Canadian Diamonds from Gahcho Kué mine
The Gahcho Kué diamond mine is a joint venture between Mountain Province Diamonds, which owns 49% of the project, and De Beers Canada, which holds a 51% interest and is the mine’s operator. The joint venture property is located in the Northwest Territories of Canada, 300 km east-northeast of Yellowknife, on the traditional territories of Tłįchǫ, Dene, and Métis people. The mine site lies on the edge of the continuous permafrost zone in an area known as the barren lands due to its lack of forests.
What's Going on with the Diamond Supply Chain?
To say we are living in strange and unprecedented times at this point would be an understatement, however it truly is a bizarre time in the diamond industry. The market has yet to fully recover from the supply chain disruptions (and resulting product scarcity) caused by the pandemic that sent prices soaring in 2021 and 2022.
The Story of a Diamond: From Mine to Market
From the depths of over 150 kilometres beneath Canada’s North West Territories, a shiny 2.58ct diamond was born to the Ekati Mine.
Fast forward, the diamond now sits pretty as a 1.08ct cushion cut in a romantic hand fabricated yellow gold ring made by our friend and client, Elana Ginsberg of K&Co Bespoke.
Jewelry Stockist Series
We know we have many fans inside and out of the industry, which is why we are thrilled to bring our roster of integrated stockists to your attention through this blog series. Anybody can easily get their hands on Misfit gemstones - if you're a consumer, here is how; just navigate over to our retail page and scroll through a selection of jewelry designers across the globe. All of these vendors have a collection of our stones available on their own websites accompanied by pricing information.
Misfit Diamond Characteristics
We know it is obvious, but for those who haven’t caught on, our name comes from a celebration of diamonds that don’t fall into the regular grading system. These Misfit diamonds are stones with spice, individuality, and character. They are anything but typical, making them an excellent alternative diamond choice for the bride who likes to challenge traditional norms.
Mother Nature's Dirty Kitchen and Diamond Impurities
Inclusions in diamonds are one of the ways we set them apart. Although purer diamonds have traditionally been considered of higher value, there is almost a generic element to consider since they all look relatively the same to the naked eye. No magnification is required to appreciate Mother Nature’s artistry in these alternative diamonds, and their individuality is easily recognizable. The spectrum of variation that rustic diamonds offer provides mystery and fascination to gem geeks and casual consumers alike.
Australian Sapphires Are Better Than Vegemite
Misfit’s Australian sapphires come from Capricorn and Great Northern Mining, in the highlands of Central Queensland. Operations are owned and overseen by FURA Gems, an ethical gemstone mining enterprise. The rough parcels (or lots) of FURA gemstones come with a certificate of origin, enabling us to stay in line with our principle of industry transparency. Ethical sapphire mining practices are also regulated by the government, requiring a license to mine, setting standards for health and safety, controlling crime and corruption, and restoring the environment.
Canadian Diamonds From The Gahcho Kué Mine
The Gahcho Kué diamond mine is a joint venture between Mountain Province Diamonds, which owns 49% of the project, and De Beers Canada, which holds a 51% interest and is the mine’s operator.
A Misfit Adventure for Sapphires to the Treasure State
Before the discovery of sapphire, Montana was already known for mining gold, silver, and copper. So imagine living in the 1860s, and while mining for gold, somewhat unexpectedly, a whole other jackpot, the discovery of sapphire, was made. This true story happened along the Missouri River. Initially the watchmaking industry capitalized on the availability of this very valuable gemstone supply, however the introduction of synthetic sapphires in the 1940s saved the integrity of these mines. Nowadays, finer Sapphire rough is sold to and sought after by jewellers, gem dealers, and hobbyists the world over.
Canadian Diamonds Unearthed
The journey to the first Canadian diamond discovery almost reads as fiction, but is in fact a true story of the underdog’s victory with close-call drama. Follow along for a history lesson on Canadian diamond mining, and learn how Canada has become a progressive leader in the industry.
Misfits Champagne Diamonds From Lesotho
Kao Mine is operated by Storm Mountain Diamonds Ltd (SMD) in the District of Botha Bothe. This is the fourth largest kimberlite pipe in Southern Africa - and the largest kimberlite pipe in Lesotho.
Fifty Shades of Misfit Diamonds
We love salt and pepper diamonds! These one of a kind beauties are what we specialize in here at Misfit Diamonds. Because of the unique characteristics of these stones it's often hard to describe just what type of color you may be searching for. To help answer the question “what color salt and pepper diamond are you looking for?” we've put together a color palette guide for the terminology we use around these stones here at Misfit.