Rio Tinto has unveiled iconic handcrafted jewellery, created entirely from Argyle diamonds from its Australian mine; and gold mined and minted by Rio Tinto in the US. 

Argyle Dreaming™ as the US$ 1.1 million worth necklace and ring set have been dubbed, was presented recently in New York. It has been created by renowned international designer, master craftsman and jeweller John Calleija.

“The one-off necklace and ring pays homage to the ancient landscape and majestic colours of the east Kimberley region of Western Australia, home to the 1.6 billion year old Argyle gems,” Rio Tinto said describing the inspiration behind the jewellery.

A total of 673 pink, white, yellow, blue and champagne Argyle diamonds and 237 grams of Rio Tinto’s Kennecott gold have been used to create Argyle Dreaming™, which has been described as “a painstaking endeavour that took over 800 hours to create”.

Calleija said: “This was a labour of love, an opportunity to work with the entire Argyle diamond colour palette, from a country that is imbued with rich heritage and dreamings. I am thrilled with the Argyle Dreaming™ necklace and ring. They are a permanent record of the most intriguing diamonds in the world and a beautiful endeavour that highlights Rio Tinto’s commitment to integrity and traceability in its diamonds and gold supply chain.”

At the centre of the exquisite and elegant necklace sits a 3.55 carat white Argyle diamond,   which can be switched out with the Argyle champagne diamond which is the centrepiece of the ring, making the jewellery versatile as well. The design of the neckpiece and ring incorporates Argyle’s fancy coloured diamonds in shades of pink, blue and yellow.

Rio Tinto Vice President of Sales and Marketing Alan Chirgwin said “Encapsulating a rich history and an extraordinary provenance, Argyle Dreaming™ is a contemporary treasure and an heirloom for tomorrow.”

Rio Tinto’s Argyle diamond mine, slated to shut down in 2020 after almost four decades of being in production, is well-known as the world’s largest producer of coloured diamonds.

Rio Tinto’s Kennecott mine is a fully integrated mining operation located outside Salt Lake City in Utah, producing gold and silver as a by-product of its copper production.

The Argyle Dreaming™ necklace and ring will be showcased in New York and London before returning to Calleija’s stores in Australia, Rio Tinto said.