Pink diamonds have become one of the world’s most sought-after diamond colours, particularly those from Australia’s renowned Argyle Mine in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. While the exact scientific cause of their pink colour continues to be studied, their beauty, rarity, and allure continue to captivate collectors and diamond lovers around the world.
Unlike many other coloured diamonds, which obtain their colour from trace elements such as boron, nitrogen, or hydrogen, pink diamonds are believed to derive their colour from structural changes in their crystal lattice known as plastic deformation caused by extreme pressure during their formation. While this mechanism is understood, the precise nature of the atomic-level defects involved is still being researched.
Me Jewellery, located on the Central Coast, has access to some of the rarest and finest pink diamonds available. Although the Argyle Mine has now permanently closed, there are still exceptional diamonds available on the market.
If you are searching for something truly special, get in touch with our Pink Diamond Concierge Service and let us know what you are looking for
As previously stated, Argyle Pink Diamonds are graded using the traditional 4Cs of diamond grading, except for the standard white diamond colour scale. Instead, three distinct attributes are used to determine the colour grading of Pink Diamonds.
Hue – The dominant colour of the diamond. Modifying colours can influence hue; for example, a pink diamond may display a purplish or reddish tint.
Saturation – The intensity of the diamond’s colour. In pink diamonds, saturation can range from light pink through to intense and vivid pink.
Tone – The degree of lightness or darkness within the diamond. Tone ranges from very light to dark.
There are also two variations in clarity grading worth noting for investors. Rio Tinto has historically used two different clarity classification systems for Argyle Pink Diamonds. Certificates of Authenticity issued by the Argyle Mine may show clarity grades as either SIAV or P1, P2, P3.
SIAV appears to be a generalised term meaning Slightly Included (Average), rather than assigning a specific SI1 or SI2 grade. The P1, P2 and P3 grades are derived from the older term Piqué, used for diamonds classified as Included. In modern diamond grading terminology, these roughly correspond to I1, I2 and I3. Diamonds graded P3 or I3 contain significant inclusions.
That said, we are discussing exceptionally rare diamonds, where colour rarity is often considered more important than clarity. However, for collectors and investors interested in Argyle Tender Diamonds, clarity remains an important consideration. Of all Argyle Tender Diamonds sold between 1990 and 2014, only 1.8% were graded VVS, 13% were graded VS, while approximately 85% were graded SI.
Colour preference is ultimately subjective; however, Pink Diamonds generally become more valuable as colour intensity increases. The rarest and most highly sought-after colours are typically found in the RED, Purplish RED and Pinkish RED categories.
Argyle colour classifications include:
Genuine Pink Diamonds from the Argyle Mine come with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity for every diamond weighing over 0.08cts, along with their identification number and “A” Logo laser inscribed around their girdle. For diamonds smaller than 0.08cts, their Lot numbers will be supplied and can be traced back to the Argyle mine.
This detailed certification process gives us and you, the customer, peace of mind that you are, in fact, getting the real Australian Pink Diamond.
The Pink Diamonds Certificate of Authenticity cannot be duplicated or replaced. Rio Tinto stopped reissuing them in 2016, mainly to act as a fraud deterrent. Many pink diamonds from the Argyle mine are currently sold without their original certificate due to them being lost or damaged. These Diamonds are often then re-certified by the GIA, who do ‘note’ that the diamond has a previous laser inscription. Written similarly to A123456.
Of note is that the GIA grades Fancy Colour diamonds in their own terminology, and does not use any of the mine’s own diamond grading scale.
In our opinion, a Pink Diamond without its ‘Original Certificate’ would be worth less than one that came with it.
You may have found this page because you are interested in securing a valuable pink diamond for your children, grandchildren, or as part of a long-term wealth portfolio. At Me Jewellery, we can help you source the right diamond. Mark is a qualified gemologist with extensive experience in diamonds and coloured gemstones.
