Final Argyle Pink Tender Sees Record Result

By Leah Meirovich

RAPAPORT… Rio Tinto achieved record-breaking figures at its 2021 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender, with prices strong amid dwindling supply from the mine.

The Australian miner offered 70 rare pink and red diamonds at the last-ever edition of the tender, which follows Argyleu2019s closure in November 2020. The u201chistoricalu201d collection, called The Journey Beyond, comprised the final diamonds mined during the Western Australian depositu2019s last year of operation, Rio Tinto said Thursday.

u201cThe 2021 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender delivered a record-breaking price performance across individual diamonds and for the overall collection,u201d the company noted. u201cThe diamonds were fiercely contested around the world in a series of virtual and face-to-face viewings.u201d

A total of 19 bidders from nine countries successfully acquired lots, with prices maintaining their upward trajectory, Rio Tinto explained. Australian jeweler Calleija bought several stones, including the Argyle Eclipse, a radiant-shaped, 3.47-carat, fancy-intense-pink diamond, and the Argyle Bohu00e8me, a radiant-shaped, 1.01-carat, fancy-red diamond.