PINK DIAMONDS

About the diamond’s color

Color diamonds are judged somewhat differently than colorless diamonds, and for good reason. They are in a category all their own. As a natural diamond rarity, it’s easy to see that each stone has a color all its own, even within its color niche.

All diamonds are evaluated by four key attributes of diamond quality, called the 4Cs. These are Color, Cut, Clarity, and Carat Weight. However, unlike white (colorless) diamonds where the 4Cs are of equal importance, the color exhibited in a Fancy Color Diamond is the most significant attribute of all.

What Causes the Color

The unique colors in these stones are caused by different trace minerals within the crystal structure of the diamonds. Depending on the origin of the stones, meaning where they were sourced, certain minerals are more likely to be present. This increases the odds of these areas producing specific colors for which the areas are known.

Unlike yellow diamonds whose color is attributed to trace amounts of nitrogen, blue diamond color is the direct result of the addition of boron in the crystal structure. Purple or violet diamond colors are partly caused by the presence of hydrogen, and mostly from its crystal distortion. Green diamonds, a rarity within this group, owe their color to exposure to atomic radiation or radioactivity. Some diamond coloration remains a mystery, like the cause of color in pink diamonds. It is believed that lattice distortion in the crystals allows the eye to see pink shades. Scientific evidence suggests that pink diamonds owe their color to high pressure graining, resulting in a compressed internal structure. Within the industry, this is referred to as ‘plastic deformation,’ which always occurs during the crystal growth phase.

Pink Diamond Color Scale

Each separate saturation grade (purity of its spectral hue) of pink diamonds has its own designation.
From left to right: Faint Pink, Very Light Pink, Light Pink, Fancy Light Pink, Fancy Pink, Fancy Intense Pink, Fancy Vivid Pink, and Fancy Deep Pink

All color combinations of Pink Diamonds found, from left to right;

Top Row: Fancy Brownish Purple Pink, Fancy Light Brownish Pink, Fancy Brownish Pink, Fancy Deep Brownish Pink, Light Brown Pink, Fancy Brown Pink, Fancy Deep Brown Pink, Fancy Brownish Orangy Pink

Second Row: Fancy Brownish Orangy Pink, Fancy Deep Brownish Orangy Pink, Fancy Light Orangy Pink, Fancy Orangy Pink, xxx, Fancy Intense Orangy Pink, Fancy Vivid Orangy Pink, xxxx

Third Row: Fancy Deep Orangy Pink, Faint Pink, Very Light Pink, Light Pink, Fancy Light Pink, Fancy Pink, Fancy Intense Pink, Fancy Vivid Pink,

Fourth Row: Fancy Deep Pink, Fancy Purple Pink, Fancy Intense Purple Pink, Fancy Vivid Purple Pink, Fancy Deep Purple Pink, xxx, Fancy Purplish Pink, Fancy Intense Purplish Pink

Fifth Row: Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink, Fancy Deep Purplish Pink

Similar to other colors, pure pink diamonds without any secondary hues are rarer and more valuable.  However, because of its dramatic lush appearance, a purplish pink diamond is also considered highly desirable among collectors.  Many pink diamonds in today’s market contain some of the following secondary or modifying colors; Purple, Purplish, Brown, Brownish, Grayish, Orangy, Brownish Orangy, and Brownish Purple.

Color intensities

Pink colored diamonds can be found in every intensity grade as recognized by the GIA grading scale; Faint, Very Light, Light, Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid, Fancy Deep and Fancy Dark intensity grades depending on the color combinations within the stone.

Amazing facts about Pink Diamonds

Pink diamonds in particular have a fascinating backstory. There are so few of them compared to colorless diamonds that their unique story becomes all the more captivating.

Pink diamond’s mining areas

While pink diamonds have been found in deposits around the world, their occurrence has remained exceedingly rare, making each discovery news-worthy around the globe.  

The most important modern day source for pink and red diamonds remains the legendary Argyle mine in New South Wales, Western Australia. It operated for nearly 40 years producing a disproportionately large portion of pink diamonds from its annual yield. When it closed in 2020, it signaled an end to a remarkable era, with no similar mine producing such a quantity of pink stones.

Polishing process

Polishing pink diamonds is a delicate process requiring skill and extraordinary precision in planning.  The polisher must first study the rough to determine where blemishes and cracks may be present inside the crystal. The idea is to work around any flaws so the best possible clarity will result in the diamond. But that has to be balanced with saving as much weight as possible so the end result will be the largest carat size that can be achieved.

Famous Pink Diamonds

As one of the rarest diamond colors on earth, when pink diamonds come to market, the interest is always feverishly high. It’s not uncommon for new pink diamond sales to break previous world records simply owing to their beauty and scarcity. There are many auction houses worldwide which bring pink diamonds for sale each year. Some of the most well-known auction houses are Christie's and Sotheby's.

Some of the most well-known pink diamonds sold at auction includes;

The Pink Supreme

The Pink Supreme

The Eternal Pink

Dubbed ultra-rare by experts, the Eternal Pink diamond was labeled as having “unparalleled color and brightness.” It proved itself to be the star it claimed when it sold at Sotheby’s New York in 2023 for $34.8M, just shy of its highest estimate. The 10.57 carat stone was officially identified as purplish-pink, and reigns as the most valuable diamond of its shade.

The Williamson Pink Star

The Williamson Pink Star

The Graff Pink

The Graff Pink

The Princie Diamond

A relatively new record was set for the most expensive diamond ever sold at the time in 2013 at Christie’s auction house. The 34.65-carat Fancy Intense Pink, Princie Diamond, became the second most expensive diamond sold at auction at the time, just behind The Graff Pink. It sold for a fantastic $39.3M ($1,135,000 per carat).

The Pink Star

The Agra

Pink Diamond Jewelery

Even considering their extraordinarily high prices, pink diamonds are coveted as both the centerpiece of exquisite jewels, and in smaller sizes, as shimmering accent stones for important jewelry.

For inspiration, browse through these tempting collections of pink diamond engagement rings, pink diamond earrings, and pink diamond pendants.

Shop LEIBISH Pink Diamond Jewelry

Pink Diamond Jewelry on the Stars

Natural pink diamonds and celebrities have always made a scintillating combination. Many recall Ben Affleck’s 2002 proposal to Jennifer Lopez, wowing the public with a mammoth pink diamond. That moment created a taste for pink diamonds that hasn’t been quenched yet.

This dazzling event was later followed by Blake Lively seen with her 7 carat pink oval diamond engagement ring. Seems like Anna Kournikova upped her game with an 11 carat pink pear engagement ring from Enrique Iglesias.

A close contender was Mariah Carey’s 10 carat pink diamond given to her by then fiancé Nick Cannon in 2008. The 58 smaller pink accent stones brought the total to 17 carats.

The VB, or Victoria Beckham to most of us claims to have 15 diamond engagement ring gifted to her throughout her marriage to David Beckham. We wonder if her pink oval cut diamond is still her favorite.

No matter who you are, you can certainly feel like a star wearing a pink diamond piece of jewelry. With all the myriad shades, sizes, and shapes to choose from, you can make your own mark in the world with your very own pink treasure.