Some 90 per cent of the world’s pink diamonds originate from the Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia, with the most sought‐after highly prized for their strong saturation and cooler tones. Since the closure of the mine in 2020, the value of these diamonds has been appreciating dramatically, drawing the fascination of enthusiasts and investors alike. In response, Singapore‐based jewellery retailer MUS Zenith Affair (MUS.za) recently presented its Argyle Pink Diamonds Signature Tender collection to private clients. MUS.za founder Esther Ho gives a quick primer on the unique, and increasingly rare, gemstone.
Why are pink diamonds so desirable and valuable?
Their unique colour is no doubt a reason. Most naturally coloured diamonds are created when trace elements interact with the carbon atoms during the diamond’s formation, but pink diamonds get their colour from distortion in the diamond’s crystal lattice, created by intense heat and pressure from all directions after the stone’s formation. This displaces carbon atoms from their normal configuration and alters the qualities of light reflected by the diamond, thereby allowing us to observe the stone as pink. By nature of their complex molecular structure, pink diamonds take up to three or four times longer to polish than white diamonds, and are priced, on average, 20 times higher than their white counterparts.
The prices for Argyle Pink diamonds can range from US$500,000 (S$676,500) per carat for the less intensely coloured ones, up to over US$1 million per carat for the vividly hued ones. The Argyle Diamond Mine produced only around 60 pink diamonds annually, which makes them extremely rare and even more desirable.
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How do we distinguish between pink diamonds and Argyle pink diamonds?
Every Argyle diamond comes with an Argyle certificate. I recommend going to a professional and trusted jeweller if you wish to purchase an Argyle pink or red diamond, to be safe.
How has the demand for Argyle pink diamonds evolved?
I’ve noted an increase in both interested buyers and auctions held for buyers keen to secure an Argyle pink diamond—not surprising, given that their value has been appreciating exponentially since the closure of the Argyle Diamond Mine.
Any advice you’d like to give to those interested in investing in Argyle pink diamonds?
Always make sure that the pink diamond comes with an Argyle certificate—there are many kinds of pink-hued gems and pink diamonds, so it’s important to be extremely careful. Argyle pink diamonds are less readily available and are thus much more valuable compared to other gemstones, so they’re a worthy investment.
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