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The tender will showcase dozens of diamonds with showings in Australia, Asia, and the UK.

Exceptional diamonds in 2012 Tender

Posted September 18, 2012 | By Dean Millard • Staff Journalist

Investors and high-end fine jewellers are reaching for their cheque books following the launch of Rio Tinto’s 2012 collection of exceptionally rare pink, red and blue diamonds.

The Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender 2012 showcases 56 single pink diamonds, including two red diamonds, and an additional 19 lots of blue diamonds, which will be previewed in Perth, Hong Kong and London throughout the remainder of September and early October before bids close on October 15.

The Argyle Diamond mine is known for consistently producing the majority of the world’s supply of pink diamonds, however it also sporadically produces blue diamonds. The 19 lots included in this year’s tender, titled “Once in a Blue Moon”, have been collected at the mine over the past two years.

The collection contains several “hero” stones, including Argyle Siren, a 1.32-carat square radiant cut Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink diamond and Argyle Satine, a 1.2-carat cushion cut Fancy Intense Purplish Pink diamond.

The collection's standout piece among the smaller blue diamonds is Argyle Allure, a 0.33-carat heart shaped diamond, while similar sized oval and pear-shaped blue and violet diamonds, Argyle Elektra and Argyle Heloise, are also expected to be focal points.

Argyle Pink Diamonds manager Josephine Johnson said Rio Tinto is excited about this year’s collection.

“We are delighted to offer a highly sought after collection of rare pink, red and blue diamonds which are destined for investment portfolios or heirloom pieces of jewellery,” Johnson said.

The Argyle Diamond Mine has been operating for 27 years and while it is currently still producing at a high rate, it is expected that it may become unviable by as early as 2019, making each new release of diamonds before then an increasingly rare commodity.

Rio Tinto Diamond chief commercial officer Jean-Marc Lieberherr said given the proportion of the world’s pink diamond supply sourced from the Argyle mine and the limited time remaining to viably mine the diamonds, demand was expected to be very high.

“Excitement around this year’s Tender collection is understandable as Argyle pink diamonds are a diminishing natural treasure distinguished by their uniqueness, their limited availability, their exceptional craftsmanship, their rich provenance and their natural beauty,” Lieberherr said.

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