We have only ever Tendered 33 red diamonds, and these remain a story of rarity within rarity. I can not go past the 2008 Tender and the remarkable diamond, Aphrodite, a 1.01 carat round, fancy purplish red, SI1. With such a saturation of colour she was named after the Goddess of Love to reflect the heart-bursting passion she suggested. She was indeed given as a gift of love that Christmas and so her wonderful story continues.
In 2009 there was a very happy, bubblegum pink pear that popped off the table which I recall. A lovely example of a purplish pink delight. However, 2009 was ultimately the most romantic year for the Tender. You really can't go past a heart-shaped pink diamond to epitomise love and that year we presented the extraordinary Amour, a 2.61 carat Fancy Intense Pink, SI1. A big and beautiful heart!
In 2010 the Argyle Iris comes to mind. She is a gracious lady of pink diamonds, named after the mythological messenger who rode rainbows between heaven and earth. At Fancy Purplish Red, SI1 and 1.43 carats she is a very rare messenger too. We spend so much time with these diamonds over the course of careful planning and polishing that we can become quite attached and Iris is one of those for me.
No musing over Tender love affairs would be complete without mentioning the incredible Shalimar, a 1.25 carat round Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink. She was named after the stunning gardens of Shalimar which were an exotic sanctuary built by the Indian Emperor Jahangir as a gift to his beloved wife. This diamond is an example of the amazing array, or garden, of colors that can be captured in a single Argyle diamond with flashes of purple, pink and red - a kaleidoscope in a diamond! We referred to her as the disco ball until she was given her more elegant name and destiny as she indeed found her new home in India and was set into a beautiful Lotus ring.
This year's Tender is another treasure trove offering a blushing rainbow of colors. Combined with our 'Once In A Blue Moon' Tender we have soft pinks, vivid purplish pinks, two reds and our rarely offered violets. This year's 'tender moment' for me came with laying my eyes on the sweetest of cornflower blue diamonds called Argyle Heloise. A startingly pretty and rarely seen 0.33 carat, oval Fancy Deep Violetish Bue, VS2 diamond. But don't tell Siren, Satine, Electra or Allure who are extraordinary heroes in their own rights this year.
Our Tender diamonds are often likened to works of art and the analogy is a fine one. They are collectible and can be great stores of wealth. And as it is with art, it is falling in love with the piece itself, the appreciation for the rarity and craftsmanship and ultimately the delight in finding one for you that makes them truly joyful.