Exceptional, Rare and Pink - The Argyle Tender is in Full Swing

After a quick knock on the door, a bodiless eye examines the people outside through a peephole before allowing them into a small entryway, where armed security guards allow the visitors into a room with a lavishing view. The view is not through the windows, though it is stunning, but rather in four rows of boxes, each holding a single small diamond with an exceptionally rare color. Enter the annual tender of rare Argyle polished diamonds.

A catalogue is sent in advance to the invitees, who may take them to retailers and even consumers to assess the level of interest in the market for the goods. According to senior sales executive Gavin Pearce, 60 – 65 percent of all pink diamonds are sold in Japan, which is why in addition to the GIA certification, they are also certified by AGT.

A viewing of the diamonds, arranged for IDEX Online at a non-disclosed location, revealed an array of diamonds that need to be seen to be truly appreciated.

In addition to pink diamonds, a number of purplish reds and deep pinks, a rare grey-violet diamond is also offered.

Rio Tinto is in the process of expanding the Argyle mine, which supplies more than 90 percent of the world’s pink diamonds. Currently an open mine, a deeper underground mine will extend the mine’s life to 2018.

Meanwhile, the global supply of these diamonds is dwindling. At the end of the closed tender the submitted bids will be compared and the winning bidders notified. Due to the increasing rarity of these gems, Argyle expects the results to be higher than usual. Naturally, they are not disclosing how high.