Purple Diamonds: A Distinct Entrant in the Range of Fancy Colored Diamonds

Purple diamonds are arguably the newest range to the world colour diamonds and diamonds as a whole. Whilst green diamonds have been making the news in recent times, purple diamonds appear to be the latest. So what are they really? What are purple diamonds? What makes them different? Are they a good value proposition?

In this Education page, we will look at the interesting new entrant into the world of diamonds and specifically the range of fancy coloured diamonds.

What are Purple Diamonds?

The first point to consider is that purple diamonds are diamonds. Like all fancy coloured diamonds (gemstones in the carbon family that feature distinct hues as opposed to shades of yellow), purple diamonds are recognised by the distinct presence of purple, which can vary in terms of the intensity of the hue. Purple diamonds are among the rarest gems in the world, that are closely related to the world of red and pink diamonds, notably the red ones.

Note these coloured gemstones are among the rarest in the world. And with good reason, for interestingly purple diamonds are sourced from predominantly the same parts of the world that red and pink diamonds are sourced from. Notable here is the Argyle diamond mines of Western Australia, where many of these gemstones are mined from.

This is an important point, since the closing of the Argyle diamond mines in 2020, the supply of these coloured gemstones from purple diamonds but also the pink and red variants, pretty much ended. When it comes to gemstone classification, things are a bit tricky when it comes to this particular gemstone hue, as the colour in purple diamonds falls on a spectrum. With a number of purple shades that fall close to the pink, red or even darker and lighter shades.

As the reader may have guessed, there is a degree of mystery surrounding the colour of the purple diamond. When one looks at the classification of these fancy coloured diamonds, there is a degree of correlation. In fact, an argument made, that pink and purple diamonds, along with red diamonds, considering that they are mined predominantly from the same regions, are interrelated. In fact, they most likely are.

What Gives Purple Diamonds Their Colour

This is an interesting question. Since the debate on what gives fancy coloured diamonds their hue is an ongoing debate. Particularly when it comes to pink and red diamonds. A number of theories are being thrown around as explanations with some closer to the truth than others. With purple diamonds, the current explanation, as this is still early days, is the role of trace minerals. Purple diamonds, like all-natural diamonds, form deep within the Earth’s surface. A process where carbon atoms, thanks to extreme heat and pressure come together to form a particular carbon bond that makes up the crystal structure of the stone. In their natural state diamonds are colourless, the presence of colour results from various external effects, such as radiation in green diamonds, or trace minerals in yellow diamonds.

With purple diamonds, the conventional theories of diamond colour remain popular. Notable the discovery of boron and hydrogen atoms which have led to the explanation that these trace minerals are the main factors. However, this theory is still a work in progress. Purple diamond stones fall on a spectrum verge closer to red diamonds on the side, and to pink diamonds on the lighter side.

The Value of Purple Diamonds

As a part of the fancy coloured family of gemstones, purple diamonds derive their value on the basis of their distinct colour. As colour in diamonds is a rare phenomenon in the world of diamonds, in their pronounced form, purple diamonds have come to be valued for their natural colour. And when it comes to colour in diamonds, as noted certain hues are rarer than others, and purple and the array of violet to darker grape-like shades are found. Gemstones with greater intensity of purple are valued higher.

However, when it comes to purple diamonds, and in fact when it comes to all fancy coloured diamonds in general, their value is a premium one. And with purple diamonds, the presence of the purple hue is a marker of value, and even lighter shades are held in high esteem. So when it comes to purple diamonds the price point is greatly determined by other diamond quality factors: notably the 4Cs. With carat of the diamond, notably with gemstones that hit the 1.00-carat mark fetching hundreds of thousands of dollars

The main determinant of purple diamond value is of course its rarity. Purple diamonds like all fancy coloured diamonds are not common in nature. Leaving aside the few major diamond mining nations, the fancy coloured range of stones is immensely hard to come by. And with the closing of the Argyle mines this supply is further constrained, with only a few purple diamonds sourced from parts of South Africa, Quebec in Canada and Russia. Which would naturally drive up the value of the stones on the basis of demand and supply.

The Meaning and Symbolism of Purple Diamonds

When it comes to gemstones and gemstone jewellery, it is difficult to ignore the meaning that people come to attach to their choice of gemstones. When it comes to purple gemstones, a key selling point is the colour itself: the purple hue has long been identified with nobility. A symbol of status and even royalty the purple gemstone is a natural choice for those who wish to communicate that sense of richness and class. With purple diamonds arguably being the grandest expression of this sensibility. And from a mystical standpoint, the colour purple in the Hindu and Vedic traditions is associated with crown chakra with this centre being representative of wisdom and clarity. For others, the real meaning of purple diamonds lies in their value. This is a true show of luxury and style as they are rare and expensive.

What to Look for When Buying Purple Diamonds?

In coloured diamonds colour is king. With purple diamonds, this holds true as well. However, when it comes to purple diamonds, the key is in the vibrancy of colour. As these gemstones come in an array of shades going, not only from lighter to darker in the violet shades but some verge closer to red. Thus there are a number of shades that fall into this category from purple, to grape and even plum hues. This is understandable as purple is a combination of blue and red.

A key point to consider when going for purple diamonds, such as the main gemstone for a diamond engagement ring, is that they are not widely available in the market, only a few top diamond and diamond jewellery companies trade in them. So new diamond buyers must be aware of fake gemstones and other inferior substitutes that claim to be so. Unless you are prepared to pay a premium price it is likely they are not real purple diamonds.