Prettier in Pink: Complete Guide to Buying Pink Diamonds
Discover everything about pink diamonds, from rarity and history to buying tips, in this complete buying guide.
Brief History of Pink Diamonds
Pink diamonds were first discovered in India during the early 17th century, in the Kollur mine within the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, which was part of the legendary Golconda kingdom. The famed Daria-i-Noor (“Sea of Light”), a pale pink diamond weighing about 186 carats, is one of the largest and most celebrated gems from this period.
In the 20th century, Australia became the leading source of pink diamonds with the discovery of the Argyle mine in 1983, which produced over 90 percent of the world’s supply of natural pink diamonds. When the Argyle mine closed in 2020, global supply dropped dramatically, increasing scarcity and prices. Today, collectors turn to major auctions for the rare opportunity to acquire these coveted gems.
Adding to this legacy, Sotheby’s Geneva will present The Glowing Rose, a Rare and Magnificent Fancy Vivid Pink Diamond weighing 10.08 carats, at its High Jewelry Sale on November 12, 2025. This cushion-modified brilliant-cut stone—graded Fancy Vivid Pink, Natural Colour, VVS2 Clarity and classified as Type IIa by GIA—epitomizes the extraordinary beauty and rarity that make pink diamonds among the most prized gemstones in the world.
Unlike other colored diamonds, pink diamonds owe their color not to trace elements but to structural distortion within the crystal lattice caused by immense geological pressure and heat. This displacement alters how light is absorbed and reflected, creating the captivating pink hue. This phenomenon has produced some of the world’s most desirable gems, from the historic Daria-i-Noor to modern masterpieces such as The Desert Rose Diamond—a 31.68-carat Fancy Vivid Orangy Pink diamond showcased by Sotheby’s at its Beyond the World’s Rarest Diamonds exhibition in Abu Dhabi in April 2025.
Key Takeaways: Pink Diamonds Overview
| Origin | First sourced from Golconda, India; major supply from Australia’s Argyle mine (1983–2020), which produced 90%+ of pink diamonds. |
| Color & Composition | Pink hue caused by lattice distortion under extreme pressure; color ranges from Faint to Fancy Vivid. |
| Cut & Size | Cushion, radiant, oval, and pear cuts enhance color; stones over 1 carat are extremely rare (<0.01% |
| Treatment | Typically untreated; natural color most valuable. Requires GIA certification and Argyle provenance reports. |
| Certification | GIA grades Faint to Fancy Vivid; Argyle issued unique color grading certificates. |
| Pricing (Secondary) | Prices start around $15K–$20K per carat; top Fancy Vivids can exceed $2M per carat. Sotheby’s record: $71.2M (CTF Pink Star). |
| Collector Appeal | Highly prized for rarity, unique color, and historic provenance; scarcity drives strong demand among collectors. |
Pink Diamond Color Grading System
Color is the most important factor when grading pink diamonds. The attributes for color include Hue or primary color and secondary color. Tone refers to the lightness or darkness of the diamond color. Pink diamonds can range from very light to dark tones with medium tones generally being the most desirable. Saturation measures the intensity of the color.
GIA Pink Diamond Color Grade Scale
- Faint
- Very Light
- Light
- Fancy Light
- Fancy
- Fancy Intense
- Fancy Vivid
- Fancy Deep
Pink diamonds often come with a secondary hue including: Purplish Pink (most popular), Brownish Pink, Orangish Pink, Reddish Pink, Grayish Pink and Yellowish Pink (very rare).
Pink diamonds are also graded on a clarity scale similar to white diamonds from Flawless to Included. Cut grading is also similar to white diamonds including the proportions, symmetry and polish. The most popular fancy shapes for pink diamonds include cushion, radiant, oval, and pear, as these enhance the color and minimize waste during cutting. Carat weight is also the same as white diamonds. Sotheby's recommends only buying pink diamonds with GIA certifications. Pink diamonds weighing more than 1 carat are very rare since only about 0.01% of all diamonds that are mined are naturally pink.
Favorite Pink Diamonds Sold at Sotheby's
Each year, Sotheby’s presents some of the world’s most extraordinary pink diamonds to collectors worldwide. Among these is the upcoming Glowing Rose, a Fancy Vivid Pink Diamond (10.08 carats), to be auctioned in Geneva on November 12, 2025—a Type IIa gem with VVS2 clarity and exceptional color saturation expected to draw significant international interest. The sale follows a series of remarkable results that underscore collector demand for pink diamonds across all intensity grades and sizes.
Fancy Intense Purplish Pink Diamond 7.00 Carats $3.4 million
Sotheby's sold an emerald cut fancy intense purplish pink diamond 7.00 carats, natural color and internally flawless for $4.3 million in December. Emerald cut pink diamonds are rare since there is less waste when cutting a diamond into a pear, radiant or cushion cut. Pink diamonds with Fancy Intense rating are also highly desired by collectors since the color is more saturated and deeper and more obvious pink hue.
