Rio Tinto has announced the launch of its 2024 Beyond Rare™ Tender, unveiling 48 rare and extraordinary diamonds in the second of its Art Series collections. The collection, titled “Colour Awakened,” features a selection of pink, red, violet, white, and yellow diamonds, highlighting the enduring legacy of the Argyle Diamond Mine, which closed in 2020.
This year’s tender is headlined by a unique offering of seven historic diamonds, referred to as the “Old Masters,” which were unearthed from the Argyle mine more than a decade ago. These round brilliant-cut pink and red diamonds, ranging from 0.60 to 2.63 carats, were discovered as early as 1987 and have been carefully retrieved from private vaults for inclusion in the 2024 collection.
At the exclusive launch event in London, Sinead Kaufman, Chief Executive of Rio Tinto Minerals, emphasised the significance of the collection, stating: “No other mining company in the world holds such a kaleidoscope of coloured diamonds. Four years after the closure of the Argyle mine, the Beyond Rare Tender platform continues to showcase the lasting prestige of the Argyle Pink Diamonds brand and the quality of production from our Diavik mine, demonstrating the ongoing global demand for highly collectible natural diamonds.”
In addition to the “Old Masters,” the tender includes a variety of pink, red, and violet diamonds from the Argyle mine’s legacy inventory, alongside white and yellow diamonds sourced from Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada. The entire collection consists of 76 diamonds, weighing a total of 39.44 carats. Highlights include:
- Seven “Old Masters,” featuring one Fancy Red diamond
- 32 single lots of pink and violet diamonds, including a Fancy Purplish Red diamond
- Nine sets of diamonds, including a 2.47-carat Fancy Intense Yellow diamond and a 4.04-carat D-colour diamond from Diavik
Patrick Coppens, General Manager of Sales and Marketing for Rio Tinto’s Diamonds division, praised the uniqueness of the 2024 Art Series collection: “Each diamond in the Art Series 02 tells a beautiful story of provenance, careful custody, and transformation into rare works of art. These exceptional gems will attract strong demand from the world’s leading jewellers, collectors, and diamond connoisseurs.”
The 48 lots in this year’s tender will be displayed in several international locations, including London, Australia, Singapore, and Belgium. Interested parties will have the opportunity to place bids, with the tender closing on 18 November 2024.
The Beyond Rare™ Tender is a prestigious platform for showcasing the rarest diamonds from Rio Tinto’s Argyle and Diavik mines. The tender serves as a reminder of the Argyle mine’s significant contribution to the global diamond industry, particularly with its famous pink diamonds, which remain highly sought after by collectors around the world.
For more details on the 2024 Beyond Rare™ Tender and its unique offerings, visit the Rio Tinto Diamonds website.
