Rio Tinto Unveils the 2024 Beyond Rare Tender: A Stunning Collection of Coloured Diamonds

Rio Tinto has officially launched its 2024 Beyond Rare™ Tender, showcasing an impressive selection of extraordinarily rare diamonds as part of its second Art Series offering. This year’s collection features 48 remarkable lots that highlight the beauty and uniqueness of nature’s most precious gems.

The 2024 Argyle Tender Art Series Collection
Titled “Colour Awakened,” the collection is anchored by seven extraordinary diamonds known as the “Old Masters.” These historic gems, sourced from the renowned Argyle Diamond Mine, which operated from 1983 to 2020, include round brilliant cut pink and red diamonds ranging from 0.60 carats to an impressive 2.63 carats. Each of these diamonds has been carefully retrieved from private vaults and selected for this year’s tender, with some dating back as far as 1987.

At the launch event held in London, Sinead Kaufman, Chief Executive of Rio Tinto Minerals, stated, “No other mining company in the world has custody of such a kaleidoscope of coloured diamonds. Four years after the closure of the Argyle mine, our Beyond Rare Tender platform stands as a testament to the enduring prestige of the Argyle Pink Diamonds brand, the quality of production from our Diavik mine, and the ongoing demand for highly collectible natural diamonds.”

A Curated Collection of Rare Gems
In addition to the Old Masters, the Art Series 02 features a legacy inventory of pink, red, and violet diamonds from the Argyle Diamond Mine, along with white and yellow diamonds sourced from Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada. The entire collection comprises 76 diamonds with a total weight of 39.44 carats, including:

Seven Old Masters, featuring a standout Fancy Red diamond.
32 exquisite single lots of pink and violet diamonds, including a stunning Fancy Purplish Red diamond.
Nine curated diamond sets, two of which include a 2.47-carat Fancy Intense Yellow diamond and a 4.04-carat D colour diamond, both from the Diavik Diamond Mine.
This exclusive collection will be showcased in key locations such as London, Australia, Singapore, and Belgium, with bidding set to close on November 18, 2024.

The Demand for Rare Diamonds
Patrick Coppens, General Manager of Sales and Marketing for Rio Tinto’s Diamonds business, remarked, “Each diamond in the Art Series 02 tells a beautiful story of esteemed provenance, careful custody, and transformation into rare works of art. This curated collection of exceptional gems will be highly sought after by the world’s finest jewellers, collectors, and diamond connoisseurs.”

In summary, the 2024 Beyond Rare™ Tender not only celebrates the artistry of nature but also highlights the continued legacy of the Argyle Diamond Mine. For those passionate about rare and exquisite diamonds, this collection is a remarkable opportunity to acquire pieces that embody both beauty and history.