Pink diamonds: why Chinese collectors have their eyes on these ‘flukes of nature’
Mining giant Rio Tinto is inviting sealed tenders from dealers and collectors for 63 pieces of Gemological Institute of America-graded rare diamonds with a combined weight of 51.48 carats by October 10
One of the last annual tenders of coloured diamonds by Rio Tinto is expected to draw keen interest from Chinese collectors and dealers as the company is closing the world’s largest mine for these “flukes of nature” in 2020.
On display at a five-star hotel in Hong Kong until next week are 63 pieces of Gemological Institute of America-graded diamonds with a combined weight of 51.48 carats.
Only 100 customers – primarily collectors and rare gem dealers – have been invited to two-hour private viewings, and place sealed bids by October 10 in the 34th Argyle pink diamonds tender.
A preview was arranged by the Anglo-Australian company in Sydney earlier in July, and more will be held in New York later.
“Because of their love of red diamonds, which are the most valuable, it would not surprise me if we had a strong representation from [mainland] China and Hong Kong,” Josephine Johnson, Rio Tinto Diamonds’ global marketing director told the South China Morning Post in an exclusive interview. “There are only a few hundred red diamonds in existence in the whole world.”
She declined to put an estimate on how much the tender could fetch, saying the highly collectible gems, similar to art work, are hard to value as they are unique.