Guide to Lab Grown Pink Diamonds
A pink diamond is for life, not just for Valentine’s. Yes, their gorgeous pink tones are romantic, and of course they make an ideal choice for an engagement ring or Valentine’s gift. But there is so much more to them than that.
Real pink diamonds are rare and valuable - making up just 0.1% of the 20 million carats of diamonds that are mined across the world every year. Their strength, beauty and rarity make them so expensive that most of us can only ever dream of seeing one – let alone owning one.
For gorgeous pink diamond jewellery that doesn’t cost the earth, lab grown pink diamonds are an ethical and affordable alternative.
Shop our Pink Diamond Collection.
Interesting facts about pink diamonds:
- Pink diamonds are one of the rarest stones in the world – second only to red diamonds.
- Most of the world’s natural pink diamonds were found at the Argyle mine in Western Australia, which closed in 2020.
Pink Diamonds – a brief history
Pink diamonds were first discovered in India, hundreds of years ago. Admired through history for their beauty and rarity, they became a magical and favoured choice for royal jewellery.
Two of the oldest, largest and most famous pink diamonds known today are Darya-ye Noor and Noor-ul-Ain. These two breathtakingly huge stones – 182 carats and 60 carats respectively – were first documented in the mid 1600s and are currently part of the Iranian Crown Jewels collection.
Queen Elizabeth II herself was gifted a glorious 54.1-carat rough pink stone in 1947, on the occasion of her marriage. She had it cut and polished, and chose to have the flawless fancy pink diamond set into a jonquil-shaped brooch. The piece was rumoured to be one of her favourites, and often wore it at State Functions during her lifetime.
In 1979, the Argyle diamond mine was opened in Western Australia. Previously, pink diamonds had only been found sporadically in mines across Brazil, India, Tanzania, South Africa and Russia.
The discovery of pink diamonds at the Argyle mine changed the industry forever. At its peak, this Australian mine produced 90% of the world’s supply of pink diamonds.
In 2020, the decision was made to close the mine, due to a dwindling supply of diamonds. The final sealed-bid auction for Argyle Pink Diamonds was held in 2021, with each stone selling for a record-breaking price – and causing the international stock for pink diamonds to rise by 30%.
Their increasing rarity makes them increasingly valuable… and increasingly expensive.
With their ethical origins and more affordable price tag, lab grown pink diamonds are a wonderful modern alternative to mined pink diamonds.
What are lab grown pink diamonds?
Lab grown pink diamonds are authentic diamonds that have been grown in a controlled lab environment. Like their natural counterparts, they are real diamonds, the only difference is how they are made.
Most lab grown pink diamonds are created using Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD). To find out more about this process, check out our guide on how lab grown diamonds are made.
How much is a pink diamond worth?
The value of a pink diamond, like white diamonds, is determined by the 4Cs – colour, carat, cut and clarity. However, for fancy coloured diamonds colour is the dominant value factor. Fancy coloured diamonds are colour graded differently to white diamonds, they are assessed based on strength and purity of colour.
The colour scale for fancy coloured diamonds ranges from: Faint – Very Light – Light – Fancy Light – Fancy to Fancy Intense – Fancy Vivid – Fancy Dark – Fancy Deep. Typically, Fancy Intense and Fancy Vivid coloured diamonds are the most valuable.
The Pink Star is the world’s most expensive pink diamond ring – in fact the world’s most expensive jewel. This Type 2a Fancy Vivid pink diamond was auctioned in 2017 for a jaw-dropping £57.1 million. At 59.60 carats, this record-breaking stone is also the largest pink diamond ever sold.
Pink lab grown diamonds are much more affordable – and readily available – than mined pink diamonds. Their more complex creation process, however, means they’re more expensive than a white lab grown diamond of the same size.
Our lab grown pink diamond range
Our collection of lab grown pink diamond jewellery has something for everyone. Whether you prefer a subtle solitaire or are looking for something a bit more bold, we have pink diamond rings, earrings and necklaces to suit you.
The Margot ring is graceful and refined - a classic solitaire ring with a twist. The gorgeous 0.5ct pink diamond adds a whisper of romance, making it an ideal choice for an engagement ring.
Or maybe you’d prefer the Norma ring – an eye-catching emerald-cut ring that’s both flattering and fashionable.
We also stock earrings featuring a gorgeous round cut pink lab grown diamond surrounded by a sparkling halo of white lab created diamonds, and a stunning pink lab grown diamond pendant, encircled by a halo of white lab grown diamonds.
Pretty in Pink (Diamonds)
Lab created pink diamonds are the future of pink diamonds. With the declining availability and spiralling prices of mined pink diamonds, these gorgeous lab created stones will soon be the only way to wear a real pink diamond.
Anyone wanting to add a touch of ethical luxury to their life will love their conflict-free origins and affordable price tag, and the romantic beauty of a lab grown pink diamond makes it a unique choice for an engagement ring and Valentine’s Day gift.