Pink Lab Diamonds — A Rare and Modern Christmas Gift with Heart
The Biggest Challenge with Christmas?
To make it different enough to be memorable, while still holding on to the traditions that make Christmas feel like Christmas.
There’s no getting around the fact that gift-giving is a big part of the season. Finding something unique — something your loved ones don’t already have — is often the key to making Christmas truly unforgettable.
Throughout November, I’m sharing jewellery gift ideas that are special enough to mark a moment and timeless enough to wear all year round. Each post will also include a simple way to modernise your Christmas traditions while keeping their meaning.
First up — Pink Diamonds.
Why Pink Lab Diamonds Feel So Special
Pink lab diamonds, though man-made, are still incredibly rare — and each one is unique. The exact shade that forms during creation is unpredictable, producing a spectrum of blush tones and rose hues. Even natural pink diamonds remain partly mysterious to experts.
Most diamonds aren’t pink because of a trace element. In fact, 99.5% of mined pink diamonds owe their colour to changes in their internal structure caused by immense heat and pressure deep within the Earth.
Dr. Christopher M. Breeding, Senior Research Scientist at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), explains:
“We know that plastic deformation is associated with the vast majority of diamonds with these colours, but we still do not know the actual atomic structure of the defect causing the colour.”
Recently, a diamond discovered in Botswana — half pink and half white — gave scientists a glimpse into what was happening 100 miles below the surface millions of years ago. Dr. Sally Eaton-Magaña of the GIA said:
“The pink section likely was initially colourless and then plastically deformed, perhaps by a mountain-forming event millions of years ago, resulting in its pink colour, with the colourless section forming at a later time.”
The diamond formed in two stages, with the pink half arising first. (Image credit: Tebogo Hambira/GIA)
How Lab-Grown Pink Diamonds Are Created
A pink lab diamond can form when a diamond contains a trace of nitrogen, which creates a small “vacancy” in its carbon structure — a feature also found in nature. As Dr. Eaton-Magaña explains:
“These nitrogen-vacancy pinks comprise about one half of one percent of the natural pinks in the GIA database.”
When these natural diamonds or lab diamonds are then subjected to just the right combination of irradiation and heat, they transform into their signature pink hue. If the pressure or temperature is too high, the stone can turn brown instead — which makes the perfect pink particularly rare, even in a lab.
A Beautiful Balance of Luxury and Accessibility
While natural pink diamonds command astronomical prices — sometimes tens of millions of dollars — lab-grown pinks offer the same breathtaking beauty at a fraction of the cost. They’re more expensive than white lab diamonds due to their complex creation, but far more attainable than natural pinks.
| Diamond Name | Carat Weight | Colour Grade | Clarity | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CTF Pink Star | 59.60 | Fancy Vivid Pink | Internally Flawless | $71.2 million |
| Williamson Pink Star | 11.15 | Fancy Vivid Pink | Internally Flawless | $57.5 million |
| Graff Pink | 23.88 | Fancy Intense Pink | Internally Flawless | $46 million |
| The Eternal Pink | 10.57 | Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink | Internally Flawless | $34.8 million |
| Spirit of the Rose | 14.83 | Fancy Vivid Purple-Pink | Internally Flawless | $26.6 million |
Why We Love Them
Pink lab diamonds have the strength, brilliance, and sparkle of a diamond, but with a romantic blush that feels full of life. Some shades resemble morganite, but pink diamonds are harder, brighter, and easier to care for.
Morganite, being lipophilic (oil-attracting), can appear cloudy when worn, needing frequent cleaning. Pink lab diamonds, by contrast, stay clear and luminous with minimal care — perfect for everyday wear and forever moments.
They make a wonderful gift for someone who loves diamonds but doesn’t yet own a pink one, or for anyone drawn to the idea of something rare, modern, and meaningful. A pink diamond engagement ring, for instance, is a striking choice for someone who likes tradition with a twist.
A Thoughtful Twist on Christmas Traditions
This year, if you want to make Christmas feel a little different, try replacing traditional cards with a voice or video message.
One of my happiest memories is a voicemail from my gran singing “Happy Birthday” to me — a small, spontaneous moment I still treasure years later. These kinds of personal messages cost nothing, mean everything, and don’t end up in the recycling bin come January.
In the End
Whether it’s through jewellery or gestures, what makes Christmas unforgettable isn’t repeating things out of obligation — it’s about being thoughtful. A pink lab diamond captures that beautifully: something strong, full of light, and touched by love.