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Get Them Before They’re Gone: Argyle’s Second-To-Last Pink Diamond Tender Is Underway September 27, 2020 (0 comments)
Sydney, Australia—The 2020 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender is underway, albeit mainly virtually. Apart from the unusual circumstances brought about by the global coronavirus pandemic, this year’s 62-stone collection is notable as it will be the second-to-last one of its kind. Rio Tinto, which owns the Argyle mine, is winding down operations at the mine, which is slated to close at the end of this year. Any further production of its famed fancy pinks will be presented in the final tender in 2021.
This year’s tender includes pink, red, violet, and blue diamonds, headlined with Lot Number 1, the largest Fancy Vivid round brilliant diamond ever offered at the Tender. The 2.24 carat Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink diamond trademarked as Argyle Eternity is part of the historic collection. In total, the collection comprises 62 diamonds, for a total of 57.23 carats.
Arnaud Soirat, Rio Tinto’s head of copper and diamonds, said, “Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine is the first and only ongoing source of rare pink, red and violet diamonds in the world. We have seen, and continue to see, strong demand for these highly coveted diamonds, which together with extremely limited global supply, supports the significant value appreciation for Argyle pink diamonds.”
Titled One Lifetime, One Encounter, the 2020 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender takes its reference from the closure of the iconic mine after almost four decades of production.
Patrick Coppens, general manager of sales and marketing for Rio Tinto’s diamond business, said, “The Argyle pink diamond story has continued to enthrall throughout the years following the remarkable discovery of the Argyle mine in 1979. The 2020 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender is a collection of rare earthly treasures, intricate works of art and with a potency of color that will be keenly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs from around the world.”
Related: Argyle Stones Should Rocket In Value After Mine Closes
The 2020 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender collection features six ‘hero’ diamonds, selected for their unique beauty and named to ensure there is a permanent record of their contribution to the history of the world’s important diamonds. They are:
- Lot 1: Argyle Eternity, 2.24 carat round brilliant Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink diamond;
- Lot 2: Argyle Ethereal, 2.45 carat square radiant shaped Fancy Intense Purple-Pink diamond;
- Lot 3: Argyle Sakura, 1.84 carat pear shaped Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink diamond;
- Lot 4: Argyle Emrys, 0.43 carat princess shaped Fancy Deep Grayish Violet-ish Blue diamond;
- Lot 5: Argyle Skylar, 0.33 carat heart shaped Fancy Dark Gray-Violet diamond; and
- Lot 6: Argyle Infinité, 0.70 carat oval shaped Fancy Dark Violet-Gray diamond.
All names are trademarked.
Also included in the 2020 Tender are 12 lots of carefully curated sets of miniature rare Argyle pink, red, blue and violet diamonds, weighing 13.90 carats in total. Titled The Petite Suites, they were collected over a five-year period.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender has been previewed virtually. Some exclusive invitees will be able to see the collection in person later in the year at the Argyle mine or in Perth, Australia, Singapore, and Antwerp.
Bids close on December 2, 2020.