Exclusive Viewing Of Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender Collection For Wife Of Japan’s PM

(IDEX Online News) – Rio Tinto’s iconic Argyle pink diamonds were part of the inaugural visit to Western Australia by Akie Abe, the wife of Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, at the invitation of the state government of Western Australia.

The 2014 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender collection, comprising around 50 of the rarest and most valuable pink diamonds in the world, were showcased in an exclusive preview for Mrs Abe.

The diamonds are the best of the annual production from Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. Mrs Abe was the first to view one of the most important stones in the collection, a 1.59-carat Emerald cut Fancy Intense purplish pink stone named Argyle Toki. The name, depicting the delicate pink underwings of a rare Japanese bird, symbolizes the importance of Japan as the premier export market for rare pink diamonds.

The Japanese market has been critical to the development of Rio Tinto’s rare pink diamond business over the past 30 years. The pink diamond jewelry phenomenon started in Japan in the late 1980s when Japanese designers used Argyle’s pink diamonds and incorporated them in their designs.

Today, Rio Tinto sells around 30 percent of its Argyle pink diamonds to Japan “where there is an unerring appetite for the smallest, palest pink diamonds, through to the rarest reds”.

Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine produces virtually the entire world’s supply of rare pink diamonds. The 2014 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender collection will be officially launched in August and will tour the world until October. Around 150 collectors, connoisseurs and luxury jewelers are invited to place sealed bids on the diamonds. Prices for the diamonds can exceed $1million per carat.

This year’s collection will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender.