Rio Tinto unveils inaugural Bunder collection

Rio Tinto unveiled the inaugural collection from its Bunder project in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. As Dr. Nik Senapati, Managing Director Rio Tinto India said "The collection marks almost a century since India has mined, designed and manufacture its own diamond jewellery".

The diamonds in the collection are from sampling to date at the company's developing Bunder project. The collection offers a statement necklace and a set of complimentary earrings. Totally 25.34 carats of polished diamonds and 2.8 carats of rough diamonds from Bunder including a 5.02 carat round brilliant cut cognac diamond and a 5.04 carat round brilliant cut white diamond feature in the collection.

Underlining the significance of mine to market, the diamonds are cut and polished at Indian factories by Indian craftsman. The jewellery is manufactured by Mumbai-based Uni-Design Jewellery Private Ltd. The jewellery is designed by Reena Ahluwalia as a tribute to women of Madhya Pradesh. The necklace in the collection consists of a diamond encrusted disc that symbolises the natural abundance of the Bunder diamond deposit.

Dr. Nik said, "The government of Madhya Pradesh has supported us from the very beginning in our quest to develop a new benchmark for mine development in India". He also noted tbT collection launch follows seven years since the initial discovery. Bruce Cox, Managing Director Rio Tinto Diamonds said, "The Bunder project is likely to come into commercial production in 2016". The collection, a narrative of Bunder's potential and India's ability from mine to market is not available for sale. It will be showcased at events in the second half of 2012.The launch was graced with the presence of Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan.