The Argyle Mine is located in the East Kimberley region in remote West Australia. It was discovered approximately 40 years ago by a geologist who spotted something glittering on an ant hill. The Argyle Mine has yielded a large quantity of diamonds of different colours, the rarest of all being the pink, red and blue-violet diamonds.
The diamonds are truly beyond rare. It is a wonder that nature has been able to produce such magical colours. They have become a collector’s dream. 90% of the world’s production of pink diamonds come from this mine.
Our company has been involved in a love affair with these diamonds for about 30 years. We are a major Authorised Partner of Argyle Pink diamonds and consistently purchase the diamonds directly from the source. With the knowledge that the end of mine life is just approaching, we are determined to purchase as many of these stones as possible. We see them as heirloom of the future
The diamonds are truly beyond rare. It is a wonder that nature has been able to produce such magical colours. They have become a collector’s dream. 90% of the world’s production of pink diamonds come from this mine.
Our company has been involved in a love affair with these diamonds for about 30 years. We are a major Authorised Partner of Argyle Pink diamonds and consistently purchase the diamonds directly from the source. With the knowledge that the end of mine life is just approaching, we are determined to purchase as many of these stones as possible. We see them as heirloom of the future
The finest and rarest diamonds are reserved for the annual Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender, which over more than three decades, has established itself as the most exclusive diamond sale in the world. The event highlights a small number of important diamonds that stand apart from their peers in terms of vibrancy and intensity of colour.
Argyle pink diamonds are coveted by many, but owned by few. The tender is only open to specially selected diamantaires and collectors by invitation.
Private tender viewings are held in Hong Kong, New York and Sydney, with past tenders having travelled to Antwerp, Geneva, London, Tokyo, Singapore, Mumbai, Shanghai and Beijing. Around 150 connoisseurs, collectors and luxury jewellers are invited to place sealed bids on the diamonds. Prices for these diamonds can exceed millions per carat.
The world’s passion for these stones has only intensified through the tender and the price of Argyle pink diamonds has risen steadily year-on-year. Argyle pink diamonds continue to outperform major equity indices. And as is the case with the acquisition of fine art, set rules simply do not apply.
Of the Four C’s – clarity, cut, colour and carat - color is by far the biggest determinant of a natural colored diamond's value. Pure pink diamonds that are not tinted by secondary colors are extremely rare and expensive. Modified by rare and desirable colors like purple and orange affects the price of the pink diamonds just slightly, but a pink diamond sees a sharper fall in value if it bears tints of yellow, grey or brown.
Medium-quality pink diamonds can fetch 10 times more than white diamonds of equal grade; higher-quality pink diamonds, however, can command 20 to 50 times more than their white diamond counterparts.
These stones' values soar exponentially as their size and color intensity increase. Jumping a grade color from Fancy Light to Fancy Pink, could almost double a diamond's price, but a Fancy Intense pink would easily cost three times or more that a Fancy pink one of the same weight!
Beauty that transcends time, Argyle Muse™ is the largest and only Fancy Purplish Red diamond over two carats ever offered at Tender.
Credits from Argyle Tender Book 2018
Commanding attention from every angle, Argyle Alpha™ is the largest Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink diamond ever offered at Tender and the largest diamond in the 2018 Tender collection.
Credits from Argyle Tender Book 2018
A wondrous journey two billion years in the making, Argyle Odyssey™ is an ode to the spirit and endeavour that brings every Argyle pink diamond to life.
Credits from Argyle Tender Book 2018
An exceptional 0.64ct heart-shaped Fancy Gray-Blue diamond from the 2017 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender.
A 0.88ct, round brilliant Fancy Intense Purplish Pink diamond from the 2017 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender.
A 1.66ct, round brilliant Fancy Pink diamond. This was the largest round diamond offered in the 2017 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender.
The Argyle Cardinal™ from the Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender 2014, is a 1.21ct radiant cut Fancy Red diamond, named after the Northern Cardinal, a rare North American bird known for its deep red plumage and sweet voice.
Credits from Argyle Tender Book 2014
The Argyle Toki™ from the Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender 2014, is a 1.59ct emerald cut Fancy Intense Purplish Pink Diamond, named after the Toki, a rare Japanese bird with delicate pink underwings.
Credits from Argyle Tender Book 2014
The Argyle Rosette™, from the Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender 2014, is a 2.17ct emerald cut Purple-Pink diamond. Its name is inspired by the Roseate Turn, an European bird that is becoming increasingly rare.
Credits from Argyle Tender Book 2014
Argyle Siren™ is beyond rare. One specialist artisan lovingly unlocked the exceptional vividness of this rare 3.88 carat rough Argyle pink diamond to create Argyle Siren. In almost three decades of the Tender, only two other diamonds of this exceptional size, colour and clarity have ever been offered for sale.
Credits from Argyle Tender Book 2012
Argyle Iris™ sensational diamond that exhibits a fascinating iridescence, with purplish red tones. The spellbinding lustre of this stone conjured the mythical messenger of the Greek gods, who rode rainbows as she moved between heaven and earth. Just as the diamond was believed to be an intermediary between man and heavenly powers.
