Argyle Pink Diamonds
From the ancient Kimberley wilderness of Western Australia — the world's rarest and most coveted diamonds. A legacy of colour, rarity, and enduring value.
Argyle pink diamonds are naturally occurring coloured diamonds exclusively sourced from the Argyle mine in the remote East Kimberley region of Western Australia. The mine permanently closed in November 2020 after 37 years — making every certified stone part of a permanently finite supply.
90%+
Of global pink diamond supply
0.01%
Of output were pink
37 Years
Before permanent closure
500%+
Appreciation since 2000
October 1979 — A glimmer atop an anthill changed the diamond world forever.
Image is illustrative. The discovery of diamonds atop a termite mound in the East Kimberley is documented by Rio Tinto and multiple historical accounts of the Argyle mine's origin.
In October 1979, geologists from the Ashton Joint Venture (later Rio Tinto) were surveying the remote East Kimberley region of Western Australia when they spotted a glimmer of diamonds atop a termite mound — an anthill. While excavating underground passages, termites and ants famously bring unwanted obstacles to the surface. In this case, their painstaking work had pushed tiny diamonds up from below, signalling that the anthill sat directly above a pipe of diamond-rich ore.
This extraordinary discovery led to the establishment of the Argyle diamond mine, which commenced commercial operations in 1983. It quickly became the world's largest diamond mine by volume — producing over 865 million carats of rough diamonds during its lifetime. Yet of this enormous output, less than 0.01% were pink diamonds.
In 1984, Rio Tinto launched the first Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender — an annual, invitation-only event where the finest pink diamonds of each year were offered to a select group of the world's most elite dealers and collectors. The tender became the most prestigious event in the coloured diamond world. The final tender was held in 2021, featuring the last of the mine's finest pinks.
The mine transitioned from open-pit to underground block-cave mining in 2013, extending its life. However, on 3 November 2020, after 37 years of operation, Rio Tinto permanently closed the Argyle mine and began rehabilitation — returning the land to the traditional custodians, the Miriuwung and Gidja people of the East Kimberley.
No comparable source of natural pink diamonds has ever been found anywhere else on Earth. Every certified Argyle pink diamond in existence today is part of a permanently finite supply — a closed chapter of natural history that can never be reopened.
865 million carats mined. Less than 0.01% were pink. The entire investable output fits in two glasses.
From the ancient Kimberley earth — 1.8 billion years in the making, 37 years of mining, and now gone forever.
* The "two champagne glasses" analogy is widely attributed to Rio Tinto's Argyle Pink Diamonds division, referencing the total volume of investment-grade pink diamonds produced during the mine's 37-year operation (1983–2020). Image is illustrative only.
Original Argyle Certification
Every certified Argyle pink diamond comes with an original Argyle certificate of authenticity issued directly by Rio Tinto. This certificate is the stone's birth certificate — it includes the diamond's unique Argyle lot number, its colour grading on the proprietary Argyle scale (1–9, with 1 being the most intense), carat weight, and shape.
Each stone also carries a laser inscription on the girdle that matches the certificate number, allowing instant verification. In addition, we provide independent GIA or equivalent laboratory reports and independent market valuations for all investment-grade stones.
Begin Your Argyle Journey
Whether you're a first-time investor or an experienced collector, Nathan is ready to guide you through the world of certified Argyle pink diamonds — with the expertise, connections, and discretion that this extraordinary asset class demands.