Rio Tinto’s inaugural Beyond Rare Tender collection of rare pink, red, and yellow diamonds was shown in Geneva and Antwerp to an exclusive group of international connoisseurs, collectors, and luxury jewellers.
These outstanding polished diamonds are comprised of 48 lots, including legacy inventory of pink and red diamonds from the Argyle diamond mine and yellow diamonds from Rio Tinto’s Diavik diamond mine.
“I am delighted to host this carefully curated collection of beautiful coloured diamonds in Geneva and Antwerp,” said Patrick Coppens, General Manager of Sales and Marketing for Rio Tinto’s diamonds business. Europe is an important market for our diamonds, and Geneva and Antwerp have both played major roles in the market development of our colored diamonds over the last four decades.”
This invitation-only event, titled The Art Series, is inspired by the art world, with each polished diamond an amazing natural work of art with a respected history and a captivating story of rarity.
The first collection of The Art Series features 87 diamonds totaling 29.96 carats and includes:
- Seven ‘Masterpieces’ comprised of sets of Argyle Pink DiamondsTM and yellow Diavik diamonds chosen for their exceptional beauty and complimented by custom artwork
- An very rare offering of 11 completely matched pairs of colored diamonds.
- 30 magnificent single diamonds, including one exceptional Fancy Red Argyle diamond The Beyond Rare Tender is a new format for Rio Tinto’s diamonds business, and the significant level of interest it has generated demonstrates the continuous desire for highly collectible natural diamonds.
Heidi Creech, business development manager for Rio Tinto’s diamond business commented: “The Beyond Rare Tender is an important element in Rio Tinto’s ongoing commitment to the Argyle Pink DiamondsTM brand, as it continues to uphold the mesmerizing 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.”
The presence of two Fancy Intense Yellow diamonds from Rio Tinto’s Diavik diamond mine, buried beneath a frozen lake in Northern Canada’s Barren Lands, is a lovely complement to the pink and red Argyle diamonds from Western Australia’s isolated East Kimberley region. Yellow diamonds account for less than 1% of Diavik’s output, a rarity in a diamond mine known for its highly prized white diamond production.
Bids for the Beyond Rare Tender close on November 20, 2023.