Rio Tinto’s 2013 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender has delivered a strong set of results including records for the most valuable diamonds ever sold from the Argyle Diamond Mine.
Known as the ‘Red Edition’ with the inclusion of three Fancy Red diamonds, the 2013 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender collection showcased a total of 64 pink, red and blue diamonds, ranging in size from 0.20 carats to 3.02 carats.
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- Argyle Phoenix™
Two significant records were broken. Argyle Phoenix™, a 1.56 carat Fancy Red diamond, achieved the highest per carat price for a diamond ever produced from the Argyle mine.
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- Argyle Dauphine™
Argyle Dauphine™, a 2.51 carat Fancy Deep Pink diamond, broke the record for the highest price paid for an Argyle diamond in overall value terms. This was also a world record for a Fancy Deep Pink diamond.
All 64 diamonds in the 2013 Tender were sold, many well above pre-Tender estimates, reflecting increasing demand form the world’s top jewellers, designers, collectors and connoisseurs.
Both established and emerging markets were well represented in the winning bids. There were a record number of bids over US$1 million and bids broke through the US$2 million ceiling for a single stone.
The Argyle underground mine, which produces more than 90 per cent of the world’s rare pink diamonds, was commissioned in April 2013 and extends the life of the mine until at least 2020.
