The preview to an exclusive group of collectors, diamond connoisseurs and luxury jewellery houses was conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 tender, is headlined with Lot Number 1, the largest Fancy Vivid round brilliant diamond ever offered.

The 2.24 carat Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink diamond known as Argyle Eternity is part of the historic collection comprising 62 diamonds weighing 57.23 carats.

"Rio Tinto's Argyle mine is the first and only ongoing source of rare pink, red and violet diamonds in the world," Rio chief executive, Copper and Diamonds Arnaud Soirat said.

"We have seen, and continue to see, strong demand for these highly coveted diamonds, which together with extremely limited global supply, supports the significant value appreciation for Argyle pink diamonds."

Titled One Lifetime, One Encounter, the 2020 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender takes its reference from the closure of the iconic mine at the end of 2020, after almost four decades of production.

"The Argyle pink diamond story has continued to enthral throughout the years following the remarkable discovery of the Argyle mine in 1979," general manager of diamond sales and marketing Patrick Coppens said.

"The 2020 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender is a collection of rare earthly treasures, intricate works of art and with a potency of colour that will be keenly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs from around the world."

The 2020 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender collection comprises six ‘hero' diamonds selected for their unique beauty and named to ensure there is a permanent record of their contribution to the history of the world's most important diamonds.

 

Also included in the tender offering are 12 lots of carefully curated and never to be repeated  sets of miniature rare Argyle pink, red, blue and violet diamonds, weighing 13.90 carats in total. Titled The Petite Suites, these collectible diamonds have been meticulously collected over a five year period, striking a harmonious balance between size, shape, colour and clarity.

Physical viewings will take place later in the year at Argyle, before the diamonds travel to Singapore and Antwerp. Bids close on December 2.