Welcome back to the Diamonds Hatton Garden blog where we bring you the latest insights from our Hatton Garden jewellers. Following on from our buying guides to various fancy cut diamond shapes, we look to continue with our educational themed blogs with today’s article we look into pink diamonds and how to choose a pink diamond, what pieces of jewellery suit pink diamonds and how these gorgeous rocks are formed.
How are pink diamonds formed?
As we have covered in our previous entry in our fancy coloured diamond series, fancy coloured diamonds form differently from white diamonds. Fancy coloured yellow diamonds, as covered in our post ‘All About Yellow Diamonds, are formed by the presence of nitrogen during their formation – the higher the concentration of nitrogen the deeper, or more vivid the yellow colour. Likewise, other coloured diamonds get their colour in a similar way, through the presence of other trace elements as they form deep beneath the earth’s surface. However, pink diamonds have a rather different story as to how they get their fabulous colour.
Unlike other coloured diamonds, trace elements have never been discovered in pink diamonds – thus making their colour a mystery. It is thought that the colour is created during the huge pressures and heat during its formation which causes the crystal lattice in the diamond to distort and change colour. As the crystal lattice distorts the carbon atoms are displaced which alters how the light is reflected within the diamond causing the stone to be seen as pink.
Where are pink diamonds found?
Natural fancy coloured pink diamonds can be found across the world including in Natural in Brazil, Russia, Siberia, South Africa, Tanzania and Canada. However, the most prized and highly valued of these gorgeous stones can be found at the Argyle Mine in Australia. The pink diamonds from the Argyle mine are considered to be the very finest in quality with the brightest hues, highest saturation and tones that make these luxurious stones so highly sought after. The pink diamonds mined here are cut and polished on site before being sold at tender. Pink diamonds are noted for their densely packed graining planes that produce the pink colour making the saturation the highest out of all the mines in the world.
How rare are pink diamonds and what do they cost?
To give you an idea of just how rare these diamonds are, it is estimated that for every 1 million carats of rough diamonds that the mine produces, just 1 carat is suitable to sell. The size of the pink diamonds produced at the Argyle mine are on average around 1 carat in size and roughly 40 to 50 carats are sold at auction annually. The price per carat for natural pink coloured diamonds can vary between $100,000 to over $1,000,000 per carat. Other factors such as the intensity of the colour, the cut and clarity, amongst other things, influence the price greatly.
How are pink diamonds graded?
As with white diamonds, pink diamonds have a grading system that helps the buyer to understand exactly what they are buying and the characteristics of the stones. Pink diamonds are graded in two, broadly speaking, ways: colour grading and, as you may be familiar with, the 4cs. For more information on the 4c,s read our what are the 4cs of diamonds blog.
Colour. What would the world be without it? More importantly, what would pink diamonds be without it? Pink diamonds are graded for colour which is often made up of secondary and tertiary tertiary colours meaning that they will have two or three shades that make up the overall colour of the diamond. Whilst pure pink diamonds exist it is more common to find, on the certificate, colours such as pink purple, pink brown and pink orange. This refers to the shades within the diamond itself. In addition to the colour make up of the diamond, there is also another colour grading chart used by jewellers and diamond dealers. This chart is a colour intensity chart which shows the saturation of colour within the diamond (it is also used for other colours of fancy coloured diamonds).
The colour intensities are as follows: faint, very light, light, fancy light, fancy, fancy intense, fancy deep and fancy vivid. When buying a pink diamond you will notice that the more intense the colour, the higher the per carat price.
Secondly, and something you may be more familiar with, in the way in which pink diamonds are graded is the 3 Cs of diamonds: cut, clarity, carat and, as we know, colour has its own grading system. When buying a pink diamond it is important to consider the cut, clarity and carat as they not only affect the overall price but also give an indication as to the value of what you are buying.
Carat
The carat of a diamond refers to the size of the stone. The word carat itself is derived from the term carob which was the original size used by diamond traders to measure diamonds many centuries ago, Nowadays, a single carat is equivalent to 0.2 grams. The carat weight of the diamond increases so does the price of the stone itself, this is because the larger the diamond the higher it is priced. When buying a pink diamond, it is important to think of the size you want in relation to your budget.
