Australian jeweler Linneys is showcasing $100 million worth of jewelry featuring rare colored diamonds from the Argyle mine.
The highpoint of the collection is a ring containing the Argyle Violet, a 2.83-carat fancy deep grayish bluish violet diamond that Rio Tinto recovered from the iconic mine in Western Australia. The stone — the top diamond from the 2016 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender — is surrounded by 10 round vivid pink diamonds from Argyle weighing a combined 0.83 carats, and two heart-shaped Argyle vivid pink diamonds, which together weigh 0.67 carats.
The Argyle Violet is tremendously rare: last year Rio Tinto said the mine had yielded only 12 carats of polished violet diamonds in 32 years of the annual tender. New York-based L.J. West Diamonds bought the stone last year for a secret amount.
Linneys’ collection also includes the Argyle Thea, a 2.24-carat fancy vivid purplish pink diamond from the 2016 tender now had been made into a platinum ring.
“Featuring the finest colored diamonds from the Argyle diamond mine and across the globe, this exclusive showcase represents rarity never before seen,” said David Fardon, director of Linneys. “This is the first time in Australia we have seen a jewelry collection valued in excess of $100 million.”