Natural Pink Diamonds – a Shopper’s Guide
A natural pink diamond is the world’s rarest and most valuable diamond and is completely nitrogen free. The pink was discovered in Australia’s Argyle Diamond Mine in the 1980s and its various shades and uniqueness have continued to dominate the world’s foremost gemologists ever since.
Today, the Argyle mine produces greater than 90% of the world’s pink diamonds, with the remainder mined in India, Brazil and Africa. Less than 1% of all diamonds are nitrogen-free and less than 1% of all quality diamonds are colored. This kind of exclusivity makes the pink not only very precious but very pricey.
Natural pink diamonds come in a range of shades from a light pastel rose pink to raspberry and purple-reds. The diamonds are priced depending upon several factors: hue (dominant color exhibiting a possible modifier), intensity or saturation of the color, brightness and clarity of the color and market availability. The diamonds are graded to indicate color intensity on a scale of 1 to 8, the higher gradation having the paler color.
Some diamonds including natural pinks exhibit a “modifier,” a second color that modifies the main color. Sometimes modifiers are considered negatives and lessen the value of the gem. Other times, the modifier can actually add to the value of the diamond. A purplish-pink diamond, for example, may be more appealing and worth more than a pure natural pink.
In 1989 at the Christie’s auction in New York a 3.14 carat natural pink diamond sold for $1,510,000. In private circles, Argyle Mines has sold pinks for up to $1 million a carat. While these prices are far too high for the average buyer, natural pink diamonds can be found at more reasonable prices.
If a buyer is willing to purchase a light pink hue, a 1 carat natural pink diamond can be found in the U.S. for about $5,000. If the same buyer has his heart set on a Fancy Vivid Pink, however, he can expect to pay over $200,000. The discreet buyer may purchase a natural pink at Argyle Diamond’s annual Pink Diamond Tender auction, when the mine releases a special issue of outstanding pinks that are sold by special bids.
Either way a buyer goes, he can expect to pay more for a natural pink diamond than the traditional white. How much more will be determined by the uniqueness of the gem and the size of his bank account.
Filed under: Articles
