Question 1

Why are pink diamonds so expensive?

Accepted Answer

Natural pink diamonds are rare, and strongly coloured ones are rarer still. The closure of the Argyle mine in 2020 removed the largest single source of supply. Demand from jewellers and collectors remains strong, so prices for well-coloured stones with natural colour reports are high, especially in larger sizes and in the Fancy Intense and Fancy Vivid grades.

Question 2

What is the difference between purplish pink and pinkish purple?

Accepted Answer

In GIA colour descriptions the last hue named is the dominant one. A purplish pink diamond is mainly pink with a purple secondary hue, while a pinkish purple is mainly purple with a pink secondary hue. Purplish pink is a sought-after colour in pink diamonds, and the two descriptions are priced differently in the trade.

Question 3

Can pink diamonds be treated?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Pink colour can be produced or improved by irradiation followed by annealing, by high pressure high temperature processing, or by surface coatings. Lab-grown pink diamonds are also common. These can look similar to natural pinks, so a report from a major laboratory stating natural colour origin is the only reliable assurance for a trade purchase.

Question 4

Are pink diamonds only from Argyle?

Accepted Answer

No. Argyle in Western Australia produced most of the world's pink diamonds for several decades, but pinks have also come from Brazil, southern Africa, Russia and India. Some of the largest known pink diamonds are not from Argyle. Standard lab reports usually do not state the mine of origin, so an Argyle claim needs its own documentation.

Natural Pink Diamonds