Natural coloured diamond
Natural Pink Diamonds
One of the rarest colours among diamonds. In most stones pink does not arise from an impurity, but from plastic deformation of the crystal lattice — a physical trace of pressures deep in the earth's mantle. Every stone from 0.30 ct carries an independent GIA certificate and a documented colour origin.
Featured natural diamond
0.53 ct · · VVS2
Cushion
€70,431.00
incl. 21% VAT
From our selection
Selected natural diamonds from our offer
A live selection — each stone is unique and GIA-certified; once sold, it cannot be replaced.
The science
Where pink colour comes from
Colour in a diamond is neither a surface nor a coating — it forms inside the crystal, in its structure. Pink does not come from an impurity, but from a physical deformation of the crystal lattice.
Plastic deformation of the lattice
The colour of the vast majority of pink diamonds does not come from trace-element impurities, but from plastic deformation of the crystal lattice — a physical distortion of the carbon structure caused by immense tectonic pressure deep in the earth's mantle.
Absorption band near 550 nm
This disruption creates a broad absorption band centred near 550 nm that removes green and yellow light and transmits hues from pink to red. It cannot be verified by eye — laboratory examination is required.
Type IIa — hard to reproduce
There is as yet no known way to reliably create this defect by treatment or growth. Pink diamonds tend to be type IIa with very low nitrogen content — the colour comes from structure, not impurity.
GIA intensity scale
Faint → Fancy Vivid
GIA grades coloured diamonds on a separate scale. For pinks the rule is: the higher the saturation and purer the hue, the rarer the diamond. Fancy Intense and Fancy Vivid are markedly rarer than lighter grades.
Three axes of colour
Hue, tone and saturation
Hue
The characteristic colour of the diamond. GIA distinguishes 27 hues; for pinks they range from pure pink to purplish pink. The fewer secondary hues, the purer and rarer the diamond.
Tone
The lightness or darkness of the colour — from soft powder through saturated pink to a darker pinkish red. Tone together with saturation sets the intensity grade.
Saturation
The depth and strength of the colour. For coloured diamonds saturation is the main driver of value — higher saturation means a rarer, more desirable diamond.
„Pink colour cannot be manufactured — it is the physical trace of pressures that took millions of years.“
Arete Diamond gemological view
Honest distinction
Natural × treated × laboratory-grown colour
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| Natural colour | Irradiation-treated colour | Laboratory-grown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause of colour | Plastic deformation of the lattice (an absorption band near 550 nm) formed under immense pressure in the earth's mantle. | A natural diamond whose colour was altered in a laboratory by irradiation (or HPHT). The treatment is stable and legitimate, but must always be disclosed. | A stone created by the CVD or HPHT process. Physically and chemically identical to a natural diamond, but with its own GIA report (LGDR) and a more accessible price. |
| Documentation & disclosure | GIA certificate stating colour origin “Natural”. | Mandatory disclosure; GIA notes the treatment in the certificate and as a girdle inscription. Always declared. | A separate GIA report (LGDR). Always transparently labelled. |
| Value | Highest — the rarest category. | Lower than natural; valued for the accessibility of the colour. | Most accessible. |
Value & rarity
Why pink diamonds are so rare
For coloured diamonds the rule is: the more intense and pure the hue, the rarer the stone. Pink also does not arise from a chemical impurity but from a physical disruption of the lattice that still cannot be reliably reproduced in a laboratory — which makes natural pink diamonds one of the most sought-after categories of all.
90 %+
Argyle mine closure
Australia's Argyle mine accounted for over 90 % of the world's pink diamond production. Its closure in 2020 means the dominant source is gone for good — with no comparable replacement.
1 in 10,000
Geological rarity
Per GIA data, only about 1 in 10,000 carats of polished diamonds shows fancy colour. Deeply coloured diamonds are rarer still by orders of magnitude — and pink is among them.
Type IIa
Structure, not impurity
Most pink diamonds are type IIa with very low nitrogen content. The colour comes from the diamond's structure, not a chemical impurity — which is why it is so hard to reproduce.
What drives the price
For white diamonds the 4Cs decide in the usual order. For coloured diamonds colour comes first — judged through hue, tone and saturation. The factors we watch:
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| Factor | What we look at | Why it matters for price |
|---|---|---|
| Intensity grade | Fancy Light → Fancy Vivid | The strongest price driver; Fancy Intense and Fancy Vivid are markedly rarer than lighter grades. |
| Hue purity | Pure pink vs. modifiers | A pure pink without a brown or grey cast is rarer than modified hues. |
| Weight | Whole and threshold weights | Larger pink diamonds are exceptionally rare; price per carat rises steeply. |
| Cut shape | Cushion, oval | These cuts often bring out the colour better than a classic round brilliant. |
| Colour origin | Natural / treated / laboratory | Three separate price categories — always transparently labelled. |
Compiled by Arete Diamond gemologists for educational purposes. Not financial or investment advice.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions
Consultation
Looking for a particular hue or intensity grade?
We will source a natural coloured diamond to your brief — the saturation, shape and weight you want — always with a GIA certificate and documented colour origin.
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