The Diavik Stars of the Arctic at hammer on October 25!
These
special diamonds will be showcased in Antwerp and Israel
to
large diamond specialists from around the world before bids close
Rio
Tinto and Dominion Diamond Mines have revealed three of the finest large rough
diamonds from their Canadian diamond mine that will be tendered to diamond
specialists from around the world.
Collectively
known as The Diavik Stars of the Arctic, the three rough diamonds showcase a
rare combination of size, quality and colour from the Diavik diamond mine in
the remote Northwest Territories of Canada, 220 kilometres south of the Arctic
Circle.
The
Diavik Stars of the Arctic will headline Rio Tinto’s forthcoming Specials Tender,
which showcases rough diamonds greater than 10.8 carats. Taking their
inspiration from constellations across the night skies of the North, The Diavik
Stars of the Arctic comprise:
• Lot 1: Vega of the Arctic™, 177.71
carats, one of the largest and most valuable gem quality rough diamonds ever produced in Canada;
• Lot 2: Altair of the Arctic, 59.10
carats, a beautiful white gem quality rough diamond; and
• Lot 3: Capella of the Arctic,
24.82 carats, a dazzling yellow diamond.
Diavik
Diamond Mines president and chief operating officer Patrick Boitumelo said
"Diavik diamonds are over two billion years old and it has taken 15 years
of production to unearth these extraordinary diamonds, underscoring the ongoing
importance of the Diavik ore body in the context of the global diamond
industry."
The
Diavik Diamond Mine owned by Rio Tinto (60 per cent) and joint venture partner
Dominion Diamond Mines (40 per cent) began production in 2003 and has been a
fully underground mining operation since 2012. It
recently opened its fourth pipe, the A21 pipe, which will provide an important
source of incremental production.
The
Diavik mine produces predominantly gem quality diamonds destined for high end
jewellery in all major consumer markets around the world. The discovery of Lot
3, Capella of the Arctic, a large yellow diamond is very rare, with the mine on
average producing only five of these diamonds each year, in effect less than
0.001 per cent of annual production.
The
Diavik Stars of the Arctic will be showcased in Antwerp and Israel to large
diamond specialists from around the world before bids close on October 25.
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