Diamonds come in a variety of colors, including clear, yellow, brown, blue, green, black, pink, purple, orange, red, and gray. However, colored diamonds are exceptionally rare, especially natural fancy colored diamonds like pink diamonds. So just how rare are pink diamonds? Let’s take a look.
What makes pink diamonds pink?
The pink color in natural pink diamonds comes from structural irregularities in the diamond’s crystal lattice structure. During the diamond’s formation deep underground, changes to the arrangement of carbon atoms within the lattice produce the pink coloring. It takes very specific conditions to create these structural irregularities, which is why pink diamonds are so incredibly rare.
How rare are pink diamonds compared to other diamonds?
To understand how rare pink diamonds are, it helps to look at the rarity of diamonds in general:
| Diamond Type | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Clear Diamonds | Most common – about 98% of diamonds mined |
| Yellow Diamonds | More rare – about 1.6% of diamonds mined |
| Blue Diamonds | Very rare – 0.0001% of diamonds mined |
| Pink Diamonds | Extremely rare – 0.00001% of diamonds mined |
As you can see, pink diamonds are incredibly scarce compared to other diamond colors. They are considered one of the rarest diamond colors in the world.
Why are pink diamonds so much rarer than other colors?
The specific set of conditions required to produce the irregular lattice structure that gives pink diamonds their color is extremely uncommon. First, the diamond needs enough nitrogen present during its formation to cause structural irregularities. However, too much nitrogen leads to a yellow or brown color. So there needs to be just the right small amount of nitrogen.
Second, the diamond needs sufficient heat and pressure during its growth. Too much or too little and the crystal structure remains normal, without the defects that cause the pink color.
Finally, the nitrogen and heat/pressure conditions must be maintained stably over an extended period of time – on the order of billions of years! Even the slightest changes lead to different colors like purple or grey.
It is estimated that on average, only one in every 100,000 diamonds mined will be a natural pink diamond. That scarcity is what makes pink diamonds so highly coveted and expensive.
Where are pink diamonds found?
While diamonds are mined in many countries around the world, the vast majority of natural pink diamonds are found in just two places:
Argyle Diamond Mine, Australia
This open-pit mine, located in a very remote region of northwestern Australia, was once responsible for producing over 90% of the world’s pink diamonds. It gained fame for its pink diamonds and was the global leader in pink diamond production from the 1980s until the mine closed in 2020. Over its lifetime, the Argyle mine produced over 90% of Australia’s diamonds and was the source of roughly one-third of the world’s natural pink diamonds.
Golconda Region, India
This region of southern India was once the world’s sole source of diamonds. The famous Koh-i-Noor and Hope Diamonds originated here. While India’s diamond mines are now depleted, Golconda still accounts for significant historical pink diamond production. The region’s mines were especially known for crystals with a delicate pink blush.
Notable Historic Pink Diamonds
Some of the most famous pink diamonds were mined centuries ago in India’s Golconda mines. Here are a few legendary named pink diamonds:
The Daria-i-Noor
– One of the largest pink diamonds in the world at approximately 185 carats
– Mined in India’s Golconda region in the 17th century
– Currently part of the Iranian Crown Jewels
The Nur-Ul-Ain Diamond
– Cushion-cut pink diamond weighing around 60 carats
– Also mined in 17th century Golconda
– Originally set in the center of the Taj Mahal’s Peacock Throne
The Agra Diamond
– 28 carat pink diamond mined in Golconda
– Belonged to the Mughal dynasty of South Asia for centuries
– Later brought to England where it disappeared in the 19th century
Notable Contemporary Pink Diamonds
While the Golconda mines have been tapped out for centuries, a few remarkable pink diamonds have been unearthed in modern times:
The Williamson Pink Diamond
– 23.60 carat pink diamond discovered in Tanzania by Canadian geologist John Williamson in 1947
– Donated to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who had it set into a brooch
The Argyle Pink Diamonds
– Rough pink diamonds from Rio Tinto’s Argyle mine represented over 90% of global production since the 1980s
– The largest was 42.92 carats
– Value increased exponentially; became known as the finest pink diamonds in the world
The Pink Star Diamond
– Massive 59.60 carat pink diamond mined by DeBeers in 1999
– Oblong cut diamond sold for record $83 million in 2017
– The largest known fancy vivid pink diamond
Pink Diamond Value
High demand and extreme rarity make pink diamonds one of the most valuable diamond types by price per carat:
| Diamond Color | Average Price Per Carat |
|---|---|
| Clear Diamonds | $3,000 to $9,000 per carat |
| Yellow Diamonds | $6,000 to $15,000 per carat |
| Blue Diamonds | $9,000 to $20,000 per carat |
| Pink Diamonds | $25,000 to $500,000 per carat |
As you can see, pink diamonds command prices up to 50 times higher than clear diamonds and 10 times higher than other natural colored diamonds. This demonstrates just how exceptionally rare and desirable pink diamonds truly are. The difficulty in finding gem-quality pink diamonds ensures astronomical prices for generations to come.
Conclusion
Pink diamonds stand in a league of their own when it comes to diamond rarity. Representing less than 0.001% of global diamond production, the unusual conditions required to produce their romantic pink coloration makes them one of the rarest gemstones on Earth. With the closure of Australia’s Argyle mine in 2020, the world’s primary source of pink diamonds is gone and these jewels are becoming increasingly scarce. For diamond collectors, investors, and romantics, the extreme rarity and beauty of pink diamonds will always make them the peak of preciousness.