Virtual Consultation
By Benji, Content ManagerThe September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair is one of the biggest trade shows of the year. However, as exciting as the show is, especially this year since LEIBISH participated in the JNA Awards ceremony where Itzik Polnauer was a finalist for the Young Leader of the Year, each year something extra special takes place.
The Argyle Diamond mine which is situated in the Kimberley region in the far north of Western Australia, holds their exclusive Argyle Pink Diamond Tender during the September Hong Kong show. The invitation only event is attended by the most highly regarded diamond companies in the world. Known as the producer of the finest pink diamonds found in the market, Argyle saves their very best stones to tender off during this event.
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Shmulik Polnauer, LEIBISH's GIA GG, Chief Diamond Buyer at the 2012 Argyle Pink Diamond Tender |
The decision this year was to combine the annual Argyle Pink Diamond Tender with the Once in the Blue Moon Diamond Tender. As a result, there were more tender stones than usual, making the decision on what to bid for that much more difficult. This year’s tender, 2012, consisted of 56 Argyle Pink Diamond lots and 19 Argyle Blue, Gray and Violet lots bringing the total tender lots to 75. Each participant was allocated the time to view the diamonds and submit a single price. He, who submitted the highest price, wins. Since all companies that purchases a tender stone wants to still ensure they have the ability to sell the stone for its market value while keeping a fair profit margin, they don’t want to pay too high. Though, there is still the need to outbid all other contestants.
After winning six tender stones in 2011, six tender stones in 2010, and one in 2009, LEIBISH was hoping for excellent results. The company was delighted to learn that their chief buyer, Shmulik Polnauer a GIA GG, managed to acquire almost 25% of the tender stones offered!
“I am proud and honored to have won such a large number of the tender stones offered, including Lot 57, the extremely rare colored Argyle Allure. From the results, I clearly saw the prices paid were quite high, meaning there still remains a very high market demand. Furthermore, the stones have not even arrived from the Argyle mine to our offices and already many of the stones won are already busy with clients” said Shmulik.
The most famous stone LEIBISH won in this year's tender is a Violet Hero stone, Lot 57, "The Argyle Allure". A fantastically rare, 0.33 carat, Fancy Dark Gray-Violet, Heart-shaped diamond with a BL3+ Argyle grading.
The Argyle BL grading scale goes as follows, BL1 for the lighter tones followed by BL2, BL2+, BL3 and the rarest most saturated color of all, Bl3+.
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Blue and violet diamonds including the Argyle Elektra (oval), the Argyle Allure (heart), and the Argyle Heloise (pear) Images courtesy of Rio Tinto Diamonds. |
Below is a detailed list of all the 17 Argyle Tender diamonds of which LEIBISH are now the proud owners.
|
LOT |
Carat Weight |
GIA Color |
Argyle Color |
GIA Clarity |
Shape |
|
|
LOT 4 |
0.29 |
Fancy Purplish Red |
1PP |
SI2 |
Radiant |
|
|
LOT 7 |
0.61 |
Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink |
2PP |
SI2 |
Round |
|
|
LOT 8 |
0.29 |
Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink |
1PP |
I1 |
Round |
|
|
LOT 28 |
0.53 |
Fancy Intense Purplish Pink |
3PP |
I1 |
Radiant |
|
|
LOT 29 |
0.59 |
Fancy Intense Purple-Pink |
3PP |
SI2 |
Radiant |
|
|
LOT 41 |
0.56 |
Fancy Intense Pink |
4PR |
SI2 |
Emerald |
|
|
LOT 46 |
0.58 |
Fancy Intense Pink |
4P |
SI2 |
Emerald |
|
|
LOT 48 |
0.50 |
Fancy Intense Purplish Pink |
4PR |
SI1 |
Emerald |
|
|
LOT 54 |
1.04 |
Fancy Purplish Pink |
6P |
SI2 |
Round |
|
|
LOT 56 |
1.04 |
Fancy Purple-Pink |
7PP |
VS2 |
Round |
|
|
LOT 57 |
0.33 |
Fancy Dark Gray-Violet |
BL3+ |
SI2 |
Heart |
|
|
LOT 60 |
0.33 |
Fancy Gray-Violet |
BL3 |
I1 |
Round |
|
|
LOT 61 |
0.56 |
Fancy Dark Violetish Gray |
BL3 |
SI2 |
Heart |
|
|
LOT 62 |
0.25 |
Fancy Violet-Gray |
BL3 |
SI1 |
Heart |
|
|
LOT 63 |
0.25 |
Fancy Dark Gray-Blue |
BL3 |
I1 |
Emerald |
|
|
LOT 68 |
0.31 |
Fancy Blue-Gray |
BL2 |
VS2 |
Marquise |
|
|
LOT 70 |
0.56 |
Fancy Blue-Gray |
BL1 |
SI1 |
Heart |
|
LOT 4
|
LOT 7
|
LOT 8
|
LOT 28
|
|
LOT 29
|
LOT 41
|
LOT 46
|
LOT 48
|
|
LOT 54
|
LOT 56
|
LOT 60
|
LOT 61
|
|
LOT 62
|
LOT 63
|
LOT 68
|
LOT 70
|
For those involved with what happens in the trade and interested in general industry-related news, there is a lot of buzz that surrounds the Argyle Pink Diamond Tender. Argyle diamonds contain some of the most extraordinary colors and have an incredibly high market demand. Furthermore, as a result of their beauty and extreme rarity, Argyle diamonds are considered excellent investment opportunities in the market.
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Shmulik Polnauer louping the Leibish Prosperity Pink Diamond. A 1.68-carat Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink, Radiant-shape |
In addition to being a tangible, internationally recognized asset produced from a diamond mine that has already publicly announced their closure by 2018, Argyle diamonds exhibit investment characteristics that many other investments can only dream about emulating. It was no surprise the six stones won from the 2011 Argyle Diamond Tender were sold relatively quickly and the compaines Argyle diamond collection is one of their strongest points of sale.
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Above are the 6 stones LEIBISH won from the 2011 Argyle Pink Diamond Tender. |
Indulge yourself by browsing through the colored diamonds LEIBISH owns and consider participating in acquiring some of the finest diamonds the world has to offer.
Contributor: Benji Margolese
