Annual showcase of rare Argyle pink, red, violet and blue diamonds takes inspiration from Japan

MELBOURNE, Australia--Rio Tinto’s annual Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender, the most exclusive diamond sale in the world, has taken its inspiration for its 2020 showcase from the Japanese philosophy of Ichigo Ichie, celebrating the unrepeatable nature of a moment in time.

Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine in the remote East Kimberley region of Western Australia produces virtually the entire world’s supply of rare pink diamonds and will cease production at the end of 2020.

Patrick Coppens, General manager, Sales and marketing for Rio Tinto’s diamonds business said “Operating since 1983, the Argyle pink diamond jewellery phenomenon started in Japan in the late 1980s when Japanese designers boldly embraced Argyle’s pink diamonds and incorporated them in beautiful and innovative designs. In Japan today the Argyle pink hues are synonymous with romance and love and there is an unerring appetite for the smallest, palest pink diamonds, through to the rarest red diamonds.

The 2020 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender is a historic collection of 62 diamonds including 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 Number 3 in this year’s collection has been named Argyle Sakura™ in honour of Japan’s love of the cherry blossom hues of Argyle pink diamonds. Argyle Sakura™ is the largest Fancy Vivid pear shaped diamond offered in 37 years of the Argyle Pink Diamonds Tenders.

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 Blue diamond

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

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, red, blue and violet diamonds, weighing 13.90 carats in total. Titled The Petite Suites, these 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.