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By Press Release
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Posted: 06/03/09 02:33
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RAPAPORT...
Press Release - Perth, June 3: Rio Tinto’s 2009 Argyle Pink Diamond Tender is set to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its iconic offering of pink diamonds with an exceptional collection, including four outstanding heart-shaped gems. Suitably titled "Grand Passions," this year’s tender collection comprises 43 of the rarest and the best pink diamonds from Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia. With around 10 years of production remaining for the Argyle Diamond Mine, these rare pink diamonds will be keenly contested for by investors, collectors and diamond experts from around the world.
Josephine Archer, business manager for Argyle Pink Diamonds, commenting on the 2009 collection, said, “the pink diamonds selected for this year’s tender are a fitting tribute to the artistry and passion of all those who worked to bring them to the marketplace. These diamonds are for appreciators of the truly exceptional, and we are delighted to be showcasing them to the world.”
Included in this year’s collection is a magnificent 2.61-carat, intense pink, heart-shaped diamond named Argyle AmourTM. The Argyle AmourTM is the most valuable heart-shaped pink diamond ever produced from the Argyle mine. Exuding passion, romance and warmth, this extraordinary diamond captures all that is Amour. The two other “hero” stones set to captivate bidders are the Argyle ShalimarTM diamond, a 1.25-carat, purplish-pink round diamond named after the exotic garden sanctuary built by Indian emperor Jahangir for his beloved wife, and, in keeping with the theme of legendary passions, the Argyle ScarlettTM diamond, a 1.10-carat red oval diamond.
According to Jean-Marc Lieberherr, general manager for sales and marketing of all diamonds from Rio Tinto’s diamond mines, “excitement around this tender collection is understandable. The rarity of Argyle pink diamonds has created a connoisseurship for them, and there is a growing recognition that the earth will not produce pink diamonds for that much longer.”
This will be the first year that the Argyle Pink Diamond Tender will be presented in Mumbai. Also for the first time, Argyle Pink Diamonds Select Ateliers in London, Sydney and Perth will showcase these rare diamonds to their respective clients at in-store preview events. Tender viewings will held be in Mumbai, from August 6 to 10, Perth, from September 1 to 11, and Hong Kong, from September 19 to 27.
For further information on the 2009 Argyle Pink Diamond Tender, please contact:
Robyn Ellison
Communications Manager
Rio Tinto Diamonds
M: 61.417.968.359
E: Robyn.Ellison@riotinto.com
About Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond Mine
Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond mine (100 percent owned by Rio Tinto), in Australia, is the world’s only consistent supplier of rare pink diamonds and provides a large proportion of the world’s coloured diamonds. Production commenced in 1983 and at its peak the mine produced more than 40 million carats per annum.
The discovery of the Argyle diamond deposit is one of innovation, patience, foresight and meticulous attention to detail in an area that is remote, even for Australians. The search for diamonds in the Kimberley region began in 1972 with a number of exciting finds proving uneconomic. However, in October 1979 diamonds were found embedded in an ant hill in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia.
In a classic exploration exercise these discoveries were followed up along a creek bed and led to what is known as the AK1 pipe, the remnant of an ancient volcano and the site of the vast Argyle deposit. Today most of the valley floor is occupied by the Argyle open pit. The Argyle Diamond mine is currently transitioning from an open pit mine to an underground mine, which on current estimates will extend its life to 2018.
About Argyle Pink Diamonds
Pink Diamonds, produced at Rio Tinto’s Argyle Mine in Western Australia, are highly coveted as the world's most sought after gems. The Argyle Diamond mine produces more than 90 per cent of the world's pink diamonds, which are sold in a broad range of colours and sizes to an international customer base. The best stones are reserved for the annual Pink Diamond Tender. Rio Tinto's Argyle Pink Diamonds business is located in Perth, Western Australia, alongside its cutting and polishing factory.
Pink diamonds’ value is directly related to their rarity. For every coloured diamond, there exists at least 10,000 colourless ones because the physical conditions needed to colour a diamond naturally occur very scarcely.
Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine occupies the traditional land of the Gidja and Mirriuwong speaking people and neighbouring language groups who have a very different view on how the Argyle diamonds became coloured. The Aboriginal people believe that the Argyle mine was created when three women were trying to trap a barramundi fish, however the barramundi was too clever and jumped through the net and landed at the site where the mine was established. It is believed that the colours of the diamonds come from different parts of the barramundi as the fish wiggled through the net, with the pink diamonds coming from the heart of the barramundi.
Website: www.argylepinkdiamonds.com.au
About Rio Tinto Diamonds
Rio Tinto is one of the world’s major diamond producers through its 100 per cent control of the Argyle mine in Australia, 60 per cent of the Diavik mine in Canada and a 78 per cent interest in the Murowa mine in Africa.
These three mines allow Rio Tinto to be present in all segments of the market. Rio Tinto’s share of the production from these three mines was approximately US$1billion in 2007 and sold through its Diamonds Sales and Marketing headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium.
Rio Tinto Diamonds is a leading supporter of the Kimberley Process as well as a founding member of the Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices.
Website: www.riotintodiamonds.com
About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore.
Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa. Website: www.riotinto.com
Rapaport News is not responsible for and does not endorse the content of any Press Release. Press Releases are not written by us and are provided as a service to our clients.
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