Rio Tinto previews its annual showcase of Argyle pink, red, violet and blue diamonds to exclusive clientele

MELBOURNE,Australia,Sept. 8,2020 -- Rio Tinto has provided a virtual preview of rare Argyle pink,red,violet and blue diamonds from its iconic diamond mine,in one of the very last offerings to an exclusive group of collectors,diamond connoisseurs and luxury jewellery houses.

Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender 2020 Heroes

The 2020 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender,a collection of the rarest diamonds from a year's production from the Argyle mine in the remote east Kimberley region of Western Australia at the mine,is 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 known as Argyle Eternity™ is part of the historic collection comprising 62 diamonds weighing 57.23 carats.

Rio Tinto chief executive of Copper and Diamonds,Arnaud Soirat 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 at the end of 2020,after almost four decades of production.

Patrick Coppens,General Manager of Sales and Marketing for Rio Tinto's diamonds business said "The Argyle pink diamond story has continued to enthral 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 colour that will be keenly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs from around the world."

The 2020 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender collection comprises 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 most important diamonds:

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 Violetish Bluediamond

Lot 5: Argyle Skylar™,0.33 carat heart shaped Fancy Dark Gray-Violetdiamond

Lot 6: Argyle Infinité™,0.70 carat oval shaped Fancy Dark Violet-Gray diamond

Also included in the Tender 2020 offering are 12 lots of carefully curated and never to be repeated sets of miniature rare Argyle pink,blue and violet diamonds,weighing 13.90 carats in total. Titled The Petite Suites,these collectible diamonds have been meticulously collected over a five year period,striking a harmonious balance between size,shape,colour and clarity.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender has been previewed virtually with exclusive invitees before viewings later in the year at the Argyle mine,in Perth and then travelling to Singapore and Antwerp. Bids close on December 2,2020.

High resolution images of the 2020 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender hero diamonds and Petite Suites are available here.

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