The company will offer a collection totalling 45.44 carats of diamonds, called Into the Light, which includes its inventory of pink, violet and red diamonds from the Argyle Diamond mine in Australia. The tender will also include diamonds from the Diavik Mine in Canada, which is expected to close next year.
Among the key attractions are a fancy red diamond, along with 12 fancy violet stones and 76 fancy pink, fancy purple-pink and fancy purplish-pink diamonds. Patrick Coppens, general manager of sales and marketing, said it was a diamond collection unlike any other.
“It is hard to overstate the importance of this final collection. No other mining company in the world has custody of such an exquisite collection of diamond colours, shapes and sizes,” he explained.
Among the collection are six ‘masterpieces’. The tender will also include 39 single diamonds and seven curated sets. Rio Tinto will also offer a 6.12-carat, fancy-vivid-yellow diamond from the Diavik Mine.
The company will exhibit the lots in Hong Kong, Australia, and Antwerp, with bids closing on 20 October.
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