Looking for something truly spectacular? Discover the rare, real and responsibly sourced diamonds of the Northwest Territories. Known for their brilliance, ethical origins and exceptional quality, these dazzling gems reflect the wondrously natural landscapes of the NWT. What could be more meaningful than owning a diamond that embodies the spirit of the North?

Since 1998, the NWT has risen to become one of the world’s top three diamond producers, by volume and value. Each locally mined diamond is a masterpiece of nature.

Visit the NWT Diamond Centre in downtown Yellowknife to learn about these extraordinary gems. Part museum, part gem store and part event space, the centre offers an immersive experience. Interactive displays showcase the fascinating geology and industry behind NWT diamond mining. Often you can watch skilled artists shape rough diamonds into polished treasures and peer through a magnifying glass to see the breathtaking “hearts and arrows” facet pattern of a round-cut diamond.

For an even closer look at diamonds in Yellowknife, the NWT-based Diamonds de Canada offers tours showcasing the diamond-cutting process. Using advanced 3D scanning, raw diamonds are precisely mapped before being shaped with high-powered lasers. Master polishers then refine each surface to perfection. If you’re dazzled by what you see, consider buying a bit of “bling” at either of these centres, or at other jewellery stores around the city for a timeless souvenir of the NWT.

Each NWT diamond comes with its own story of ethical sourcing and sustainability—told through a series of tiny, expertly applied markings and documents.

All diamonds from the NWT include a Diamond Identification Number (DIN), a unique code lasered onto the polished stone and printed on accompanying authentication cards. These cards also document the mine of origin and diamond weight, and are paired with a grading report that attests to the diamond’s cut, clarity, colour and carat.

In addition to these standard identifiers, some diamonds feature symbolic engravings that reflect their Northern heritage. For example, Diamonds de Canada holds the official Polar Bear Diamond™ license issued by the Government of the NWT. Select diamonds from this brand are engraved with a micro-sized polar bear—an homage to the estimated 16,000 polar bears found across Canada. Each year, Diamonds de Canada cuts a limited number of Polar Bear Diamonds, each with the  unique polar bear design. These diamonds may come from any of the NWT’s three diamond mines: Ekati, Diavik, or Gahcho Kué.

Other engravings include the CanadaMark® symbol, typically found on diamonds from the Ekati and Gahcho Kué mines. Some stones may display the Maple Leaf Diamond™ insignia, denoting that the gem is 100-percent Canadian, natural and untreated.

So, depending on their origin and brand, NWT diamonds may feature a range of markings—each one adding meaning and traceability to the stone.

Since 2021, NWT diamonds have also included built-in security measures through a proprietary blockchain-based digital records system, providing secure ownership verification.

All NWT diamonds are graded through a combination of local and international processes. After initial assessment and sorting at the three main mines—Ekati, Diavik and Gahcho Kué—diamonds are either cut and polished in the NWT or internationally. Every rough diamond exported from the NWT must be accompanied by a valid Kimberley Process Certificate, guaranteeing it is conflict-free and responsibly sourced.

Diamonds from the NWT have traveled far, cherished by all who remain enchanted by them. When Prince William and Princess Kate visited the NWT in 2011, they were gifted stunning diamond pavé cufflinks and a brooch, both designs featuring a polar bear silhouette beneath a semi-circle representing the Northern Lights.

In 2024, Ekati, Gahcho Kué and Diavik collaborated on the creation of a stunning one-of-a-kind diamond pendant, which was later auctioned off for charity. This pendant, set in 18-karat white gold, featured a round brilliant-cut Ekati diamond, a radiant-cut Gahcho Kué diamond and a round brilliant-cut Diavik diamond. The three diamonds, set in a caribou antler design, paid homage to the gems’ Northern origin. 

Over the years, many huge diamonds have also come out of the NWT, including a 552-carat rough yellow diamond, 33.74 mm x 54.56 mm (about the size of a chicken egg at 1.3 inches by 2.14 in) from the Diavik Diamond Mine in 2018. This stone holds the record for the biggest gem-quality diamond found in North America and stands as one of the 30 largest diamonds in the world. Cut into seven diamonds and auctioned off in 2021, the largest of the gems, a 204.36-carat fancy intense yellow diamond known as the “Dancing Sun,” sold for nearly 7 million dollars. 

In 2025, Diavik unearthed a 158.20-carat rough diamond, one of only five yellow diamonds larger than 100 carats from this mine.

The journey of an NWT diamond begins 300 kilometres (190 miles) northeast of Yellowknife.  This area, located in the North Slave Region of the NWT, holds about 400 diamond-rich kimberlite pipes, volcanic formations dating back 55 million years. The discovery of diamond-bearing kimberlites in 1991 by geologists Chuck Fipke and Stewart Blusson led to the first NWT diamond mine, the Ekati Diamond Mine, in 1998.

Despite their remote location, mining operations in the NWT incorporate some remarkable engineering feats. The Diavik Diamond Mine, for example, includes four kimberlite pipes at the bottom of Lac de Gras which are accessed through a combination of open-pit and underground mining. Advanced technology and techniques are used to hold back the lake’s waters to lessen any environmental disturbance during diamond extraction. Once these operations are complete, the mine pumps millions of litres of water back into Lac de Gras while continuously monitoring water quality and fish stocks. Diavik is also home to an award-winning wind farm that generates significant renewable energy for the mine. 

The Tibbitt to Contwoyto Ice Road, made famous by the TV series Ice Road Truckers, serves as a crucial winter supply route for the diamond mines.

The NWT now accounts for nearly all of Canada’s diamond production, with millions of carats mined since 1998. These diamonds are not only breathtaking but also ethically sourced, ensuring minimal impact on the land, water and wildlife. Each diamond mine has been developed along with socially-responsible mining practices to benefit Indigenous communities. The mines’ names reflect these close links: Diavik is derived from “dia”  for diamonds and “vik”, which means “place of,” in Inuktut. Ekati in Dene means “Fat Lake” (or Lac de Gras in French), while Gahcho Kué means  “a place of big rabbits” in the Chipewyan language.

Come and experience the brilliance of these dazzling diamonds, a perfect memento of the unparalleled, unique and awe-inspiring NWT!

Looking to unearth other rarities the NWT has to offer?  Check out these 15 unique experiences that you won’t want to miss on your next trip to the NWT!