This is the story of the Argyle Octavia, a diamond of extraordinary rarity and exceptional beauty. It is the story of a true miracle of nature, and how it became one of the world’s most sought-after pieces of jewellery. Like all great stories, the tale of the Argyle Octavia is one of passion and desire, risk and reward, art and beauty.

The Argyle Octavia is the largest gem-quality white diamond ever yielded by Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine in Western Australia, unearthed in the last years of the mine’s life. Argyle is now closed, forever, after 37 years of operation. The Argyle Octavia, one of its last gifts, was utterly unexpected and unique in its size, shape and luminosity. 

“Argyle Octavia seems like nature’s last lunge at life. The perfect octahedral shape of the Argyle Octavia, an extreme rarity in itself, tells of the sacred geometry of nature. Argyle Octavia is destined to become one of the great historic diamonds of the future,” says world-renowned jewellery expert and historian, Vivienne Becker.

Prior to polishing the Argyle Octavia weighed 28.84cts. Diamonds of more than 20 carats have only ever made up 0.00007% of Argyle’s production in the entire history of the mine. “It is staggeringly rare for Argyle to produce a diamond crystal like this. Not only was its size and incredible shape so unexpected, it was hard to believe it was real,” says Olivar Musson, Creative Director of Musson. “We had a profound responsibility to design and create the most beautiful and, unique, piece of jewellery to best celebrate a diamond of such rarity,” he says.

When the Argyle Octavia yielded its optimal diamonds, a 17.18ct princess cut and two smaller heart-shaped diamonds, there was no doubt in the creative minds of the Musson family about how to best present such a unique ‘trilogy of diamonds’ to the world.  “We let the diamonds inspire us,” says Olivar Musson.

The princess cut from the Argyle Octavia was the largest, brightest single stone that could be achieved, along with the smaller matching hearts.  “We wanted the triumvirate of diamonds to be harmonious, for the piece to be eminently wearable and to absolutely showcase the hero diamond, especially from the point of view of the owner,” says Olivar, who designed the ring in collaboration with his father, Musson founder, Robert Musson.  “There is a synergy between my design and my father’s. His aesthetic is more sculptural and reflects light beautifully, with unique setting details, while mine is more architectural,” says Olivar of his father, a master jeweller and designer who taught his son about design, and the love and respect of diamonds.

The Argyle Octavia by Musson is the result of a flow of ideas, inspiration and creative challenge between father and son, until the perfect design was unearthed. The final masterpiece consists of three rings of platinum and rose gold that can be worn together to showcase the Argyle Octavia in its complete glory, or separately to allow the wearer to enjoy the hero princess cut on its own. Pink diamonds festoon the surrounding bands that feature the smaller heart shaped diamonds, as a homage to the extraordinary coloured diamonds of the Argyle Mine.

Acquired, cut and polished, designed and created in the darkest moments of 2020, the Argyle Octavia by Musson represents light and hope. The ring is a dramatic and spectacular reflection of light and life, and shines as an enduring beacon to Australian creativity, ingenuity, positivity and professionalism. It will forever represent a brief moment in time when nature gave up one of her most beautiful gifts, in the red earth of the Kimberley.

The Argyle Octavia was millions of years in the making, and now it’s ready to shine in the light.

Scroll to the bottom of the page to enjoy a video of The Argyle Octavia celebration.