SourcingSep 16, 2024
1,094-Carat Diamond Recovered in Botswana Just Weeks After Historic Find SourcingOct 07, 2024
Rio Tinto to Offer 76 Diamonds in 2024 Beyond Rare Tender
The sales event, in its second year, features a selection of rare diamonds from the miner’s Argyle and Diavik diamond mines.
Rio Tinto will offer 48 lots comprising a total of 76 diamonds in its 2024 Beyond Rare Tender, set to take place in Geneva later this fall.
London—Rio Tinto has announced the details of its 2024 Beyond Rare Tender, revealing the collection of rare pink, red, violet, and yellow diamonds on offer in the sales event’s second year.
Titled “Color Awakened,” the upcoming tender will feature 48 lots Rio Tinto is calling the “Art Series 02” collection.
The sale includes a total of 76 diamonds weighing 39.44 carats, all sourced from the miner’s now-closed Argyle mine in Australia and its Diavik Diamond Mine in the Northwest Territories of Canada.
The sale is headlined by the “Old Masters,” the name Rio Tinto has given to a selection of seven round brilliant-cut pink and red diamonds sourced from the Argyle mine.
The stones range from 0.60 carats to 2.63 carats, and the group includes one fancy red diamond.
Alluvial mining began at Argyle, which is located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, in 1983 and open-pit mining in 1985.
The mine went fully underground in 2013 and, over the years, produced 865 million carats of rough diamonds. It closed in 2020.
Each of the “Old Masters” was unearthed from the mine more than a decade ago, one as far back as 1987, Rio Tinto said.
The mining company said each diamond was retrieved from private vaults and handpicked for inclusion in the tender.
Offered alongside the “Old Masters,” there are 32 single lots of pink and violet Argyle diamonds, including one fancy purplish red diamond.
The tender will also feature nine curated diamond sets.
One of the sets includes a 2.47-carat fancy intense yellow diamond, while another has a 4.04-carat D-color diamond.
“Each diamond in the ‘Art Series 02’ is a beautiful story of esteemed provenance, careful custody, and transformation into rare works of art,” said Patrick Coppens, general manager of sales and marketing for Rio Tinto’s diamonds business.
“This curated collection of exceptional gems will be in strong demand by the world’s finest jewelers, collectors and diamond connoisseurs.”
Related stories will be right here …
Titled “Color Awakened,” the upcoming tender will feature 48 lots Rio Tinto is calling the “Art Series 02” collection.
The sale includes a total of 76 diamonds weighing 39.44 carats, all sourced from the miner’s now-closed Argyle mine in Australia and its Diavik Diamond Mine in the Northwest Territories of Canada.
The sale is headlined by the “Old Masters,” the name Rio Tinto has given to a selection of seven round brilliant-cut pink and red diamonds sourced from the Argyle mine.
The stones range from 0.60 carats to 2.63 carats, and the group includes one fancy red diamond.
Alluvial mining began at Argyle, which is located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, in 1983 and open-pit mining in 1985.
The mine went fully underground in 2013 and, over the years, produced 865 million carats of rough diamonds. It closed in 2020.
Each of the “Old Masters” was unearthed from the mine more than a decade ago, one as far back as 1987, Rio Tinto said.
The mining company said each diamond was retrieved from private vaults and handpicked for inclusion in the tender.
Offered alongside the “Old Masters,” there are 32 single lots of pink and violet Argyle diamonds, including one fancy purplish red diamond.
The tender will also feature nine curated diamond sets.
One of the sets includes a 2.47-carat fancy intense yellow diamond, while another has a 4.04-carat D-color diamond.
“Each diamond in the ‘Art Series 02’ is a beautiful story of esteemed provenance, careful custody, and transformation into rare works of art,” said Patrick Coppens, general manager of sales and marketing for Rio Tinto’s diamonds business.
“This curated collection of exceptional gems will be in strong demand by the world’s finest jewelers, collectors and diamond connoisseurs.”
Rio Tinto launched the Beyond Rare Tender sales event in October 2023, offering the first collection of the Art Series, titled “Born of this World.”
The miner said it has a “small quantity” of polished inventory that it unearthed in the final months of mining at Argyle.
Over the next two to three years, Rio Tinto will use the diamonds for special projects and creative collaborations like the Beyond Rare Tender and the Icon Partner Program, which it launched in 2022, tapping jewelers to develop limited-edition pieces with the remaining stones.
At an invitation-only launch event in London for the upcoming 2024 Beyond Rare Tender, Chief Executive of Rio Tinto Minerals Sinead Kaufman said, “No other mining company in the world has custody of such a kaleidoscope of colored diamonds.
“Four years on from the closure of the Argyle mine, our Beyond Rare Tender platform is a testimony 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.”
The lots will be showcased in London, Australia, Singapore, and Belgium.
Bids will close on Nov. 18.
More on Sourcing
The Latest
CrimeDec 15, 2025
Men Receive Life Sentences in Home Invasion Murder of Jeweler Carlos Jose Hernandez and Joshua Zuazo were sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in the 2024 murder of Hussein “Sam” Murray.
