Ever since their arrival on the world stage Pink Diamonds have thrilled, seduced and inspired connoisseurs from around the world. Being the rarest and most valuable natural commodity on earth.
To own a natural Pink Diamond is to experience a sense of timelessness cradled in the palm of your hand.
– Harry Winston
Pink Diamond Origin:
The story of the Argyle pink diamond is almost as captivating as the rare gem itself. Across the breadth of 1.6 billion years, on a journey from the Earth’s centre, the most intriguing diamond in history emerges, with an exquisite beauty that is both regal and mesmerizing. The Argyle pink diamond’s spectacular outback origin can be seen in this marvel that depicts every shade of the desert sunset, from a cherry blossom pink, a soft rose, an alluring violet to a dramatic red.
Argyle Pink Diamond
Colour Grading
The three attributes, which determine the colour grade of a Pink Diamond, are:
Hue
The dominant colour of the diamond. Sometimes there are modifying colour or tints that affect hue. For example, a diamond with a pink hue may have a purplish tint.
Saturation
The strength in the pink of the hue. Hue saturation in pink diamonds can range from light pink to intense, and at the strongest, saturation vivid.
Tone
The amount of lightness or darkness in the diamond. The range of tone extends from light to dark.
Pink Diamond Cut(Shape) Values
In the past 20 years of the Argyle Pink Diamond Tender, the rarest diamond
shapes are Marquise (1%), Pear (2%), Heart (4%) and Cushion (4%).
There are three categories of diamond shapes available:
Round Brilliant
Modified Fancy Shapes
Traditional Fancy Shapes
Round Brilliant
Investment Pink Diamonds
Just like in the white diamond world will always sell for a premium over a traditional or modified fancy shape. This is because of their additional cutting wastage. Logically most people think that a round cut is the best option to invest in, this concept is an interesting one as ADI has found over the past 11 years that round pink diamonds up to 0.39ct will always be a fantastic investment but round pink diamonds larger than 0.50ct will generally return a lower profit margin due to the initial higher purchase price. There are also fewer buyers at the top end of the pink diamond price market.
Modified Fancy Shape
Investment Pink Diamonds
May at first look interesting and will generally sell at a discount over a round brilliant or traditional fancy shape. However, when it comes to profit building, regardless of how nice the colour appears should be avoided. This is because when it comes time to sell the pink diamond the potential buyers will be so few that you may have to sell at a heavy discount. The majority of pink diamond investors will not step too far away from what is considered an established investment.
Traditional Fancy Shape
Investment Pink Diamonds
Are predominantly abundant and offer a wider select of colour tones and saturations. They normally sell at a reduced price over an equivalent round brilliant and are very popular with mainstream investors. These are reasons you are more likely to return a greater profit over a round brilliant or modified fancy shape. Sticking to a traditional fancy shape or round shape under 0.39ct will strengthen your buyer audience.
Round
Princess
Asscher
Cushion
Heart
Oval
Radiant
Emerald
Marquise
Pear
Rare and Luxurious Investments
Pink diamonds are recognized as extremely luxurious items. The increase in rarity together with their popularity has significantly driven pink diamond prices up. Consequently, they are often utilized as additions to investment portfolios as excellent alternative investments.
All diamonds are assessed by the same four main attributes of diamond quality; Colour, Cut, Clarity, and Carat Weight. However, unlike white diamonds where the 4Cs are of the same importance, the colour of a Fancy Colour Diamond is the most significant characteristic of all.
Secondary Pink Diamond Hues
Similar to other colours, a pure coloured pink diamond without any secondary hue is more valuable. However, as a result of its magnificent appearance, a purplish pink diamond is also considered most preferred. Most pink diamonds in today’s market contain any of the following overtone colours; Purple, Purplish, Brown, Brownish, Grayish, Orangy, Brownish Orangey, and Brownish Purple.
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 Orangey Pink
Second Row: Fancy Brownish Orangey Pink, Fancy Deep Brownish Orangey Pink, Fancy Light Orangey Pink, Fancy Orangey Pink, Fancy Intense Orangey purplish pink, Fancy Intense Orangey Pink, Fancy Vivid Orangey Pink, Pinkish Brown
Third Row: Fancy Deep Orangey 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, Fancy intense Pink, Fancy Purplish Pink, Fancy Intense Purplish Pink
Fifth Row: Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink, Fancy Deep Purplish Pink
Colour Intensities
Pink coloured diamonds can be found in every intensity grade in 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 colour combinations within the stone.
Each different intensity grade of pink diamonds. 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.
Argyle Pink Diamonds
Pink diamonds are found in a small number of diamond mines throughout the world. However, more than any other, the Argyle Diamond mine has been known as the largest source of high quality pink diamonds. In fact, the colouring of stones found from that mine is so unique that an experienced diamantaires can often identify the origin of the diamond by viewing the stone. The pink colouring of an Argyle pink diamond is so vibrant that Argyle Pink Diamonds, regardless of the size, are considered excellent investments.
Some perfect examples of Argyle Fancy Intense Purplish Pink Diamonds, which all have a slight bubble gum colour tone.
Argyle Pink Diamond Colour Grading
In 2007 the Argyle updated their colour grading system and added a ninth colour grade, and changed the grade named BP to PR. This more correctly describes the colour of these diamonds.
Argyle Grading before 2007
Argyle Grading from 2007 onward
What Causes Pink Diamond Colour
The unique colours in the stones are caused by different trace minerals within the compound elements of the diamonds. Depending on the origin of the stones, meaning where it is from, certain minerals are more present – therefore increasing the presence of specific colours in certain areas.
Unlike Yellow Diamonds where the colour is caused from large amounts of Nitrogen, Blue Diamonds where the colour is caused by Boron, Purple or Violet Diamonds where the colours are caused by increased Hydrogen, or Green Diamonds where the colour is caused by exposure to atomic radiation or radioactivity – the cause of the Pink Diamond colour actually still remains questionable. Scientific evidence has shown that Pink Diamonds contain high pressure graining which results in a compressed internal structure and that is thought to be the origin of the colour. Within the industry, this is referred to as ‘Plastic Deformation,’ which occurs during the crystal growth.
As a result of the increased pressure, it is extremely difficult to find a Pink coloured diamond with a high clarity grade. In fact, most Natural Pink Diamonds often contain pink internal graining lines or surface graining lines within the atomic structure of the stones. Although this is a natural defect found in most, but not all, pink diamonds it still can slightly affect the clarity of the diamond – bringing for example from an IF to a VVS1/2.
Pink Diamond Jewellery
Even with the relatively high prices of pink diamonds, as a result of their exquisite colours, they are often used in various designs of colour diamond jewelry. See for example these amazing photos of Pink Diamond Engagement Rings, Pink Diamond Earrings, and Pink Diamond Pendants.
Natural Pink Diamonds have always been seen among the very rich and famous. Even today, many of the Hollywood stars adorn the most glamorous pieces of pink diamond jewelry. Just some of the more famous examples are Ben Affleck who presented an unbelievably gorgeous 6-carat pink diamond ring to Jennifer Lopez. Mariah Carey’s Diamond Engagement Ring contains a 10.02-carat Pink emerald-cut diamond, and Penelope Ann Miller was happy to show off her 3.00ct Pink Radiant Diamond Ring at the 2012 Academy Awards.
