Rio Tinto has celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender with “an exceptional result that belies the global financial crisis of the past 12 months”.
Titled Grand Passions, this year’s tender collection comprised 43 of the best pink diamonds from Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond Mine in WA, including a 2.61carat intense pink heart shaped diamond, a 1.25 carat purplish pink round diamond and a 1.10 carat red oval diamond.
Jean-Marc Lieberherr, general manager for the sales and marketing for all diamonds from Rio Tinto’s mines, said the collection was keenly contested by investors, collectors and diamond experts from around the world.
“All diamonds were sold and we were delighted to see strong representation from the growing markets of India and China, as well as the more established markets for rare coloured diamonds,” he said.
Although Rio Tinto does not release the prices of the pink diamonds sold at the tender, Argyle Pink Diamonds business manager Josephine Archer said the tender’s results “demonstrated a significant global reach with very strong price appreciation, on the back of a growing awareness of the rarity, exclusivity and uniqueness of the Argyle Pink Diamond brand.”
The Argyle Pink Diamonds tender was showcased around the world from June to September with private viewings in Perth, London, Hong Kong, Sydney and, for the first time, Mumbai.
According to Archer, the diamonds sold at the tender will go to a range of individual diamantaires, jewellery manufacturers and luxury retailers across all major markets.
“The ultimate consumers for these diamonds are likely to be investors, collectors, celebrities and high net-worth individuals,” she said.