Policies & IssuesDec 15, 2025
Sara Yood Named Co-Chair of RJC Standards CommitteeYood will serve alongside Eduard Stefanescu, the sustainability manager for C.Hafner, a precious metals refiner in Germany.
IndependentsDec 15, 2025
M.S. Rau to Open Store in AspenThe New Orleans jeweler is also hosting pop-up jewelry boutiques in New York City and Dallas.
Brought to you by
Impacting Tomorrow TodayHow Jewelers of America’s 20 Under 40 are leading to ensure a brighter future for the jewelry industry.
AuctionsDec 12, 2025
13.54-Carat Paraíba Tourmaline Sets Records at Christie’sSet in a Tiffany & Co. necklace, it sold for $4.2 million, the highest price and price per carat paid for a Paraíba tourmaline at auction.
Weekly QuizDec 11, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsDec 12, 2025
David Webb Reveals Ice-Cold Holiday Window DisplayThe jeweler’s “Deep Freeze” display showcases its iconic jewelry designs frozen in a vintage icebox.
CollectionsDec 12, 2025
Piece of the Week: Oscar Heyman’s Sphene RingTake luxury gifting to new heights this holiday season with the jeweler’s showstopping 12-carat sphene ring.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
Events & AwardsDec 12, 2025
IGI Jewelry Design Contest Now Accepting SubmissionsThis year's theme is “Unveiling the Depths of the Ocean.”
TrendsDec 11, 2025
Pinterest 2026 Trend Report: Brooches, Bold Gold, Cool BlueIn its annual report, Pinterest noted an increase in searches for brooches, heirloom jewelry, and ‘80s luxury.
GradingDec 11, 2025
GIA to Offer Origin Determination for 3 More GemstonesStarting Jan. 1, customers can request the service for opal, peridot, and demantoid garnet.
IndependentsDec 11, 2025
Look Inside Day’s Jewelers’ Ninth StoreThe 111-year-old retailer celebrated the opening of its new location in Salem, New Hampshire, which is its third store in the state.
MajorsDec 11, 2025
Americas Gold Releases New Gold Chain CatalogThe new catalog features its most popular chains as well as new styles.
AuctionsDec 10, 2025
Francis Ford Coppola’s Watch Sells for $10.8MThe filmmaker’s personal F.P. Journe “FFC” prototype was the star of Phillips’ recent record-setting watch auction in New York.
WatchesDec 10, 2025
There’s A New Rolex Boutique in MiamiThe new location in the Design District pays homage to Miami’s Art Deco heritage and its connection to the ocean.
SurveysDec 10, 2025
Consumer Confidence Drops in November Inflations, tariffs, and politics—including the government shutdown—were among consumers’ top concerns last month.
Events & AwardsDec 10, 2025
MJSA Names 2025 Responsible Design Challenge WinnerSilas Smith of Meridian Metalworks won the challenge with his pendant that blends Australian and American landscapes.
AuctionsDec 09, 2025
‘Desert Rose’ Diamond Sells for $8.8M in Abu DhabiThe sale of the 31.68-carat, sunset-hued stone was part of Sotheby’s first series of events and auctions in Abu Dhabi.
ColumnistsDec 09, 2025
Holiday Sales Happen in December, Most Decisions Don’tMost customers who walk into your store this month have made up their minds. Your job is to validate their choice, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
TrendsDec 09, 2025
‘Once Upon a Time,’ Guzema Debuted Its Holiday CollectionThe collection features characters and motifs from Ukrainian folklore, including an enchanted mirror and a magic egg.
TechnologyDec 09, 2025
Gemvision Releases Updated MatrixGoldMatrixGold 3.11, the newest version of the jewelry design program, offers more flexibility, precision, and creative control.
Events & AwardsDec 09, 2025
MJSA Showcase Pavilion Returning to JA New York The pavilion will be part of the 2026 JA New York Spring show, scheduled for March 15 to 17.
MajorsDec 08, 2025
Juell Kadet, a ‘Lifelong Pillar’ of Rogers & Hollands, Dies at 96Kadet, a 1994 National Jeweler Retailer Hall of Fame inductee, helped grow the family-owned retailer in the Chicago area and beyond.
TechnologyDec 08, 2025
You’ve Heard of Smart Watches and Rings; Meet Smart EarringsBilled as the world’s smallest wearable, Lumia Health’s new smart earrings have a health tracker subtly embedded in the back.
TrendsDec 08, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Celebrating December’s BirthstonesDon’t let those with December birthdays feel blue. Help them celebrate their month with blue zircon, turquoise, and tanzanite.
CollectionsDec 05, 2025
Piece of the Week: Robinson Pelham’s ‘Tsar Star’ EarringsThe new pink sapphire version of the piece dances with its wearer in the brand’s “Icons After Dark” holiday campaign.
TrendsDec 05, 2025
Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2026 Is … WhiteA choice that’s generated a lot of commentary, Pantone says “Cloud Dancer” marks a fresh start and encourages relaxation and creativity.