Clarity
The clarity of a diamond refers to how clear a diamond appears internally and should not be confused with the colour of a diamond. Nearly all diamonds contain blemishes (small imperfections) within the inside and outside of the stone. Imperfection on the inside of the stone are known as inclusions and those on the surface are known as blemishes. Clarity essentially refers to the level in which these inclusions or blemishes are present within a polished stone. The clarity of a diamond is graded on a 11 point scale and is measured by taking into the account the amount, size, colour, reflectivity, and position of every flaw visible under 10x magnification. The clarity scale is as follows:
Visible only under magnification: FL (Flawless), IF (Internally Flawless), VVS1 (Very, Very Slightly Included 1), VVS2(Very, Very Slightly Included 2), VS1 (Very Slightly Included 1), VS2 (Very Slightly Included 2), SI1 (Slightly Included 1),visible to the naked eye: SI2 (Very Slightly Included 2), I1(Inclusions 1), I2(Inclusions 2).
The better the clarity, closer to FL, the clearer the diamond and thus a higher price. Clarity is important within diamonds as it causes the fire or sparkle inside them. The clearer the diamond the more fire it is said to possess.
Cut & Shape
The cut of a regular diamond is of great importance to white diamonds as the cut causes, much like clarity and colour, the light to be refracted inside the diamond causing its sparkle. With fancy coloured diamonds, the cut is seen to maximise the intensity of the colour When buying a pink diamond it is important to look for polish and symmetry as they showcase the skill of the cutter and the overall look of the diamond. With coloured diamonds it is extremely rare to find a round shaped one. Simply because the shape does not lend itself to maximise the colour of the diamond. When buying a pink diamond, the most popular shapes you will come across will be radiant, pear and cushion as these shapes help to distribute the light and maximise the colour of the diamond.
What to look at before buying a pink diamond?
The most important thing, and we cannot stress this enough, to look at when buying a pink diamond is to check that it has a GIA (Gemological Institute of America) certificate. The GIA are the World’s foremost authority on the grading of diamonds and are internationally respected. Essentially, they set the standard in the grading of diamonds. The certificate will contain technical specifications relating to the diamond such as its cut, clarity, colour and other factors such as number, shape and measurements. Whilst other diamond grading authorities exist, the GIA is the most important one in the world and we would recommend that, when buying a pink diamond, you only consider GIA certified pink diamonds.
What are the price of pink diamonds?
Price with pink diamonds is related to the above gradings and colour. The larger the pink diamond the more expensive the stone will be. This is because the larger the stone the rarer it is. Indeed, pink diamonds are incredibly rare as it is and to find large ones is extremely rare. Likewise, prized for their colour, the intensity of the colour of a pink diamond, and all naturally fancy coloured diamonds, increases their price. This means that a 1 carat fancy deep will be more expensive than a 2 carat faint pink diamond. In recent weeks, the famous aRgyle mine in Australia has ceased production. This break is to expected to last around a year and has led to an increase in prices by around 30% as many seek to buy punk diamonds.
What types of jewellery suit pink diamonds?
It goes without saying that pink diamonds are one of the most versatile of all diamonds.As with all coloured and white diamonds, there is no specific item of jewellery that best suits the colours, moreso it is more the choice of the individual and their tastes. One aspect to consider it the choice of metal used in the setting of the diamond then work from there to decide what piece of jewellery you are keen on. Typically the best diamond setting for a pink diamond has to be a white metal setting. White gold, platinum or silver works well as it provides the perfect contrast. This helps to bring out the colour and make more of a statement. In terms of the cut of the stone, it is incredibly versatile, so feel free to experiment with options that express your individuality. You can also opt for other stones in the setting to make that pink colour really pop. Whilst pink diamond engagement rings are the most popular use of these beautiful diamonds, diamond earrings, diamond necklaces and diamond bracelets all can work wonderfully.
Whichever type of pink diamond that you choose, our team of jewellery designers and experts have assisted generations of clients for more than 40 years. Contact our team via harel@diamondshg.co.uk or call +44 7951 060238 for more information and to arrange your appointment. Alternatively, explore our selection of fancy coloured diamonds for sale and if you are looking to buy fancy Pink diamond jewellery contact our team as well as viewing our latest Diamond engagement rings in Hatton Garden. Or contact our team to sell diamonds in London.