Question 1

What is the difference between purple and violet diamonds?

Accepted Answer

GIA treats purple and violet as separate hues. Purple sits between red and blue with a warmer, reddish character, while violet is closer to blue. Violet diamonds, often greyish violet, were associated in particular with the Argyle mine. Both are rare, and they are priced and collected as distinct colours.

Question 2

Are purple diamonds rarer than pink diamonds?

Accepted Answer

Diamonds graded purple as the dominant hue are generally much rarer than pink diamonds, and pure purple with no modifier is among the rarest fancy colours. Many stones described as purple in conversation are graded purplish pink or pinkish purple on the report, so always check the exact colour description.

Question 3

What does pinkish purple mean?

Accepted Answer

Pinkish purple means the diamond's dominant hue is purple, with pink as a secondary hue. It is one of the more frequently seen natural purple colour descriptions and is often attractive, with a warm, rich tone. It is different from purplish pink, where pink is dominant and purple is the modifier.

Question 4

Can purple diamonds be treated?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Irradiation followed by annealing, HPHT processing and coatings can produce purple, pink and violet colours, and lab-grown diamonds can be treated in the same way. Treated stones can look convincing, so a report from a major laboratory such as GIA stating natural colour origin is necessary for a confident trade purchase.

Natural Purple Diamonds