Winning bids for Rio Tinto’s Argyle Pink Diamond Tender demonstrate exceptional results

The final results of Rio Tinto’s 2012 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender revealed keen contesting and continued strong price appreciation. Altogether 56 single pink diamonds, including two red diamonds and an additional 19 lots of blue diamonds from Rio Tinto's Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia, were offered in the tender, whose bidding closed on October 15, 2012.

The winning bids of the iconic gems at the tender showed exceptional results. The most valuable diamond from the collection, Argyle Siren™, a 1.32 carat square radiant cut Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink diamond was successfully bid by John Glajz, Argyle Pink Diamonds’ largest Asia Pacific partner. Commenting the diamond to be ‘from a rare collection, incomparable from the perspective of a connoisseur’, he aspired to design ‘an heirloom piece of jewellery to honour its heritage’.

Successful bidders for the 2012 Tender collection were from both established and emerging markets, with many of them being part of the exhibition at Kensington Palace on October 9th, that showcased over US$65 million unique pink diamond jewellery, in celebration of the royal connections in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year. According to Jean-Marc Lieberherr, Chief Commercial Officer for Rio Tinto Diamonds, "These rare Argyle diamonds provide the escalating intrinsic value of an investment and are destined for the exclusive echelons of the world’s most sophisticated collectors.”

Commenting on the Tender, Josephine Johnson, Manager for Argyle Pink Diamonds said, "We were delighted to see such a strong appetite for this unique “rainbow collection”. Several beautiful diamonds from the collection have a new home in India, an important emerging market for rare pink diamonds, and the “hero” blue diamond, Argyle Elektra™, is destined for Japan, the most established market for pink diamonds. Across all other markets, including their Australian birthplace, there was strong evidence of the Argyle pink diamond's compelling combination of rich provenance, exceptional craftsmanship, and natural beauty.”