Rio Tinto announced an unprecedented demand for colored diamonds

Mining giant Rio Tinto announced the unprecedented demand for pink and blue diamonds, which marked the annual sales of these very rare minerals in the world.
In the course of Argyle Pink Diamonds tender 2012, on which are traditionally exhibited only exclusive stones, buyers were offered 56 pink diamonds, including two near-red and 19 blue.
Rio Tinto has not disclosed the price for which the diamonds were sold, but it is known that they are purchased at a price of one million dollars per carat and they are on average 50 times more expensive than the high quality white diamonds.
"We had an exceptional and unprecedented demand from tender participants", - told AFP manager of pink diamonds from Rio Tinto.
According to her, this year's exclusive diamond buyers were from Europe, Australia, Japan, but also China and India.
The most beautiful blue diamond - Argyle Elektra - will go to Japan, which is the largest market of the most rare gems.
Rio Tinto owned Argyle mine is located in the west of Australia, his bowels keep the world's largest deposits of pink diamonds, the most exclusive stones among them are red.
Over the past 26 years Rio Tinto has sold at its exclusive auctions only 33 red diamonds.

Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished