Rio Tinto’s Pink Diamonds Tender Starts, Goes to China

Rio Tinto's annual Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender is starting to do the rounds, and is on view to invited traders and diamond investors in Perth. This year's tender includes 55 pink diamonds.

A highlight of the 2010 collection is a 2.02 carat round brilliant fancy vivid purplish pink diamond. Inspired by the Tender collection’s theme of “Earth Magic”, Argyle Mystra, is expected to "captivate bidders with its color saturation and purplish hues," according to the company.

“The color saturation across this year’s collection has set a new benchmark with many more “vivid” pinks than previous years,” Business Manager Josephine Archer said.

Two other stones have also been named in honor of mystical metaphors - Argyle Iris, a 1.43 carat fancy purplish red square shaped diamond, named after the Greek messenger goddess and, representing a touch of heaven on Earth, Argyle Ava, a 0.50 carat fancy purplish red round shaped diamond.

In recognition of the rareness of these diamonds, and to coincide with the tender, Argyle Pink Diamonds has released a new publication, Rare and Collectable that places this rarity in the context of global supply and demand and the resulting strong price appreciation.

Tender viewings will be held in Perth (August16-22), Hong Kong (September 13-20), Shanghai (September 25) and New York (October12-17). This will be the first time that the Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender will be showcased in mainland China, in recognition of the growing importance of this market for rare colored diamonds.