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Pink diamonds are among the rarest and most valuable natural colored diamonds. Their color is most often attributed not to another chemical element, but to a deformation in the diamond’s crystalline structure deep within the Earth. Their value is primarily determined by the natural origin of the color, its intensity, the diamond’s size, and the stone’s overall appeal.
Key facts:
It is precisely the combination of natural color, good saturation, and greater carat weight that makes exceptional pink diamonds such rare collector’s items.
It is fairly easy to link the color of yellow and blue diamonds to specific chemical elements. For example:
The situation is different with pink diamonds. The color of most natural pink diamonds is associated with plastic deformation—changes in the diamond’s crystalline structure caused by immense pressure and geological processes. Simply put, a diamond may initially be nearly colorless, but as its crystal lattice deforms, the way the stone absorbs certain wavelengths of visible light changes. The result is that our eyes perceive a pink color.
Not entirely. The connection between the pink color and plastic deformation is well known, but the specific mechanism of atomic defects that creates the characteristic pink absorption is still being studied.
When discussing pink diamonds, it is nearly impossible not to mention the Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia.
Throughout its history, Argyle has become a disproportionately important source of natural pink diamonds. According to Rio Tinto, the mine supplied more than 90% of the global supply of pink diamonds. However, the pink stones themselves accounted for only a small portion of Argyle’s total production. This explains a situation that seems paradoxical at first glance—Argyle mined a huge quantity of diamonds, yet collector-quality pink ones were still an exceptional rarity among them.
Diamond mining at Argyle ended on November 3, 2020, after 37 years of operation.
Many commercial diamond deposits are associated with kimberlite volcanic rocks. Argyle was unusual in that the diamonds were brought to the surface by a lamproite volcanic system. An important distinction: kimberlite or lamproite is not simply “where diamonds form.” Most diamonds form much deeper in the Earth’s mantle, and subsequent volcanic processes rapidly transport them upward.
The GIA uses a different system for colored diamonds than the standard D–Z scale for colorless and near-colorless diamonds. Pink diamonds can be assigned the following color intensity descriptions:
| Color grade | Overall impression |
|---|---|
| Faint | Very pale pink |
| Very Light | Very light |
| Light | Light |
| Fancy Light | Brighter pink |
| Fancy | Bright pink |
| Fancy Intense | Intense |
| Fancy Vivid | Very rich and vibrant |
| Fancy Deep | Deep, strong color |
| Fancy Dark | Dark color |
Exceptional Fancy Intense and, in particular, Fancy Vivid Pink diamonds are extremely rare.
In colorless diamonds, the goal is usually to have as little noticeable color as possible. With fancy-colored diamonds, the logic is almost the opposite. Here, exceptional value can be created by:
Therefore, a very pale pink diamond and a Fancy Vivid Pink diamond of similar weight can fall into completely different price categories.
Colored diamonds are often cut not only to maximize light reflection. The jeweler may also aim to showcase the color as effectively as possible when viewing the stone from above. Therefore, for fancy-colored stones, proportions and cutting patterns may be chosen to enhance the perceived intensity of the color. This is yet another reason why a pink diamond should not be evaluated solely by the same criteria as a standard colorless round brilliant. If you’re interested in different diamond shapes, read the guide “Diamond Shapes: How to Choose?”.
Today, this is an essential question. Pink diamonds can also be lab-grown. They are genuine diamonds in terms of their basic chemical and physical structure, but their origin is different—they are grown in a laboratory rather than formed naturally within the Earth. The pink color in lab-grown diamonds can be produced or altered through technological processes, such as:
Therefore, the fact that a stone appears pink is not sufficient to determine its origin.
If we’re talking about a higher-value natural colored diamond, the seller’s description alone is not enough. Check the following:
When buying online, it’s also helpful to follow the separate guide “How to Choose and Buy Diamonds Online”.
Yes, but their priorities aren’t exactly the same as those for colorless stones. The following are evaluated:
However, in the case of rare natural fancy-color diamonds, color often becomes one of the most important criteria determining value. You can find a detailed description of the 4C system in the diamond buying guide.
One of the most famous pink diamonds in the world is the CTF Pink Star. It is:
In 2017, it sold for $71.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong. This remains the auction record for a diamond, gemstone, or piece of jewelry. In 2013, the same “Pink Star” was offered at auction for more than 83 million U.S. dollars, but the buyer failed to pay for the stone.
In 2022, another exceptional stone—the 11.15 ct Fancy Vivid Pink, Internally Flawless “Williamson Pink Star”—was sold at a Sotheby’s auction for approximately $57.7 million. Its total price was lower than that of the “Pink Star,” but this transaction set a world record at the time for the price per carat of a diamond or gemstone.
A natural pink color requires very specific geological conditions and crystal deformation. Only a small fraction of natural diamonds have a pink color vivid enough to be classified as valuable fancy-color stones.
The color of most natural pink diamonds is associated with plastic deformation of the diamond’s crystal structure. The exact mechanism involving atomic defects is still being studied.
No. Diamond mining at the Argyle mine in Western Australia ended on November 3, 2020. Historically, this mine supplied more than 90% of the world’s pink diamonds.
Yes, a lab-grown diamond is a diamond, but its origin differs from that of a natural stone. Therefore, this origin must be clearly identified in the product information and gemological documentation.
The 59.60-carat “CTF Pink Star” sold for $71.2 million at a 2017 Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong and remains the world auction record holder among diamonds, gemstones, and jewelry.
A natural pink diamond is not simply an ordinary diamond with a prettier color. Its hue is the result of unusual geological processes, and vivid, large stones are so rare that individual specimens become world-class auction events. Therefore, when choosing a pink diamond, the most important thing is not to chase the highest carat weight. It is far more important to understand its origin, the origin of its color, its intensity, and the overall quality of the stone.
If you’re looking for exceptional diamond jewelry, browse “Auksinės Svajonės” premium diamond jewelry or discuss your idea for a custom piece with a jeweler.
