A collection of legacy pink and red diamonds from the Argyle mine will headline The Beyond Rare^TM Tender, a new exclusive sales event unveiled recently by Rio Tinto.

Apart from the coveted Argyle diamonds, the sale will also feature yellow diamonds from Rio Tinto’s Diavik mine. A total of 48 lots will be offered. 

The Argyle mine in Australia, which used to supply more than 90 per cent of the world’s annual pink diamond supply, closed in November 2020 after 37 years of operations. 

Sinead Kaufman, chief executive of Rio Tinto Minerals, said the event reflects an ongoing demand for highly collectible natural diamonds from jewellers, collectors and diamond connoisseurs.

Titled The Art Series, the invitation-only event will feature a collection of 87 diamonds, weighing 29.96 carats in total. These include: Seven “Masterpieces” comprising sets of Argyle Pink Diamonds^TM and yellow Diavik diamonds accompanied by bespoke artwork; 11 perfectly matched pairs of fancy colour diamonds; and 30 single diamonds, including one fancy red Argyle diamond.

The 48 lots will be showcased in Australia, Switzerland and Belgium, with bids closing on November 20, 2023.

General Manager of Sales and Marketing for Rio Tinto’s Diamonds business Patrick Coppens said, “The market fundamentals that drive value appreciation for Argyle pink and red diamonds have never been stronger – a combination of severely constrained supply, with the closure of Argyle, and unwavering global demand for truly scarce gems.”