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1. Price Growth

Over the past year, Australian pink diamonds have increased in value by an average of 18.6%, reaching up to 28% in rarer types. In comparison, non-certified pink diamonds have only grown by 1%—and that growth occurred back in 2019.

These figures come from the Fancy Color Research Foundation (FCRF), a respected source tracking global wholesale diamond prices. The data shows that Australian pink diamond certification directly correlates with stronger price performance, making them the preferred choice for serious investors.

2. Certified Pink Diamonds vs. Origin Pink Diamonds

Although 90% of the world’s pink diamonds originate from the Argyle mine, only a small fraction are cut, polished, and certified by Argyle itself. These diamonds are laser-inscribed with a serial number and receive an official Argyle certificate, proving their authenticity.

The diamonds that don’t meet these high standards are sold at auction as rough stones. Since they are cut and polished elsewhere, they lack official certification, can’t be formally colour-graded, and sell for much lower prices.

Even if they appear visually similar, uncertified diamonds don’t carry the same prestige, rarity, or resale value.

3. Certified DNA vs. Non-Certified DNA

Pink diamonds fall into two types based on their chemical composition:

Type IIa: Found in Africa, Brazil, Russia, and India. These diamonds tend to be larger but often exhibit weak colour saturation, brown or orange overtones, internal graining, and poor transparency. They may also lose their pink intensity in daylight.

Type Ia (Argyle): Found primarily in Australia’s Argyle mine. These are smaller but have strong colour saturation, cool magenta tones, and stable colour regardless of lighting. Their structure makes them far rarer and more valuable.

4. Traceable Rarity

Only certified pink diamonds come with a unique serial number that links them to the mine's database. This traceability gives buyers confidence in the diamond’s origin and rarity—an essential feature now that the Argyle mine is closed.

In contrast, non-certified pink diamonds are still being mined globally and will continue to enter the market in large quantities. Without certification or formal tracking systems, they cannot be verified or valued as precisely, making them far less appealing for long-term investment.

You can trace the rarity of Australian diamonds via the Argyle Pink Diamonds website. Click here to find out more.

5. True Colour vs. GIA Colour Grading

The Argyle grading system is far more precise than the GIA system when it comes to pink diamonds.

GIA assigns grades based on visual comparisons in a controlled environment but only uses seven levels of colour saturation. It doesn’t consider subtle secondary tones or light interaction, which are crucial in pink diamonds.

Argyle, by contrast, uses 32 distinct levels of colour saturation and matches each diamond to an exact reference stone. This results in a more consistent and accurate valuation of a pink diamond’s true colour and worth.

Because of this, GIA grades alone are often insufficient for valuing pink diamonds—especially when compared to the comprehensive Argyle system.

Unmatched Growth, Rarity & Trust: Certified Pink Diamonds

Certified pink diamonds are a proven high-growth, low-supply investment asset. Their unique certification, traceability, intense colour, and rarity make them far superior to uncertified pink diamonds or those graded solely by GIA. As the supply of certified diamonds ends, their value is only expected to grow—cementing their place as the gold standard in pink diamond investment.

For more detailed information about the differences between certified and non-certified pink diamonds, check out the full report by Diamond Market Equity.