Rio Tinto highlights the importance of innovation in the Chinese diamond industry

Rio Tinto this week confirmed its commitment to support innovation as a driver of growth in the Chinese diamond industry and the important role that design will play in developing new categories for diamond jewellery consumption.

At a press conference in Hong Kong, Rio Tinto, as headline partner in the Jewellery News Asia (JNA) awards, also acknowledged the accelerating pace of change in the Chinese diamond jewellery market which is an important market for the smaller, affordable diamonds from its Argyle diamond mine in Australia.

According to Rita Maltez, Manager of Rio Tinto Diamonds, Greater China Representative Office,

‘In the three years since establishing our presence on the ground in Hong Kong we have seen tremendous changes in the market best demonstrated by the growth in diamond fashion jewellery. To this end the JNA Awards are very timely and we are delighted to be participating again this year.”

Rio Tinto established its sales and marketing representative office in Hong Kong in March 2010 in recognition of the growing importance of the Chinese diamond jewellery market. Currently the company is working with a range of Chinese jewellery designers to create jewellery collections utilising Argyle diamonds.

About Rio Tinto Diamonds

Rio Tinto has been in the diamonds industry for more than 30 years and operates a fully integrated diamond exploration, mining and sales and marketing business. Rio Tinto is one of the world’s major diamond producers through its 100 per cent control of the Argyle mine in Australia, 60 per cent of the Diavik mine in Canada, a 78 per cent interest in the Murowa mine in Africa and 100% interest in an advanced diamond project in India.

Rio Tinto’s diamonds are sold through its sales and marketing headquarters in Antwerp, with representative offices in New York, Mumbai and Hong Kong and a stand- alone pink diamond business in Perth, Western Australia. The production from Rio Tinto’s Argyle Diamond Mine is characterised by smaller, affordable diamonds ideally suited to creating fashion jewellery – affordable, daily wear diamond jewellery.

Rio Tinto Diamonds is a leading supporter of the Kimberley Process as well as a founding member of the Responsible Jewellery Council and the first mining company to be certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council.

Website: www.riotintodiamonds.com

About Rio Tinto Diamonds in China

Rio Tinto Diamonds has a long history of being “first movers” in establishing new markets and new categories of diamonds. Rio Tinto Diamonds objective is to channel a larger share of its diamond production to China by being present on the ground and investing in market development initiatives in partnership with customers and key players at all stages of the diamond jewellery value-chain.

Rio Tinto Diamonds has forged a strategic partnership with China’s premier diamond jewellery retailer, Chow Tai Fook focused on developing the diamond fashion jewellery market in Greater China.