While we do not provide financial or investment advice — that is best left to your accountant or financial adviser — we do specialise in sourcing genuine, high-quality pink diamonds. When purchasing something this valuable, it is important to buy from a trusted jeweller and gemologist, not marketplaces such as Gumtree or eBay.
Get in touch to see what we can source for you. We are direct importers.
We have all heard stories about the next big investment opportunity, and pink diamonds from the Argyle Mine have certainly demonstrated strong market demand and rarity over recent years. Many collectors and investors consider them a unique addition to a diversified asset portfolio.
Me Jewellery can assist with pink diamond education, selection, and secure storage solutions through providers such as Guardian Vaults and Westpac. We also have access to insurance services via Kalins Australia, working alongside Lloyd’s of London.
Analysing years from 2005 to 2018
– Pink Diamonds from the Argyle Mine have gained a Total Appreciation of 361.9% (with a compound annual growth of 12.5%).
– Gold has gained a Total Appreciation of 209%. (with a compound annual growth of 12.5%).
– White Diamonds have gained a Total Appreciation of 27.2%. (with a compound annual growth of 1.2%).
2019 – 2021
While there is no denying that COVID-19 impacted almost every industry, including the diamond trade, the luxury goods market remained relatively resilient and quickly regained momentum. Many high-net-worth buyers were only marginally affected financially, with discretionary spending often redirected toward luxury assets and collectibles.
Over the past 10–15 years, many Pink Diamonds from the Argyle Mine have experienced substantial increases in value, with some appreciating by more than 200%, particularly rarer and larger stones.
In our experience, pink diamonds should be viewed as a long-term holding rather than a short-term investment. Depending on the stone and market conditions, it may take several years before the original purchase costs are recovered when reselling. Larger stones — particularly those above 0.50ct — generally carry a significantly higher entry price and may require an even longer holding period. These are not assets intended for quick turnover or short-term speculation.
We are increasingly seeing buyers diversify their privately funded superannuation portfolios with rare natural pink diamonds. As with most alternative assets, long-term thinking is essential, particularly now that the Argyle Mine has closed.
When sourcing investment-grade pink diamonds, our primary focus is on colour, carat weight, and clarity. Cut is often considered less important from a purely investment perspective unless the diamond is intended to be worn in jewellery. The goal is to buy well, secure rarity, and acquire the diamond at the right price point.
An Australian Pink Diamond represents a rare and finite part of Australia’s natural history. With the closure of the Argyle Mine, these diamonds can no longer be newly sourced from the earth. While laboratory-grown coloured diamonds continue to improve in quality, the unique characteristics, rarity, and provenance of natural Argyle Pink Diamonds remain highly sought after.
Pricing seen at trade auctions over recent years has continued to strengthen, with these increases naturally flowing through into the consumer market.
Colour grades in the 1-2P/1-2PR/1-2PP have become increasingly difficult to source. Even smaller stones in desirable colour ranges — particularly around 0.10ct to 0.22ct — are becoming considerably rarer.
The following article discusses the 2021 Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender, which delivered record-breaking results. Click here for the official News Release from Rio Tinto
We source certified Pink Diamonds from the Argyle Mine from around the world. Over the years, many Argyle Pink Diamonds have travelled far and wide across the global market, making genuine, well-documented stones increasingly sought after.
We source everything from small melee diamonds (under 0.07ct) through to larger investment-grade stones exceeding 1.00ct.
Unlike many retailers offering Argyle Pink Diamonds, Mark is a qualified gemmologist with industry experience and expertise in coloured diamonds. This allows us to provide confidence and reassurance when purchasing a genuine Pink Diamond from the Argyle Mine.
A Fancy Coloured Pink Lab Grown Diamond might be your thing if you are finding that a Pink Diamond from the Argyle Mine is out of your price point. We have lab-grown pink diamonds from $1000, and many that have nearly the same Colour Tones as their naturally mined equivalents.
Search our online inventory - Please select "FANCY".
