Color is critical in fancy-colored diamonds, so
bringing out the deepest possible color is a measure of the cutter's skill.
The pink color of fancy pink diamonds is actually a light red. Different tone levels of pink can be thought of as similar to the colors achieved by gradually adding water to a red paint. When brown or orange overtones are present, the purity of the red is lost and the color's beauty is diminished.
A major cutting consideration for many colored stones and fancy-colored diamonds is the zoning of color in the rough material. Many fancy-colored diamonds are polished into fancy shapes rather than round brilliants in an effort to minimize weight loss to the rough material, while simultaneously making the color appear as deep as possible. The cutter's skill is measured by his ability to make the diamond's color appear as deep and beautiful as possible when viewed from above. As long as imperfections do not severely affect the beauty of the stone, color is considered more important than imperfections when establishing value.
The fancy pink diamond shown below is from the Argyle mine in Australia. Discovered in 1979, Argyle began commercially significant production in 1983. Large-scale development has continued since, and by 1995 the mine accounted for 40 percent of total world diamond production. Yet because most of these diamonds are of low quality, with many brownish diamonds, Argyle accounts for only 5 percent of world production in monetary terms. Of the diamonds mined at Argyle, the rare fancy pinks are the most important. Only small sizes are found there, rarely exceeding 1.5 carats before cutting, but these stones have had an immeasurable effect in raising consumer awareness of fancy-colored diamonds since the 1980s. The Argyle material has a characteristic purple-pink color with strong bluish overtones.
Although the fancy pink diamond as shown in the photograph on the next page is light in color, it has a beautiful "cherry-blossom" color. The balanced pink and white mosaic pattern seen in this photograph exemplifies the beauty of fancy pink diamonds. This diamond's precise source cannot be determined, but it is probably from India, Brazil, Tanzania, Zaire, Angola, Russia (the Arkhangelsk mine near the Finnish border), or the Premier mine in South Africa.
Ring, Gold
Fancy Pink Diamond 1 pc
1.01 ct
Untreated Diamond 1 pc
1.01 ct
Diamond 52 pc
US $120,000
Name of Mineral : Diamond
Mohs Hardness : 10
Refractive Index : 2.417
Specific Gravity : 3.52
Weight : 6.11 ct
Size (mm) : L 13.9 x W 10.5 x D 6.71
Untreated
Gem Quality
us $600,000
DIAMOND COLOR TREATMENTS
Diamonds that are light brown, light yellow, or colorless may have their colors altered to blue or blue-green by irradiation treatment. If the green material is then heat-treated, it may change to brown, orange, or yellow. Some of the diamonds that have been altered to yellow also have a chance of turning pink. Recently, irradiated red diamonds have also been noted. The photographs show some of the characteristic colors of diamonds that are color-treated. Their uniform coloration gives them an artificial look, and a person experienced in dealing with gemstones can usually tell the difference between natural and artificially induced colors. It is also possible to positively identify natural and treated colors by observing a diamond's absorption spectrum.
Color-treated diamonds are not commonly used in traditional jewelry, but when they are, the buyer must be informed that the diamond has been treated with radiation. Color treating diamonds makes it possible to take relatively low-quality material and alter its color to blue or yellow. If the price of a one-carat, naturally blue diamond were $100,000, then an irradiation-treated blue diamond - even of comparable color - would have a totally different value, costing about $2,000 to $3,000.
Size (mm) : Dia.4.65~4.70 x
D 3.20
Irradiated 
Size (mm) : Dia.4.85~4.90 x
D 3.00
Irradiated 
Size (mm) : Dia.4.75~4.80 x
D 3.00
Irradiated 
Size (mm) : Dia.4.30~4.35 x
D 3.00
Irradiated 
Size (mm) : Dia.5.05 x D 3.20
Irradiated 
Size (mm) : Dia.4.60 x D 3.05
Irradiated
FRACTURE-FILLED DIAMONDS
The diamond shown below has an eye-visible surface-reaching fracture that severely detracts from its beauty. The fracture has been filled with a lead-based glass and is almost completely hidden so that it no longer affects the beauty of the diamond. However, the stone must have originally been a low-quality diamond. By convention, such fracture-filled diamonds are not assigned a clarity grade (a grade reflecting the visibility of imperfections). An untreated stone of clarity I2 (containing inclusions that are easily visible to the unaided eye) can be altered to an appearance where its inclusions become difficult to see with the unaided eye. Compared to naturally high-quality diamonds, however, such altered stones show a noticeable difference in their brilliance. At 10-power magnification, a characteristic "flash" of iridescent color may be seen in the filled fractures of these diamonds. Fracture-filled diamonds have entered the market in the United States, but to date few such diamonds have been reported in the Japanese market. Logically, such stones could be sold if properly disclosed, but each one would have to be confirmed when it re-entered the market. For this reason, the industry must continue to maintain its position not to sell fracture-filled diamonds.
Weight : 0.49 ct
Size (mm) : Dia.5.0~5.1 x D 3.10
Fracture-filled
QUALITY SCALE
FANCY BLUE DIAMONDS
Untreated
UDGING QUALITY AND
HOW TO CHOOSE
A majority of the larger fancy pink diamonds have the traditional light pink "cherry-blossom" color, while smaller ones have the purple-pink color of the Argyle mine material. In either case, supply is very limited, and one must therefore keep in mind that these are extremely high-priced diamonds. Furthermore, any large stones that are available will tend to be ones that are re-entering the market.
More than the depth of the pink color, it is important that it be a pure pink without any brown overtones. Deciding on the size or shape beforehand will only reduce the chances of coming across a beautiful stone. Finding a fancy pink diamond requires patience and flexibility in what you are willing to accept, as well as what you are willing to pay.
Imperfections are not a major point of consideration as long as they do not greatly affect the beauty of the stone. The most important quality factor in fancy pink diamonds is a beautiful color.
The value of a one-carat-size fancy pink diamond of jewelry quality is approximately US $50,000 for the stone alone. (2001)
A GEM OF VALUE
Weight:0.20ct
Size(mm):Dia.3.72~3.74 x D2.30
Untreated
Gem Quality
US$10,000
The 3 quality zones as they appear in the quality scale
Quantity distribution of gems that are polished to 1-carat size
