Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender On Display In Sydney

"We have seen and continue to see sustained demand and price growth for Argyle pink diamonds.”

Rio Tinto has put its Argyle pink diamonds from its 2014 tender on display in Sydney, with the collection featuring a record four rare fancy red diamonds.

The firm is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the tender, with the 2014 Argyle pink collection comprising 55 diamonds, with 51 pink and purplish-red diamonds and four fancy red diamonds.

There have only been 13 fancy red diamonds in the annual tender during the past 30 years. The standout red stone is a 1.21-carat radiant-cut fancy red diamond called Argyle Cardinal after a small red northern American bird, the firm said in a statement.

Rio Tinto Diamonds' Managing Director Jean-Marc Lieberherr said, “Decades ago, no one would have believed that Australia held the secret of diamonds, let alone virtually the world’s entire source of rare pink and red diamonds. The pinnacle of the production from Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine, the annual pink tender diamonds are now celebrated internationally as amongst the rarest and most valuable diamonds in the world.

Among the other diamonds in the 2014 collection, and which are in keeping with the theme of rare and beautiful birds from around the world, are the Argyle Rosette, a 2.17-carat fancy intense purple-pink emerald-cut diamond, and the Argyle Toki, a 1.59-carat fancy intense purplish-pink emerald-cut stone.

Viewings of the collection are being held in Sydney, New York, Hong Kong and Perth, with bids closing on October 8.