Rio Tinto Announces Final "Beyond Rare" Tender

(IDEX Online) - Rio Tinto has announced its final Beyond Rare tender, featuring polished fancy color diamonds from the now-closed Argyle mine, in Australia, and white diamonds from the soon-to-close Diavik mine, in Canada.

"The Argyle pink, red and violet diamonds have been curated from the final legacy inventory, representing some of the last of their kind in the world," the company said, as it announced details of the 52 lots, with a total weight of 45.44 carats, in its Into the Light sale.

It includes one fancy red diamond, 12 fancy violet diamonds and 76 fancy pink, purple-pink and purplish pink diamonds from Argyle, together with two flawless D-color white diamonds (5.11-carat emerald cut and a 3.02-carat pear shape the same original rough) from Diavik.

The last Beyond Rare tender, held in November 2024, delivered "strong results", although Rio Tinto declined to provide actual prices.

Lots from the current tender will be showcased in Hong Kong, Australia and Antwerp, and bids close on 20 October.

Patrick Coppens, general manager sales and marketing for Rio Tinto diamonds said: "It is hard to overstate the importance of this final collection from two extraordinarily beautiful places on earth - the East Kimberley region of Western Australia and the Northwest Territories of Canada."

The Diavik mine is due to cease production next year.

Pic of diamonds from Into the Light tender, courtesy Rio Tinto.