One of the best-known names in coloured diamonds has changed hands. On 1 October 2026, mining group Rio Tinto announced that ownership of the Argyle Pink Diamonds brand had passed to Boodles, the family-owned British jeweller. Alongside the brand, Boodles has taken on the last remaining stock of Argyle pink diamonds, together with the trademarks, website and digital marketing assets linked to the name.
Why Argyle pinks matter
The Argyle mine, in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia, was the world’s main source of pink diamonds. According to Rio Tinto, it produced more than 90 per cent of global supply before production ended on 3 November 2020, after 37 years of mining. The Financial Times reports that pinks made up less than 0.1 per cent of the mine’s total output of rough diamonds, which goes a long way to explaining their rarity.
Since the closure, no new Argyle pinks have come out of the ground, and Rio Tinto has been selling the remaining stones over several years, including through special auctions. Neither company has disclosed how many diamonds or carats were included in the deal, nor what Boodles paid.
A slow release over ten years
Boodles was founded in Liverpool in 1798 and is now based in London. According to the Roskin Gem News Report, it bought its first Argyle pink diamond in 1998. Its managing director, Jody Wainwright, told the Financial Times that there are enough stones to release them “slowly over 10 years”, and the company has confirmed it is already designing a high jewellery collection built around Argyle pinks for 2027. For anyone who loves coloured gemstones, it means these rare pinks should keep appearing in new designs well into the next decade.
Also this week: emeralds meet watchmaking
Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet unveiled a Royal Oak high jewellery collection on 2 October, which JCK describes as the brand’s first foray into fine jewellery. The pieces include earrings, cuffs, a choker and necklaces, and one line, Risoud Eclipse, pairs black titanium links with brilliant-cut diamonds and sugarloaf-cut emeralds. It is another sign that green stones remain firmly in favour. If the look appeals, a pear-shaped emerald framed by a halo or a multi-colour halo ring brings a similar play of colour to everyday wear.
Sources: Rio Tinto press release, 1 October 2026; Financial Times; IDEX Online; Roskin Gem News Report; JCK.
