Tiffany’s Exclusive Rights to Mine Yellow Diamonds

The name Tiffany’s really rolls off the tongue. The unmistakable name of this company is associated around the world to elegant and stylish jewellery, and since 2010 they’ve also had the sole rights to mine yellow diamonds in Australia. Consequently, your fabulous yellow diamond engagement ring will probably bear their name.

Tiffany’s prizes diamonds in this particular colour so highly that they would prefer not to give anyone else the chance to lay claim to them, specifically those mined in the Ellendale mine in Western Australia, where the agreement was made.

As Exclusive As The Brand

The Ellendale mine purportedly contains the world’s best yellow diamonds, and so it was a natural choice for exclusivity for a company like Tiffany’s, which has always been inspired by gems of this colour. No one knows why this small part of the world should have such a high concentration of yellow-tinted diamonds (considering this particular variant accounts for a whopping 0.1% of all diamonds, and of that 0.1% only a smattering are really true and brilliant examples, others being more pale or brown), but this way at least Tiffany’s has "first dibs" on any that emerge.

Owners of Tiffany’s claim this move is largely beneficial, as it means that not only do they own all the yellow diamonds found in Ellendale mine in Australia, but that every single one of their diamonds can now be officially traced to its source of origin, something they note cannot be said for all diamonds - including the original Tiffany diamond, worn by Audrey Hepburn to promote the film adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and which could have come from one of the several South African mines active in the late 1870s. With that sort of claim to fame, your fiancée’s yellow diamond engagement ring could be the source of many dinner party conversations.

A Textbook Example

Ellendale mine is run with a professionalism and efficiency that is the envy of the diamond industry, setting the example in ethics and human rights and employing a rigorously fair racial and gender equality programme. Situated on land owned by indigenous people, the rights of the Bunuba tribe are respected, as well as areas of land they consider sacred. Environmental moves to help relocate wallabies and snakes found in the mine’s area of influence are also on-going.

All this gives more reasons to give a little sunshine to the love of your life by seeking out a beautiful yellow diamond engagement ring from Tiffany’s of New York!

Laura L Bolick is the founder of the F&L Designer Guides, compiled and written to help consumers choose a unique engagement ring design. From yellow diamond engagement rings to princess cuts and engraved bands, we have ideas and opinions covering all the options. Offering advice, tips and suggestions on how to choose that perfect ring, F&L will accompany you on every stage of your search to find the right designer.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.