Pink Diamonds: The Questions You Actually Ask Us
Every time we bring out the pink diamonds, the same thing happens. Someone leans in, looks intently at a stone and asks a question they’ve clearly been saving up.
We love it. There’s no such thing as a silly question when you’re looking at one of the rarest gems on earth. So we’ve gathered the questions we hear most across our Sydney (Warriewood and Penrith) stores and answered them properly, with no jargon and no pressure.
“Why are they so small?”
This is the one we hear most, and it’s a fair question. Natural pink diamonds almost always come out of the ground small. Many of the pinks we work with are well under a carat, with some of them a fraction of that.
Size isn’t really the point with a pink, though. The colour is. A tiny pink with beautiful saturation will catch more eyes across a room than a much bigger stone ever could. It’s the rarity in your hand that makes it special.
“What actually makes pink diamonds, pink?”
It isn’t a dye or a trace element. Deep underground, enormous pressure distorted the diamond’s crystal structure as it formed. That distortion changes how the stone absorbs light, and the result is pink.
In other words, the colour comes from a lucky accident billions of years in the making. Nobody fully understands why it happened to these particular diamonds, which only adds to the romance.
“Is it true they don’t mine them anymore?”
The world’s main source of pink diamonds was the Argyle mine in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. It produced the overwhelming majority of the world’s pinks, and it closed in 2020.
No new Argyle pinks are coming out of the ground. Every one in existence today is already out there, which is a big part of why collectors pay such close attention to them.
“What does ‘6P’ or ‘4PR’ on the certificate mean?”
Argyle pinks are graded on their own scale, and once you know the code it’s easy to read:
- The number is the colour intensity. It runs from 1 (the deepest, richest colour) to 9 (the softest, palest blush).
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The letters describe the hue:
- PP: purplish pink
- P: pink
- PR: pink rosé
- PC: pink champagne
So a 6P is a pure pink of medium-soft intensity. A 4PR is a richer pink with a rosé undertone. Any letters after that, like VS2 or SI1, describe the stone’s clarity, just like any other diamond.
“Can I wear a pink diamond every day?”
Yes. A pink diamond is still a diamond, so it’s every bit as hard and hard-wearing as a white one.
What matters most is the setting. Our jewellers design settings that protect the stone while still letting the colour shine, so your pink can come out to brunch, not just to the big events.
“Will the colour fade?”
A natural pink’s colour is part of the diamond’s structure. It isn’t a coating that wears off, so it doesn’t fade or wash out over time.
The one thing that dulls any diamond is everyday grime: hand cream, sunscreen, and life in general. That’s what our free lifetime cleaning and inspection is for.
“How do I know it’s real?”
Natural pink diamonds have lab-grown and treated lookalikes, so paperwork matters. Certification from a respected grading body confirms what you’re buying, with many Argyle pinks having their own documentation.
Ask to see the certificate, and ask us to walk you through it. We’re happy to explain every line.
“Should I go rose gold, yellow gold or white gold?”
It depends on the look you’re after:
- Rose gold warms the pink and makes it look even more saturated.
- White gold or platinum gives crisp contrast that makes the colour pop.
- A halo of white diamonds makes a small pink look bigger and brighter.
There’s no wrong answer, only the one that feels like you. This is where sitting down with one of our jewellers to design something custom pays off.
“Can I put a pink diamond in my engagement ring?”
Absolutely, and it’s one of our favourite ways to use them. A pink doesn’t have to be the centre stone to steal the show. Some of the most meaningful rings we make keep their pink a little more private.
- On the side: a pink set into the shoulders or alongside the centre stone gives a flash of colour that catches the light as your hand moves.
- Hidden underneath: we can tuck a pink into the gallery or under the setting, where only the two of you know it’s there. Think of it as a little secret you get to wear every day.
Many of our clients love the hidden option because it turns the ring into something personal. It might mark a favourite colour or a promise that’s nobody else’s business. Their friends see a stunning engagement ring, and they see the story behind it.
Because pinks are naturally small, they’re perfect for these kinds of details. Our jewellers design and handcraft these rings in our Penrith jewellery workshop, so everything is made to suit you, from where the pink sits to how much of it peeks out.
“Can you add a pink to a ring I already own?”
Absolutely, and it’s one of our favourite things to do. We remodel existing and inherited pieces all the time. Tucking a pink into a family ring is a beautiful way to give it a new chapter without losing what made it meaningful.
Bring it in and we’ll take a look at what’s possible.
“Are pink diamonds a good investment?”
We’d be fibbing if we said people don’t ask this, especially with a number of clients using them as investments. Pink diamonds are rare, and they’re no longer being mined at Argyle. That’s why collectors have paid close attention to them in recent years.
We’ll be straight with you, though: we’re jewellers, not financial advisers. Our advice is to buy a pink because you love it. If it becomes a treasured heirloom that also increases in value, that’s a lovely bonus.
“Do I need a huge budget?”
Not necessarily. Pinks range widely in price depending on size, intensity and clarity. A delicate pink accent in a pendant or stacking ring can be far more achievable than people expect. Lay-by and Zip Pay are also available to help spread the cost.
Tell us what you’re comfortable with and we’ll show you what’s beautiful within it.
Still curious?
That’s the best way to be. If you’ve got a question we haven’t answered here, come and ask us in person. The pinks look even better in real life, and no photo has ever done them justice. Visit us in Penrith or Warriewood, or call to book a private viewing.
At York, we’ve spent over 50 years helping Sydney fall in love with rare and remarkable stones. Pink diamonds just happen to be our favourite way to prove it.
This article is general information only and does not constitute financial advice.