Natural Purple Diamonds

Purple in natural diamonds is attributed to plastic deformation of the crystal lattice — a mechanism related to pink's colour origin, but producing an absorption profile that transmits purple rather than pink. Pure purple is among the rarest natural diamond colours; the related violet hue arises through a distinct hydrogen-related mechanism, associated chiefly with the now-closed Argyle mine. Saturation is the primary value driver, with Fancy Vivid grades representing essentially collector territory.