The Petite Suites were introduced as part of last year’s Tender – the penultimate tender of polished material from the iconic mine – which was themed, ‘One Lifetime, One Encounter’.
The 12 lots of “carefully curated and never-to-be repeated sets of miniature rare Argyle pink, red, blue and violet diamonds” were selected over a five-year period and grouped based on their unique characteristics and harmony between the colours.
Kunming Diamonds was successful in acquiring the Zenith Suite, which comprises five diamonds of mixed fancy shapes with the highest colour intensities, including:
- Oval-cut 0.29-carat Fancy Dark Grey-Violet
- Radiant-cut 0.20-carat Fancy Red
- Pear-cut 0.18-carat Fancy Deep Purplish Pink
- Heart-cut 0.24-carat Fancy Deep Pink
- Modified pear-cut 0.24-carat Fancy Deep Pink
Harsh Maheshwari, director Kunming Diamonds, called it “a gift of Mother Nature”: “It’s all in the name – Zenith represents the paragon of Argyle’s most valuable diamonds. The suite is an esoteric and exotic combination of the top-most saturated line of colours Argyle pinks, blues and reds.”
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| The Argyle Eternity – a 2.24 carat fancy vivid purplish pink round diamond, was the top lot in the 2020 Tender and also acquired by Kunming Diamonds |
Kunming Diamonds plans for the Zenith Suite to become a showstopping jewellery collection: “It fits in with any couture jewellery designer's – or an avid collector's – dream. Zenith will be crafted into bespoke statement jewellery, made for generations to keep,” Maheshwari said.
"The curation of these sets was a unique opportunity, and truly a once-in-a-lifetime achievement to have acquired a majority of the collection. We are a strong appreciator of Argyle pink diamonds and focus on any collectible that is available,” he added.
The supplier was also successful in acquiring 35 other lots from the 2020 Tender, including ‘hero stone’, the Argyle Eternity. Weighing 2.24 carats and graded Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink, the Argyle Eternity is “the most valuable diamond in the collection and the most valuable Fancy Vivid diamond in the Tender’s 37-year history,” according to Rio Tinto.
Maheshwari previously told Jeweller it was an “extraordinary opportunity and a privilege to be part of the history-making Argyle diamond mine,” adding, “We are humbled to be the custodians of these iconic rare jewels and are delighted to be part of their enduring legacy.”
Kunming Diamonds hopes the Eternity will one day be exhibited at a museum or art gallery.
Left to Right: Oval-cut 0.29-carat Fancy Dark Grey-Violet, Radiant-cut 0.20-carat Fancy Red, Pear-cut 0.18-carat Fancy Deep Purplish Pink, Heart-cut 0.24-carat Fancy Deep Pink, Modified pear-cut 0.24-carat Fancy Deep Pink
More reading:
Argyle tender breaks records during pandemic following pink diamond mine closure
Read before you buy: The ultimate guide to fancy colour diamonds
Kunming Diamonds receives prestigious Argyle diamond designation from Rio Tinto
Kunming Diamonds brings Argyle Tender “pinks” to Australia