Email Alerts Contact ABOUT US OUR OPERATIONS OUR INDUSTRY SUSTAINABILITY INVESTORS MEDIA CAREERS Home / Our Industry / About Diamonds / White Diamonds White Diamonds Pure white diamonds are in fact very rare, with yellowish or brown tints being present in the majority of ‘white' diamonds Pure white diamonds are in fact very rare, with yellowish or brown tints being present in the majority of ‘white diamonds’, albeit so faint in many cases that it is undetectable by the amateur observer. The hint of yellow that can be noted in many diamonds is caused by the element nitrogen, present within the carbon structure. Diamonds containing nitrogen are classed as Type I, whereas those containing aggregated nitrogen atoms are classified as Type Ia (the most common category of diamonds. Diamonds without any detectable nitrogen atoms are exceptionally rare and are known as Type II, with a sub-division of Type IIa, being the purest. Cullinan is one of the world’s most celebrated diamond mines and is a source of large, high-quality Type II gem diamonds. In September 2009, a 507 carat white diamond, which Petra named the Cullinan Heritage, was discovered here and later sold in 2010 for US$35.3 million, which at the time was the highest price on record for a rough diamond. Read more about the Cullinan Heritage and other important stones recovered by Petra HRD ANTWERP 4CS CHART FOLLOW US Join the conversation on our social media channels linkedin twitter facebook instagram Site map rss Contact Disclaimer Accessibility Privacy Cookies Policy Email Alerts © Petra Diamonds Limited

Email Alerts Contact ABOUT US OUR OPERATIONS OUR INDUSTRY SUSTAINABILITY INVESTORS MEDIA CAREERS Home / Our Industry / About Diamonds About Diamonds "Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without" - Chinese Proverb DIAMOND FACTSHEET Download Petra’s diamond factsheet to find out more about the diamond lifecycle. Download WHY ARE DIAMONDS SO SPECIAL? For centuries their exquisite beauty, inner fire and unique physical qualities have made them prized above all other gems. Read more WHAT ARE DIAMONDS USED FOR? Diamonds have been treasured as gemstones since their first use as religious icons in ancient India. Read more WHITE DIAMONDS Pure white diamonds are in fact very rare, with yellowish or brown tints being present in the majority of ‘white diamonds’. Read more COLOURED DIAMONDS As the Earth’s rarest and most valuable gemstones, fancy coloured diamonds are the ne plus ultra of possessions. Read more Site map rss Contact Disclaimer Accessibility Privacy Cookies Policy Email Alerts © Petra Diamonds Limited