For decades, Wolski’s concentrated in the supply of natural coloured gemstones, but when the opportunity arose in 2005 for director Witold Wolski to obtain regular and reliable supplies of Argyle pink diamonds, Witold says he jumped in with both feet … and hasn’t looked back.
The supplier now specialises in Australian Argyle pink and purple-pink diamonds, taking pride in the fact that they are “purely and solely natural and untreated”, and locally sourced. “Pink diamonds are exceptionally rare. One mine – the Australian Argyle mine in the Kimberley region – is the source for about 95 per cent of the world’s production of pink and purple-pink diamonds,” Witold explains.
He adds that Argyle pink diamonds command, on average, 50 times the price of an equivalent sized white diamond and are so rare that for every one million carats of rough diamonds produced at the Rio Tinto-owned mine, a mere carat is graded as pink colour.
When asked what types of jewellery these rare diamonds are best suited to, Witold replies: “Small sized [coloured] diamonds are used as enhancers for a white centre diamond in rings, either surrounding a white diamond or as shoulder stones,” adding that both pink and white stones complement each other and should never be viewed as competing with one another.
“This is borne out when one scans the catalogues of international companies like Tiffany & Co or Harry Winston,” he says. On the other hand, Witold explains that larger Argyle diamonds are increasingly being bought as investment pieces.
“These are worn in jewellery or locked in safes when part of a self-managed superannuation fund.” While Witold does not stock any white diamonds, he continues to supply medium and fine-quality natural coloured gemstones, South Sea and Tahitian pearls, in addition to coloured Argyle diamonds.
Interesting fact… The Argyle mine in Western Australia only produces about 50 carats of premium melee per year to satisfy the world demand.
Coloured diamond report
Part 1: Coloured diamonds offer retailers a new frontier
Part 2: New trends increase demand
Further interviews with...
WOLSKI'S WITOLD WOLSKI
KL DIAMONDS' KALLEH LEVONIAN
LOST RIVER DIAMONDS' JAMES LEHMAN
BOLTON GEMS' BRETT BOLTON
WORLD SHINER'S MAULIN SHAH
SOKLICH & CO'S CHRIS SOKLICH
BLUE STAR & KIVEN DIAMONDS' RON KIVEN
SAMS GROUP AUSTRALIA'S STEVE DER BEDROSSIAN