Diamantaires eye rare masterpieces as Rio Tinto unveils final diamond tender

Surat and Mumbai's diamantaires are abuzz with excitement as Rio Tinto launches its final Beyond Rare Tender, a once-in-a-lifetime event featuring 52 extraordinary lots of rare pink, red, violet, yellow, and white diamonds.

- Melvyn Thomas

The tender, titled Into the Light, is the third and final installment of Rio Tinto’ prestigious annual Art Series, marking a historic moment in the global diamond trade.

With the closure of the legendary Argyle Diamond Mine in Australia in 2020 and the forthcoming shutdown of the Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada in 2026, this tender represents the swan song of two of the world’s most iconic diamond sources. The collection, weighing 45.44 carats, includes six ‘Masterpieces’ alongside 39 single diamonds and seven curated sets — each an unparalleled gem in rarity and beauty.