum of two people.