Pink Diamonds – Basics
High quality pink diamonds command extremely high prices, second only to red diamonds – the rarest of all fancy colors. Over 90% of the world’s pink diamonds were supplied by Australia’s Argyle diamond mine, which closed in 2020, so they are only getting more valuable. Only 1 carat out of every 10,000 carats mined is a natural fancy colored diamond, making rarer colors with high saturation extremely valuable.
PriceScope Pointer: When it comes to fancy colored diamond (FCD) cutting you can throw away the normal cut-quality rules for D-Z colors. The goal with FCDs is cutting with angles which exaggerate the color present – which is opposite the goal for well-cut D-Z diamonds.
Before going on: Check out the PriceScope Diamond Buying Guide
Pink Diamonds Described
High profile pink diamonds have led several auctions in recent years. The 24.78 carat “Graff Pink” diamond sold at Sotheby’s for $46 million on November 16, 2010. In May 2011 Sotheby’s sold another large pink diamond for $10.84 million, a 10.99 carat fancy intense pink. While natural pink diamonds are costly and rare, pink diamonds of varying carat weights, hues and saturations are available.
(Image Source: Sotheby’s)
A fancy intense pink, the 24.78 carat “Graff Pink” sold at Sotheby’s for $46 million on November 16, 2010.
What are Pink Diamonds?
There is still a little mystery surrounding the cause of color in pink diamonds. The color is generally thought to be caused by colored graining, which results from structural irregularities in combination with an impurity. Distortions in the crystal structure are thought to be the cause of color for 99.5% of pink diamonds. Australia’s Argyle Diamond Mine produces most of the world’s pink diamonds, which are sold at the annual Pink Tender.
What Shades do Pink Diamonds Come in?
Pink diamonds come in a spectrum of shades. The greater the saturation the higher the value. The GIA grades pink diamonds as follows:
- Faint
- Very Light
- Light
- Fancy Light
- Fancy
- Fancy Intense
- Fancy Vivid, Fancy Deep, or Fancy Dark
Image courtesy of GIA
Common secondary colors in pink diamonds include brownish pink, orangish pink, and purplish pink. As is the case with all fancy color diamonds, pure pink colors are the most prized and thus the most expensive, particularly those which are heavily saturated with a rich color. Certain modifiers can create highly desirable diamonds and though more common, paler pinks are still rare and coveted in the diamond world. Natural fancy pinks are appreciably rare regardless of secondary colors and are priced accordingly.
Are Pink Diamonds Rare?
Natural, pink diamonds have been in high demand for the last two decades, and this rise in popularity has caused a rise in price. Aside from red diamonds (the rarest and most valuable fancy color), high-quality pink diamonds command the highest prices. Over 90% of the world’s pink diamonds were found in the Argyle mine, which closed in 2020, yet less than 1% of the mine’s output was comprised of pink diamonds.
Pink Diamond Gallery
(Image Source: Sotheby’s)
10.09 carat fancy vivid purple-pink diamond ring
(Image Source: PS Member, kenny)
.27ct fancy deep purplish pink diamond
(Image Source: SmallSparkle)
pink diamond halo ring
(Image Source: Christie’s)
4.03ct and 4.01ct fancy pink diamond earrings
(Image Source: Sotheby’s
5 carat orangy-pink diamond
(Image Source: Sotheby’s
10.99 carat fancy intense pink diamond
(Image Source: CNW Group/The Marquis Group)
Largest pink diamond mined in Canada, a 2.75 carat light pink.
Learn more about Fancy Colored Diamonds
Have more questions about fancy color diamonds? Click on the links below or visit our Fancy Colored Diamond Guide.
Fancy Colored Diamond Guide Topics:
Fancy Colored Diamond Introduction, Yellow Diamonds, Brown Diamonds, Pink Diamonds, Blue Diamonds, Green Diamonds, Black Diamonds, Red Diamonds, Orange Diamonds
Featured photo credit: Christys.com
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