Prettier in Pink: Complete Guide to Buying Pink Diamonds

Brief History of Pink Diamonds

Pink diamonds were first discovered in India during the early 17th century, in the Kollur mine within the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, which was part of the legendary Golconda kingdom. The famed Daria-i-Noor ("Sea of Light"), a pale pink diamond weighing about 186 carats, is one of the largest and most famous diamonds from this period. In the 20th century, Australia became the leading source of pink diamonds with the discovery of the Argyle mine in 1983, which produced over 90% of the world's supply of natural pink diamonds. Howeverꦐ, the Argyle mine closed in 2020, significantly reducing the global supply. Argyle pink diamonds come with their own report and provenance certificate with their own color grading details. Pink diamonds are also found in India, South Africa, Canada, Russia and Brazil but primarily still come from Australia.

Unlike other colored diamonds, pink diamonds get their color from chemical disturbances in the earth during their formation process. The varied colors originate from trace elements that interfere with the carbon crystal formation within the diamond. There are no trace elements found in pink diamonds. Instead, the cause of the pink hue is thought to be caused by a distortion in the diamond’s crystal lattice, created by intense heat and great pressure after the stone’s formation in the earth. This distortion displaces many carbon atoms from their normal positions and alters the qualities of light reflected by the diamond – resulting in pink color. This extraordinary natural phenomenon has given rise to some of the world’s most sought-after diamonds, including 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:The Desert Rose Diamond, a magnificent pear-shaped Fancy Vivid Orangy Pink diamond weighing 31.68 carats. Sotheby’s is proud to present this rare gem at its upcoming exhibition, 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:Beyond the World's Rarest Diamonds, taking place on April 9-10, 2025, in Abu Dhabi.

Pink Diamond Color Grading System

Color is the most important factor when grading pink diamonds. The attributes for color include Hue or primary color and secondary colo🐎r. Tone refers to the lightness or darkness of the diamond color. Pink diamonds can range from very light to dark tones with medium tones generally being the most desirable. Saturation measures the intensity of the color.

GIA Pink Diamond Color Grade Scale

Faint
Very Light
Light
Fancy Light
Fancy
Fancy Intense
Fancy Vivid
Fancy Deep

Pink diamonds often come with a secondary hue including: Purplish Pink (most popular), Brownish Pink, Orangish Pink, Reddish Pink, Grayish Pink and Yellowish Pink (very rare).

Pink diamonds are also graded on a clarity scale similar to white diamonds from Flawless to Included. Cut grading is also similar to white diamonds including the proportions, symmetry a🀅nd polish. The most popular fancy shape♐s for pink diamonds include cushion, radiant, oval, and pear, as these enhance the color and minimize waste during cutting. Carat weight is also the same as white diamonds. Sotheby's recommends only buying pink diamonds with GIA certifications. Pink diamonds weighing more than 1 carat are very rare since only about 0.01% of all diamonds that are mined are naturally pink.

Favorite Pink Diamonds Sold at Sotheby's

Every year, Sotheby's has the opportunity to sell some of the rarest pink diamonds at often record breaking prices. Diamond collectors adore pink diamon🅘ds for their rarity but also what they represent including beauty, love and links to royalty and celebrity. The value of pink diamonds have also consistently appreciated over time with further acceleration caused by the 2020 closure of the Argyle mines.

Take a closer look at our favorite pink diamonds in 20💖24.

Fancy Intense Purplish Pink Diamond 7.00 Carats $3.4 million

Sotheby's sold an emerald cut fancy intense purplish pink diamond 7.00 carats, natural color and internally ಌflawless for $4.3 million in December. Emerald cut pink diamonds are rare since there is less waste when cutting a diamond into a pear, radiant or cushion cut. Pink diamonds with Fancy Intense rating are also highly 𝓰desired by collect💃ors since the color is more saturated and deeper and more obvious pink hue.

Emerald Cut Fancy Orangy Pink Diamond 12.52 Carats $3.2 milion

Sotheby's sold an 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:Fancy Orangy Pink Diamond for 2.8 million CHF ($3.2 million). The 12.52 carat emerald cut pink diamond sold for 4x the high estimate of 800,000 CHF. The GIA certificate states the pink diamond ring is Fancy Orangy Pink, Natural Color, VVS2 Clarity. Most pink diamonds are pear, radiant or cushion cut since it results ඣin less waste during cutting. Few pink diamonds of this size are emerald cut since step cut diamonds require very high clarity to result in a beautiful finished diamond. This impressive pink diamond ring attracted seven bidders resulting in the impressive final price performance.

