Photo courtesy Rio Tinto
More than 100 carats of pink, red, blue, and violet diamonds have been purchased by buyers around the globe as part of Rio Tinto’s final Argyle tender.
The showcase, which featured diamonds recovered during Australia’s Argyle Mine’s last year of production, included a collection of 70 rare pink and red diamonds titled, ‘The Journey Beyond.’ The tender delivered record-breaking price performance across individual diamonds and for the overall collection, Rio Tinto reports.
The collection’s largest stone, the 3.47-carat ‘Argyle Eclipse,’ was purchased by Australia’s Calleija Jewellers, which was also top bidder for ‘Argyle Bohème,’ a 1.01-carat, radiant shaped fancy red diamond.
“It is an extraordinary opportunity and a privilege to be part of this historic collection,” John Calleija says. “We are humbled to be the custodians of these uniquely Australian jewels and are delighted to be part of their enduring legacy.”
The showcase also featured:
- ‘Argyle Stella,’ a 1.79-carat, square radiant shaped fancy vivid purplish pink diamond, which was purchased by a bidder in Singapore;
- ‘Argyle Lumiere,’ a 2.03-carat, square radiant shaped fancy deep pink diamond, which was purchased by a bidder in the United States; and
- ‘Argyle Solaris,’ a 2.05-carat, radiant shaped fancy intense pink diamond, which was purchased by a bidder in Singapore.
“We are delighted with these results, which are a reflection of the beauty, rarity, and unique provenance of Argyle pink diamonds,” says Rio Tinto Minerals CEO, Sinead Kaufman. “They are also a testament to all those involved in taking these gems from a mine in remote Western Australia to the world.”
Also tendered was Rio Tinto’s ‘Once in a Blue Moon’ collection, consisting of 41 lots of Argyle blue and violet diamonds weighing a total of 24.88 carats. The collection was purchased in its entirety by Hong Kong fancy coloured diamond specialist, Kunming Diamonds.
“We are delighted to be part of Argyle’s legacy in this historical moment, acquiring the ‘Once in a Blue Moon’ collection,” says the company’s executive director, Harsh Maheshwari. “We cherish becoming the custodians of the final Australian treasures from this iconic and industry-defining mine and look forward to unearthing the incredible possibilities in the years to come.”
“The rarity and beauty of the ‘Once in a Blue Moon’ diamonds speaks volumes,” Kaufman adds. “They are highly coveted—the ultimate limited edition—and we congratulate Kunming Diamonds on their global bid.”
Mining ceased at Argyle on Nov. 3, 2020, after 38 years of operations.
In addition to owning the Argyle Pink Diamonds brand, Rio Tinto is the majority owner and operator of the Diavik diamond mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories.