Credits from Argyle Tender Book 2010
Argyle Amour™, the most valuable heart-shaped diamond ever produced from the Argyle Diamond Mine. The warmth, passion and romance this diamond exuded are perfectly captured in its emotive name.
Credits from Argyle Tender Book 2009The Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender was an invite only showcase that fast became an iconic event that ran for over thirty five years. It began in Geneva with a handful of diamonds, a small leaflet and a recognition that something rare and special requires special treatment. Since then it has travelled the world over from New York to Shanghai, and from Mumbai to Sydney, and anchors in the international hub of Hong Kong.
The Argyle 'signature stones' - the best of the best - were no more than 50 - 60 gems annually. Only around 150 clients globally were invited to view and then lodge sealed bids for these special gems. These diamonds are literally one in a million : for every million carats of rough diamonds produced at the mine, only one carat polished was offered for sale through this Tender, and could fetch in excess of US$1 million per carat. These are, simply put, some of the rarest and most valuable gems in the world, with an exceptional 'wow' factor.
Not surprisingly, this prestigious annual collection generated excitement and anticipation by serious diamond collectors and connoisseurs around the globe. These hard won pink diamonds would then continue their journey, typically destined for investment portfolios or heirloom pieces of jewellery.
Apart from an unrivaled intensity of color and intrinsic beauty, Argyle Pink Diamonds™ mount their own rational and convincing case for ownership.With the supply of pink diamonds now expired - the Argyle Diamond Mine that produced 90% of the world's pinks has no other rival and no comparable pink diamond sources have been found to replace it – there is no doubting that this finite supply will increase in value in the decades ahead. At the same time, demands for these gems continues to grow steadily around the world with mature markets established in the USA, Japan and Singapore and strong new markets emerging in China and India. In short, the world is developing a passion for a diminishing natural treasure.
Yet beyond this compelling economic argument there are more soulful reasons for wanting to own a rare pink diamond. Superlatives come pretty easily in the luxury business, but it is hard not to wax lyrical when handling a product that is so ancient, so beautiful and so authentic. Many a hard-nosed investor is surprised by the emotional connection he or she makes with these remarkable gems once they see them up close and fully appreciate their complex color and their ancient mystique. For ancient they most surely are as they began their life some 1.6 billion years ago, 150 kilometers below the surface of the earth in the remote, harsh and beautiful landscape of the East Kimberley in Western Australia.
Historic Reflections - Josephine Johnson director of Argyle Pink Diamonds 2009-2021
In 2008 and with the end of mine life in sight, we commenced naming the exceptional or 'hero' diamonds within the array of extraordinary pinks, reds and blues.Some of these remain my personal favorite and are diamonds hat I know are so unique that I will never see anything quite like them ever again. It was also at this time that we launched the Beyond Rare campaign.
Argyle Pink Diamonds™ have only ever Tendered 35 Fancy Red diamonds, and these remain a story of rarity within rarity. I can not go past the 2008 Tender and the remarkable diamond, Aphrodite, a 1.01 carat round, fancy purplish red, SI1. With such a saturation of color she was named after the Goddess of Love to reflect the heart-bursting passion she suggested. She was indeed given as a gift of love that Christmas and so her wonderful story continues.
In 2009 there was a very happy, bubblegum pink pear that popped off the table which I recall. A lovely example of a purplish pink delight. However, 2009 was ultimately the most romantic year for the Tender. You really can't go past a heart-shaped pink diamond to epitomise love and that year we presented the extraordinary Amour, a 2.61 carat Fancy Intense Pink, SI1. A big and beautiful heart!
No musing over Tender love affairs would be complete without mentioning the incredible Shalimar, a 1.25 carat round Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink. She was named after the stunning gardens of Shalimar which were an exotic sanctuary built by the Indian Emperor Jahangir as a gift to his beloved wife. This diamond is an example of the amazing array, or garden of colors that can be captured in a single Argyle diamond with flashes of purple, pink and red - kaleidoscope in a diamond! We referred to her as the disco ball until she was given her more elegant name and destiny as she indeed found her new home in India and was set into a beautiful Lotus ring.
In 2010 the Argyle Iris comes to mind. She is a gracious lady of pink diamonds, named after the mythological messenger who rode rainbows between heaven and earth. At Fancy Purplish Red, SI1 and 1.43 carats she is a very rare messenger too. We spend so much time with these diamonds over the course of careful planning and polishing that we can become quite attached and Iris is one of those for me.
2021 -This year's Tender is another treasure trove offering a blushing rainbow of colors. Combined with our 'Once In A Blue Moon' Tender we have soft pinks, vivid purplish pinks, two reds and our rarely offered violets. This year's 'tender moment' for me came with laying my eyes on the sweetest of cornflower blue diamonds called Argyle Heloise. A startingly pretty and rarely seen 0.33 carat, oval Fancy Deep Violetish Bue, VS2 diamond. But don't tell Siren, Satine, Electra or Allure who remain extraordinary heroes in their own rights.
Our Tender diamonds are often likened to works of art and the analogy is a fine one. They are collectible and can be great stores of wealth. And as it is with art, it is falling in love with the piece itself, the appreciation for the rarity and craftsmanship and ultimately the delight in finding one for you that makes them truly joyful.