Round Very Light Pink Diamond Pendant 16.73 Carats $1.4 million

Sotheby's sold a 168开奖官⛎方开奖网站查询:Round Brilliant Cut Very Light Pink Diamond for 1.3 million CHF ($1.4 million) in Novembe🌳r. The 16.73 carat pink diamond is Very Light Pink, Natural Color, VVS1 Clarity, Excellent Polish and Symmetry and a Type IIa diamond. The size of the pink diamond along with the Type IIa classification made this diamond highly prized.

Pink diamond ring — Cut Cornered Rectangular Mixed Cut Fancy Orangy Pink Diamond 5.02 Carats, Natural Color, VVS1 Clarity, Type IIa Diamond

Fancy Orangy Pink Diamond 5.02 Carats $684,000

In December Sotheby's sold a cut cornered rectangular mixed cut 1♏68开奖官方开奖网站查询:fancy orangy pin🦂k diamond 5.02 carats for $684,000. The diamond is natural color, VVS1 clarity and classified as a Type IIa diamond. The diamond is set in 18 karat pink ꦍgold with 0.55 carats of accenting white diamonds that are F-G color and VS clarity.

Pair of Fancy Vivid Purple-Pink Diamond and Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink Diamond Earrings 2.35 Carats, 4,200,000 HKD

In December 2024, Sotheby’s sold a pair of e🦄arrings featuring a cushion-shaped fancy🅰 vivid purple-pink diamond weighing 1.31 carats and a cushion-shaped fancy vivid purplish pink diamond weighing 1.04 carats for 4,200,000 HKD. The dia🎉monds exhibit exceptional saturation and brilliance, set in a delicate design with post and butterfly fittings.

Pear Shaped Fancy Pink-Purple Diamond 3.06 Carats $500,000

Sotheby's sold a 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:Pear 🅘Shaped Fancy Pink-Purple 𒀰Diamond for 445,500 CHF ($500,000) in May. The 3.06 pink diamond GIA report states the diamond is Natural Color, VS2 Clarity.

Pear Shaped Very Light Pink Diamond 10.19 carats $430,000

Sotheby's sold a 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:pear shaped very light pink diamond for 3,360,000 HKD ($430,000) in October. The pink d𝐆iamond is 10.19 carats and the GI𒁏A report states the diamond is also Natural Color, SI1 Clarity. Pink diamonds that are over 10 carats are very rare and desirable by collectors.

Pink Diamond Price

The price of natural pink diamonds varies widely but in general are priced significantly higher than comparable clarity and carat weight wh🌞ite diamonds. Only about 0.01% of all diamonds that are mined are naturally p൩ink. The closing of the Argyle mine in 2020 has significantly reducing the global supply, resulting in higher prices for top quality pink diamonds of all sizes.

The most expensive pink diamond to ever sell was sold by Sotheby's in 2017 for $71 million. The 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:Pink Star is a 59.60 Carat Internally Flawless Fancy Vivid Pink diamond. Mined by De Beers in Africa in 1999, the 132.5-carat rough diamond was meticulously cut and polished over a period of two years and transformed into a stunning gemstone, thanks to Diacore. The 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:five most expensive pink diamonds sold at Sotheby⛄'s have ranged in price from $71 million to $27 million.

Pink diamonds at the lower end of the color grade around 1 carat are often priced between $15,000 to $20,000. Pink diamonds around 1 carat at the high end of the color grade can start close to $30,000. Sotheby's sold a Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink Diamond 0.88 Carats, Natur🐽al Color, I1 Clarity for $35,000 in 2024. The price for pink diamonds 2 carats and above can range widely but generally st💧art at over $100,000 for diamonds on the medium to lower quality gradi🦩ng scale and can exceed $400,000 for higher quality grade pink diamonds.

Buy and Selling Pink Diamonds at Sotheby's

Sotheby's often has impressive pink diamonds available at auction, including fancy intense and fancy pink diamonds. If you don't want to wait until the next auction, Sotheby's also has a curated selection of high quality 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:pink diamonds available for immediate purchase. If you would like to source a special High Jewelry pink diamond ring or other pink diamond jewelry, a salon specialist would be happy to assist. Sotheby's also provides custom high jewelry services and custom engagement ring services with loose pink diamonds. Sotheby's is able to source rare and impressive pink diamonds from its global supplier network so contact a salon associate or specialist for more details. Sotheby's is always sourcing the most exquisite pink diamonds.