In a spectacle of natural elegance and rarity, Rio Tinto has captivated an exclusive audience in Europe with its inaugural Beyond Rare Tender™ collection. Showcasing an array of exquisite pink, red, and yellow diamonds, the collection comprises 48 lots of polished diamonds, each a masterpiece of nature’s artistry.
The exclusive event, titled The Art Series, unfolded in Geneva and Antwerp, attracting an elite group of international connoisseurs, collectors, and luxury jewellers. Patrick Coppens, general manager of sales and marketing for Rio Tinto’s diamonds business says, “I am delighted to host this carefully curated collection of beautiful coloured diamonds in Geneva and Antwerp. Europe is an important destination for our diamonds, and both Geneva and Antwerp have played an integral part in the market development of our coloured diamonds over the past four decades.”
Inspired by the art world, each polished diamond in The Art Series is not just a precious gem but also an extraordinary natural work of art, boasting an esteemed provenance and a captivating story of rarity.
Argyle Diamonds Limited 2023©
The first collection of The Art Series, comprising 87 diamonds weighing a total of 29.96 carats, includes seven ‘Masterpieces’ featuring sets of Argyle Pink Diamonds™ and yellow Diavik diamonds, carefully chosen for their unique beauty and accompanied by bespoke artwork. The collection also presents a rarified offering of 11 perfectly matched pairs of coloured diamonds and 30 exquisite single diamonds, among which is a remarkable Fancy Red Argyle diamond.
The Beyond Rare Tender™ marks a new format for Rio Tinto and the strong interest it has generated underscores the ongoing demand for highly collectible natural diamonds. Heidi Creech, business development manager for Rio Tinto’s diamonds business, emphasised the importance of the Beyond Rare Tender™ in Rio Tinto’s commitment to the Argyle Pink Diamonds™ brand. “The Beyond Rare Tender™ is an important element in Rio Tinto’s ongoing commitment to the Argyle Pink Diamonds™ brand, as it continues to uphold the mesmerising beauty of Argyle’s pink and red diamonds together with their beautiful birthplace, status and mystique to ensure the brand integrity of the one true source of rare pink diamonds,” she says.
The collection also highlights the inclusion of two Fancy Intense Yellow diamonds from Rio Tinto’s Diavik diamond mine, adding a beautiful counterpoint to the pink and red Argyle diamonds from the remote East Kimberley region of Western Australia. Yellow diamonds constitute less than one percent of Diavik’s production, a rarity in a diamond mine otherwise known for its highly coveted white diamond production.
As the anticipation builds, bids for the Beyond Rare Tender™ close on 20 November 2023, promising a grand finale to this extraordinary showcase.
