The singer’s ring ticks off many bridal trends, with a thick band, half-bezel setting, and solitaire diamond.
Rio Tinto Debuts Biggest Red Diamond in Tender History
Also discovered at Wednesday’s tender preview: the author of “The Notebook” is a collector of red diamonds from the Argyle mine.

New York--There were at least two things to learn at Rio Tinto’s preview of its 2017 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender, held Wednesday in New York.
Number one: this year’s sale of rare colored diamonds from the Argyle mine in Australia contains the biggest fancy red diamond in the tender’s 33-year history.
Number two: one of the world’s best-selling and most well-known authors is an avid collector of red diamonds.
The Argyle Everglow is a 2.11-carat radiant-cut fancy red diamond and is one of five “hero” stones in this year’s Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender. (Hero stones are diamonds of relatively large size and exceptional color, and are the only tender diamonds that Rio Tinto names.)
The other four hero diamonds of this year’s tender, which has been named “Custodians of Rare Beauty,” are:
--The Argyle Isla, a 1.14-carat fancy red radiant;
--The Argyle Avaline, a 2.42-carat fancy purple-pink cushion;
--The Argyle Kalina, a 1.50-carat fancy deep pink oval; and
--The Argyle Liberté, a 0.91-carat fancy deep gray-violet radiant-cut diamond.
Including the five hero stones, this year’s tender totals 58 diamonds weighing 49.39 carats and all graded by the Gemological Institute of America.
Four graded fancy red and another four as purplish red. There were also two violet diamonds and one blue, with the remaining 41 graded pink.
Following the preview held this week in New York, the diamonds will travel to Hong Kong and then come back to New York in September, before returning to Australia where they were mined.
Bids close Oct. 11.
Nestled among the hero stones at Wednesday afternoon’s event in New York was jewelry from boutique diamond company JFine, L.J. West Diamonds--which had on display the 2.83-carat Argyle Violet diamond it purchased from last year’s tender--and one very special pair of earrings.
The “Argyle Allegro Red Roses” earrings are one of 12 pieces in the new “Nicholas Sparks Collection.” They are set with nearly 10 carats of red diamonds, including the Argyle Allegro, a 0.79-carat fancy red radiant that was part of the 2015 Argyle tender.
And, yes, this is the Nicholas Sparks of “The Notebook” fame.
David Shara, CEO of Optimum Diamonds, a New York-based company that specializes in colored diamonds and works with the author, said that Sparks is a “serious collector” of red diamonds from the Argyle mine; in addition to the 20 set in the Roses earrings, he has “a few dozen more.”
He’s chosen to share his diamonds via a dozen
“For now,” Shara said, “he has no intention of selling anything.”
“(Sparks) is a collector,” Shara continued. “He is a real collector and connoisseur and investor. He understands, really, that Argyle is closing in (a few) years.
“He says in three years or five years, when Argyle closes, what’ the price going to do? Obviously, it’s going to go up.”
The Latest

The bracelet references vintage high jewelry and snake symbolism as a playful piece where a python’s head becomes a working belt buckle.

The heist happened in Lebec, California, in 2022 when a Brinks truck was transporting goods from one show in California to another.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

The 10-carat fancy purple-pink diamond with potential links to Marie Antoinette headlined the white-glove jewelry auction this week.


The Starboard Cruises SVP discusses who is shopping for jewelry on ships, how much they’re spending, and why brands should get on board.

The historic signet ring exceeded its estimate at Noonans Mayfair’s jewelry auction this week.

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

To mark the milestone, the brand is introducing new non-bridal fine jewelry designs for the first time in two decades.

Founder and longtime CEO Ben Smithee will stay with the agency, transitioning into the role of founding partner and strategic advisor.

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 of her favorite pieces from the jewelry collections that debuted at Couture.

If you want to attract good salespeople and generate a stream of “sleeping money” for your jewelry store, then you are going to have to pay.

The top lot was a colorless Graff diamond, followed by a Burmese ruby necklace by Marcus & Co.

Gizzi, who has been in the industry since 2001, is now Jewelers of America’s senior vice president of corporate affairs.

Luca de Meo, a 30-year veteran of the auto industry, will succeed longtime CEO François-Henri Pinault.

Following visits to Vegas and New York, Botswana’s minerals minister sat down with Michelle Graff to discuss the state of the diamond market.

The “Your Love Has the Perfect Ring” campaign showcases the strength of love and need for inclusivity and representation, the jeweler said.

The former De Beers executive is the jewelry house’s new director of high jewelry for the Americas.

The New York Liberty forward is the first athlete to represent the Brooklyn-based jewelry brand.

Take a bite out of the 14-karat yellow gold “Fruits of Love Pear” earrings featuring peridots, diamond stems, and tsavorite leaves.

The one-day virtual event will feature speakers from De Beers, GIA, and Gemworld International.

The California-based creative talks jewelry photography in the modern era and tackles FAQs about working with a pro for the first time.

Al Capone’s pocket watch also found a buyer, though it went for less than half of what it did at auction four years ago.

The foundation has also expanded its “Stronger Together” initiative with Jewelers for Children.

Assimon is the auction house’s new chief commercial officer.

The De Beers Group CEO discusses the company’s new “beacon” program, the likelihood diamonds will be exempt from tariffs, and “Origin.”

The Danish jewelry giant hosted its grand opening last weekend, complete with a Pandora pink roulette wheel.