Following the healthy bidding response for Rio Tinto’s 2011 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender, Jean-Marc Lieberherr, General Manager for the sales and marketing for all diamonds from Rio Tinto’s mines stated that the final results demonstrated “significant global reach and continued strong price appreciation. In short, the world has developed a real passion for these natural treasures.” The bidding closed on October 20th, 2011.

The tender offered 55 of the rarest pink diamonds from Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond Mine, including a record collection of eleven heart shaped pink diamonds that received strong demand particularly by Australian and Asian bidders. “The largest heart, a 1.31 carat Fancy Intense Pink, has a new home in China, an important emerging market for rare pink diamonds and one where we are spending considerable effort in raising awareness and understanding of this unique product,” added Josephine Archer, Manager of Argyle Pink Diamonds. The Japanese market, which is an established market for Argyle pink diamonds, responded to the tender well with the winning bid for Argyle Alanya, a beautiful 1.06ct Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink oval shaped diamond.

All the 55 diamonds were cut and polished in Western Australia by Rio Tinto’s master craftsmen. The bidding closed on October 20th, 2011. According to Jean-Marc Lieberherr, “The collection was keenly contested by investors, collectors and luxury jewellers”.