Emerald Cut Fancy Orangy Pink Diamond 12.52 Carats $3.2 milion
Sotheby's sold an Fancy Orangy Pink Diamond for 2.8 million CHF ($3.2 million). The 12.52 carat emerald cut pink diamond sold for 4x the high estimate of 800,000 CHF. The GIA certificate states the pink diamond ring is Fancy Orangy Pink, Natural Color, VVS2 Clarity. Most pink diamonds are pear, radiant or cushion cut since it results in less waste during cutting. Few pink diamonds of this size are emerald cut since step cut diamonds require very high clarity to result in a beautiful finished diamond. This impressive pink diamond ring attracted seven bidders resulting in the impressive final price performance.
Round Very Light Pink Diamond Pendant 16.73 Carats $1.4 million
Sotheby's sold a Round Brilliant Cut Very Light Pink Diamond for 1.3 million CHF ($1.4 million) in November. The 16.73 carat pink diamond is Very Light Pink, Natural Color, VVS1 Clarity, Excellent Polish and Symmetry and a Type IIa diamond. The size of the pink diamond along with the Type IIa classification made this diamond highly prized.
Fancy Orangy Pink Diamond 5.02 Carats $684,000
In December Sotheby's sold a cut cornered rectangular mixed cut fancy orangy pink diamond 5.02 carats for $684,000. The diamond is natural color, VVS1 clarity and classified as a Type IIa diamond. The diamond is set in 18 karat pink gold with 0.55 carats of accenting white diamonds that are F-G color and VS clarity.
Pair of Fancy Vivid Purple-Pink Diamond and Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink Diamond Earrings 2.35 Carats, 4,200,000 HKD
In December 2024, Sotheby’s sold a pair of earrings featuring a cushion-shaped fancy vivid purple-pink diamond weighing 1.31 carats and a cushion-shaped fancy vivid purplish pink diamond weighing 1.04 carats for 4,200,000 HKD. The diamonds exhibit exceptional saturation and brilliance, set in a delicate design with post and butterfly fittings.
Pear Shaped Fancy Pink-Purple Diamond 3.06 Carats $500,000
Sotheby's sold a Pear Shaped Fancy Pink-Purple Diamond for 445,500 CHF ($500,000) in May. The 3.06 pink diamond GIA report states the diamond is Natural Color, VS2 Clarity.
Pear Shaped Very Light Pink Diamond 10.19 carats $430,000
Sotheby's sold a pear shaped very light pink diamond for 3,360,000 HKD ($430,000) in October. The pink diamond is 10.19 carats and the GIA report states the diamond is also Natural Color, SI1 Clarity. Pink diamonds that are over 10 carats are very rare and desirable by collectors.
Understanding Pink Diamond Prices
The price of natural pink diamonds varies widely but in general are priced significantly higher than comparable clarity and carat weight white diamonds. Only about 0.01% of all diamonds that are mined are naturally pink. The closing of the Argyle mine in 2020 has significantly reducing the global supply, resulting in higher prices for top quality pink diamonds of all sizes.
The most expensive pink diamond to ever sell was sold by Sotheby's in 2017 for $71 million. The CTF Pink Star is a 59.60 Carat Internally Flawless Fancy Vivid Pink diamond. Mined by De Beers in Africa in 1999, the 132.5-carat rough diamond was meticulously cut and polished over a period of two years and transformed into a stunning gemstone, thanks to Diacore. The five most expensive pink diamonds sold at Sotheby's have ranged in price from $71 million to $27 million.
Pink diamonds at the lower end of the color grade around 1 carat are often priced between $15,000 to $20,000. Pink diamonds around 1 carat at the high end of the color grade can start close to $30,000. Sotheby's sold a Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink Diamond 0.88 Carats, Natural Color, I1 Clarity for $35,000 in 2024. The price for pink diamonds 2 carats and above can range widely but generally start at over $100,000 for diamonds on the medium to lower quality grading scale and can exceed $400,000 for higher quality grade pink diamonds.
Buy and Sell Pink Diamonds with Sotheby’s
Whether you're a seasoned collector or new to the world of colored diamonds, Sotheby’s offers a trusted, seamless way to buy and sell pink diamonds on the secondary market.
Why Choose Sotheby’s?
- Expertly Vetted Selection
Explore rare and iconic pink diamonds, from delicate white gold and diamond bands starting around $4,000 to highly coveted statement rings and one-of-a-kind platinum engagement pieces exceeding $800,000. - Exclusive Global Access
Shop pink diamonds through Sotheby’s auctions and Buy Now marketplace, backed by a worldwide network of collectors and consignors. - Flexible Ways to Buy
Purchase online or in person at our locations in New York, Paris, London, and Hong Kong—or work with a dedicated jewelry concierge to source specific pink diamonds. - Exceptional Value
Every diamond is authenticated and priced by Sotheby’s specialists to reflect true market value, whether it’s a delicate pink solitaire or a rare vintage piece. - Constantly Evolving Inventory
Discover new and historic pink diamonds, with fresh selections added regularly to both auctions and Buy Now offerings.
Ready to Get Started?
- Browse Sotheby’s upcoming jewelry auctions in New York, London, Switzerland, Paris, and Hong Kong
- Shop Sotheby’s Buy Now pink diamonds for instant access to available inventory
- Speak with a Sotheby’s jewelry specialist to consign or request a valuation for a pink diamond
Trust our worldwide network of leading jewelry specialists from a globally renowned auction house established in 1744.
