What Is a Pink Lab Grown Diamond? Everything You Need to Know

In 2017, a 59.6-carat pink diamond was auctioned for $71.2 million. One stone. No ring, no setting, only the diamond.

So labs figured out how to make the same pink color on purpose: in weeks rather than millions of years. Now, the same blush you'd expect to see only on a billionaire's finger is being seen in regular engagement rings and at regular prices.

Now the first question people have is, is a pink lab diamond actually a diamond or is it some kind of trick to make it look like one? Let's get into it so you know what you would be purchasing.

What Is a Pink Lab Grown Diamond?

Pink lab-grown diamond is a real diamond. It's not fake, not a simulant, and it's not glass with pink dye in it. It is composed of carbon arranged in the same crystal structure as any diamond mined from the earth. It's just as hard, just as durable, and it sparkles the same way.

The only real difference is its birthplace. It is not the one that has been growing deep in the earth over a billion years; it is the one that has been cultivated in a lab in a couple of weeks.

This has been demonstrated several times by gemologists: a laboratory grown diamond is chemically, visually and physically the same as a mined diamond.  It would take some serious lab equipment to differentiate them. Your eyes alone won't do it.

How Are Pink Lab Grown Diamonds Created?

Scientists have two primary methods for growing these stones.

One is CVD or Chemical Vapor Deposition. The diamond seed is put into a hermetically sealed chamber with a carbon-rich gas. When you heat it, that gas breaks apart and the carbon atoms settle on the seed, one layer at a time, to create a complete diamond.

The second one is the High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT). This one is the process of compressing carbon with high pressure and temperature, basically simulating the conditions that diamonds undergo in the Earth.

But wait, neither way makes a pink stone on its own. Colors are applied later, in a separate step. That's where it gets really surprising.

Why Are Pink Diamonds Pink?

Most coloured diamonds can owe their colour to the inclusion of a specific element which was incorporated into the crystal during its formation. Boron delivers blue. Nitrogen is your source of yellow. The pink is different, and to be honest, it's kind of a weird story.

Pink color doesn't come from an impurity at all. It is a result of damage. Specifically, pressure that bends and warps the diamond's crystal structure while it's still forming. It is this internal distortion (they refer to it as plastic deformation) that actually makes the light curve into that pink color that we all adore.

Lab-grown pink diamonds replicate it with a shortcut. First, a diamond is grown with a little nitrogen trapped inside. It is then exposed to radiation and heated to a temperature of 600 °C to 1000 °C. The combination forms a very tiny defect in the crystal called a nitrogen-vacancy center and it is this tiny defect that absorbs wavelengths of light and sends pink light back to you.

Depending on the intensity of the treatment given, the resulting color can be subtle or intense.

Pink Lab Grown Diamond Color Grades Explained

In the case of pink diamonds, color is the game. More important than clarity, more important than cut, even, sometimes, more important than size. Grading labs like GIA and IGI break color down into a scale that runs roughly: 

Faint Pink, Very Light Pink, Light Pink, Fancy Light Pink, Fancy Pink, Fancy Intense Pink, and Fancy Vivid Pink, the richest, rarest, and highest-paying shade.

The price of a stone of the same carat size in Fancy Vivid can be twice or even thrice higher than in Fancy Light. The size is not the main thing here, it's the color.

Benefits of Choosing a Pink Lab Grown Diamond

The price discrepancy is enough to make people switch. The cost of natural pink diamonds can easily range between $50,000 and $200,000 per carat, and very rich colors may fetch well above 700,000 per carat. A lab-grown pink diamond appearing exactly the same may only be a fraction of it and sometimes it can be only a couple of thousand dollars to have a full carat.

There's also the size factor. You're paying so much less per carat that you can buy a bigger, bolder stone than a smaller stone that fits natural diamond pricing.

Mining a diamond disturbs a lot of land. Growing one in a lab avoids all of that and that's important for many people today.

You're not cutting back on paperwork either. Both GIA and IGI appraise and certify lab-grown colored diamonds, and you still have authentic documentation to show for your purchase.

How to Evaluate Pink Lab Grown Diamond Quality

Purchasing a pink diamond is not as clear as buying a white diamond, so here's what truly matters.

The first is the intensity of color. Look for even and uniform colour throughout the stone, not patchy areas. If you see some small graining lines under a magnifying glass, do not panic! They are normal and even expected.

Color is doing most of the work here, so clarity isn't as important as it is with white diamonds. A couple of little inclusions will not ruin the overall appearance as long as they are not noticeable to the naked eye.

Quality of cut remains a major factor. When cut well, this stone reflects light, making the pink color more vibrant. A bad cut can render any appearance flat and lifeless even with a great color grade.

How to Choose the Perfect Pink Lab Grown Diamond

You have to start with your budget, and then work backwards. Choose whether you would prefer a small stone of a darker color, or a large stone of a lighter color. Both look gorgeous; it's a matter of taste.

Metal setting is more important than people think. The coolness and softness of rose gold tend to complement lighter pink tones. To add a dramatic touch of bright pink, use a white gold or platinum setting.

Shape is also a factor. Pink color looks fantastic on cushions and oval cuts, as the entire stone will reflect these hues. Emerald and radiant cuts are more effective at displaying clarity, so they are particularly suited to cleaner stones.

Above all, buy from someone who hands you real grading paperwork. A stone with no documentation is a stone you can't verify down the road, whether that's for insurance, resale, or just your own peace of mind.

Common Myths About Pink Lab Grown Diamonds

"They're not original." Nope. They have same chemistry, same crystal, same hardness as a mined diamond.

"The color fades over time." Not true. The pink color it possesses comes from a permanent structural change, not a coating that you can wear off.

“They cannot be certified”. That's also false. These lab-grown pink diamonds are GIA and IGI-certified, with carat, color, clarity, and cut listed.

"They're worthless." Not true either. They hold value differently than natural stones do, and most people buying them are after the beauty and the price tag, not resale speculation.

Conclusion

The jewelry industry is changing, and pink lab grown diamonds are paving the path. They provide an elegant mix of modern science, traditional design, and savvy investments. One does not have to be rich to wear a gorgeous, flushing stone that will turn heads.

Majestic sparkle, confident quality and unbelievable value with a trusted industry partner like ZKZ Diamonds will make it easier than ever to make your own story shine with a sustainable jaw-dropping jewel of luxury.

FAQs

Why pink lab diamonds are cheaper?

Pink diamonds are extremely rare in nature. Lab diamonds are created efficiently in a facility instead of having to spend millions of dollars on deep-earth mining.

Will pink lab diamonds fade over time?

No. The pink color is permanently fixed in the atomic structure of the diamond and therefore it will not change color nor become cloudy.

Can pink lab diamonds be certified?