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Argyle pink diamonds have gone for a record tender to global buyers, setting a new fashion for coloured stones.

Rare pink Argyle diamonds are growing in popularity in the global market, according to reports.

The Israeli Diamond Institute revealed a record tender of 55 rare pink diamonds – which could be used in diamond rings and diamond earrings – has been sold to several buyers from around the world, including burgeoning markets in India and China.

Mined by the Rio Tinto Group, the collection of rare coloured stones included the 2.02-carat Argyle Mystra, a much-coveted purple gem.

General manager for sales and marketing at the company Jean-Marc Lieberherr was quoted as saying that the response to the diamond tender was "a clear indication of the growing appreciation of the rarity and value of Argyle pink diamonds".

These figures follow news that a 185-carat recently discovered at the Letseng mine in Lesotho could be worth as much as £7 million. The facility is the source of three of the world's top 20 largest diamonds.

After two years in sewage, a woman has been reunited with her diamond ring.

A woman's diamond ring has been recovered after being flushed down a toilet two years ago.

Joan Spiers lost her antique gold and diamond ring set down the lavatory at the Charlwood Hotel near Gatwick.

Given to her by her late husband, Ms Spiers's precious item was found in 12,000 gallons of sewage after an initial search for it in a cesspit tank failed.

Colin and Julie French, whose waste disposal company was working on clearing a channel, recognised the piece of jewellery when it was discovered.

Mr French had been enlisted to sift through the cesspit in the original hunt and he remembered it straight away.

After the ring was verified, it was returned to Ms Spiers.

Demand for diamond rings like Ms Spiers's is rising in China – it has been recently reported that a growth in sales has come from consumers in the Far East. 

A pen embellished with thousands of diamonds has sold for over 2 million rupees.

A diamond encrusted pen has sold for 2.3 million rupees (£32,000) at a diamond jewellery exhibition in India.

According to Thaindian News, the item changed hands in Visakhapatnam, where it was displayed alongside wedding rings and diamond necklaces.

The piece, which has been certified by the Intenational Gemological Institute (IGI), is said to be embellished with thousands of precious stones.

Claiming to be the largest organisation of its kind, the IGI operates across the world with offices in China, North America and India.

Organisers stated the prices of the goods on display are the reason the exhibition has been such a success, with large numbers of jewellery and shopping enthusiasts gathering at the event last weekend (October 30th-31st).

Reported to have been made by six craftsmen, the item took 18 months to produce and includes 2,500 natural diamonds set in white gold.

Exhibition organiser Mani Singh Deo was quoted as saying: "As you see the pen, you will be able to know that it's a very unique piece and essentially we wanted to make [it] a collector's item." 

Brides in China are increasing prices of diamond engagement rings.

The price of diamond engagement rings is being pushed up due to demand from brides in China, according to one company.

Gem Diamonds, which operates in Australia, claimed the cost per carat increased by 44 per cent to $2,422 (£1,513) in the last month, compared with overall costs in the third quarter.

Newspaper the Australian reported yellow diamonds produced by the company will also see a 25 per cent rise in cost as their popularity grows.

Clifford Elphick, chief executive of Gem, said: "Diamond prices have continued to strengthen, driven by continued demand mainly from the East."

Diamond producers have also began to recover from the recession, which saw demand for the gemstones drop in the last few years, the newspaper said.

Sales of diamonds in European countries and the US are likely to be strong this Christmas, Paresh Sanghvi, chief executive of Diambel NV, recently suggested to Daily News and Analysis.