Purple diamonds are among the world’s rarest naturally coloured diamonds. Only an exceptionally small proportion of all diamonds naturally develop their distinctive purple hues, making them an unusual sight on the international diamond market.

The purple colour is primarily associated with structural changes within the diamond’s crystal lattice, formed under extreme geological conditions deep beneath the Earth’s surface. Unlike several other naturally coloured diamonds, the colour is therefore not necessarily caused by the presence of specific trace elements. The precise cause can vary from one diamond to another and remains a complex area within gemmology.

The colour spectrum ranges from delicate lavender and violet hues to more saturated Fancy Purple and Fancy Intense Purple diamonds. Many purple diamonds display secondary tones of pink, grey or brown, while diamonds with a pure and distinct purple colour are particularly rare.

The combination of natural purple colour, high colour saturation and an attractive size occurs extremely rarely. Larger diamonds displaying a pure purple hue are therefore particularly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs of naturally coloured diamonds.

A significant proportion of the world’s known purple diamonds have historically been associated with the Argyle mine in Western Australia, which was also renowned for its pink and red diamonds. The mine’s closure in 2020 has further limited the supply of some of the world’s rarest naturally coloured diamonds.