Part 1 – Rising Fortunes: Argyle Pink Diamond Tender Prices Chart, 2013–2016
How constrained supply and record breaking hero stones pushed per carat prices to new heights
The early 2010s were transformative for the Argyle Pink Diamond Tender. Between 2013 and 2016 the annual invitation‑only sale showcased increasingly rare stones, argyle pink diamond price chart setting successive records for price per carat. As output from the Argyle mine dwindled, collectors worldwide began treating pink diamonds as a store of value.
The 2013 “Red Edition”
Rio Tinto offered 64 diamonds — 58 pink, three red and three blue. Two stones stole the show: Argyle Phoenix (1.56 ct Fancy Red) and Argyle Dauphine (2.51 ct Fancy Deep Pink), each selling for more than US$2 million. This auction set a new record for price per carat and signalled growing global interest.
The 2014 30th anniversary tender
Offered 54 pink and red diamonds. The highlight was Argyle Cardinal, a 1.21 ct Fancy Red radiant that achieved the highest average price per carat since the tender began. More than 600 bids were received from ten countries, and Rio Tinto noted that prices for Argyle pinks had tripled since 2000.
2015’s “Connoisseurs Collection”
65 diamonds totalling 44.14 ct were offered. Four of them were Fancy Red, including the 1.20 ct pear‑shaped Argyle Prima. The tender again delivered the highest average price per carat since 1984, underscoring how scarcity drives value — Rio Tinto called the stones “the most concentrated form of wealth on earth”.
The 2016 “Chroma Collection”
Marked another milestone. Its 63 diamonds included the 2.83 ct Argyle Violet, the largest violet diamond ever recovered from the mine. Bidders from ten countries participated and the sale achieved the highest average price per carat in the tender’s 32‑year history. By then, Argyle pink diamonds had appreciated more than 300 % over 15 years.
Signature tender stone | Year | Carat & colour | Notable outcome |
Argyle Phoenix | 2013 | 1.56 ct Fancy Red | Sold for >US$2 million, setting a price‑per‑carat record |
Argyle Cardinal | 2014 | 1.21 ct Fancy Red | Achieved the highest average price per carat since 1984 |
Argyle Prima | 2015 | 1.20 ct Fancy Red | Helped 2015 tender reach a new record for average price per carat |
The Argyle Violet | 2016 | 2.83 ct Fancy Deep Grayish Bluish Violet | Largest violet diamond from Argyle; contributed to the highest average price per carat to date |
These four years illustrate how scarcity and unique stones propelled prices. Each tender built on the last, with successive hero diamonds — Phoenix, Cardinal, Prima and the Argyle Violet — reinforcing the investment appeal of Argyle pinks.
related article:
Should You Invest in Argyle Pink Diamonds? What You Must Know First
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Colour Awakened
Art Series 02
