Purple Natural Fancy Diamonds

What gives a natural diamond its purple colour?

Purple natural fancy diamonds owe their colour primarily to plastic deformation of the crystal lattice during formation — the same structural distortion responsible for pink and red diamonds — though trace hydrogen impurities are also linked to violet-purple hues in stones recovered from certain deposits. Unlike yellow or orange diamonds, whose colour is produced by nitrogen substitution, purple diamonds form through a rarer geological mechanism, which is a significant reason they appear so infrequently at auction and in trade. The colour in purple natural fancy diamonds is intrinsic and permanent — it is not a coating, treatment or irradiation effect. Colour intensity is graded on the GIA scale from Faint through Very Light, Light, Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid, and Fancy Deep. Most purple natural diamonds fall toward the lighter end of that spectrum; stones graded Fancy Intense Purple or deeper are genuinely scarce and command considerable premiums accordingly.

How to choose a purple natural fancy diamond: colour, clarity and cut

When selecting a purple natural fancy diamond, colour grade carries more weight than the clarity or cut criteria applied to colourless stones. The primary goal is hue saturation — a Fancy or Fancy Intense purple with a slight secondary modifier such as pinkish-purple or reddish-purple can read more vivid than a paler stone graded as pure purple at a lower intensity. Clarity inclusions are generally more acceptable in fancy-colour diamonds because the body colour itself draws the eye rather than the diamond's transparency. For cut, mixed cuts and cushion shapes are frequently chosen by cutters of purple natural diamonds because these faceting patterns pool colour in the depth of the stone, intensifying the visible hue more effectively than a standard round brilliant. When setting a purple natural fancy diamond into a ring, rose gold in 9ct, 14ct or 18ct tends to complement pink-purple modifiers, while platinum or white gold allows a purer, more neutral showcase of the diamond's true body colour.

How much do natural purple diamonds cost in the UK?

Natural purple fancy diamonds are priced at a significant premium above comparable colourless stones of the same carat weight, reflecting their geological rarity. Price is driven first by colour intensity — Fancy Intense and Fancy Vivid purple stones command multiples of what a Fancy Light commands — and second by the presence or absence of a secondary colour modifier. A pure purple hue is rarer and typically priced higher than a pinkish-purple or grayish-purple of the same intensity grade. Carat weight, cut quality and the certifying laboratory all influence the final figure. For context, Bridebook's 2026 UK average engagement ring spend of £2,247 reflects the mainstream market — a natural purple fancy diamond at even 0.25ct of meaningful colour intensity will typically sit well above that threshold. Loose stones are available to buy individually; when set into one of our rings, our Hatton Garden team will discuss the full cost across stone, metal and setting during consultation.

Buying a loose purple natural diamond: certification and returns

Every purple natural fancy diamond offered here is certified by GIA, HRD or IGI — each of which grades fancy-colour diamonds using a standardised hue, tone and saturation system. The certificate will identify the primary colour, any secondary modifier, the intensity grade, and a confirmation that the colour origin is natural — an important distinction given that some purple diamonds in the market are colour-treated. At President Jewellers, only natural-colour purple diamonds are listed on this page; no treated or irradiated stones are included. Loose stones are dispatched with their original grading report and delivered by complimentary insured UK delivery. Returns are accepted within 30 days, no questions asked, with no exclusions. If a purchased stone is subsequently set into a ring at our Hatton Garden workshop, the ring then carries a lifetime warranty and is hallmarked at the London Assay Office.

Caring for jewellery set with a natural purple fancy diamond

A natural purple diamond, once set, requires no special care beyond standard diamond maintenance — the colour is structural, not a surface treatment, so there is no risk of fading through normal wear. Cleaning with warm water, a small amount of mild soap and a soft brush is sufficient for most settings. The metal chosen for the setting merits consideration: platinum is highly durable and does not require rhodium re-plating over time, making it a practical choice for a ring worn daily. Rose gold in 18ct or 14ct ages gracefully alongside pinkish-purple hues and requires only periodic polishing. Yellow gold in the same carats can introduce a warm background that subtly shifts the visual read of a pure purple stone, so the choice of metal is worth testing before committing. Our Hatton Garden studio offers wax or silver model try-ons prior to casting, allowing the stone-and-metal combination to be assessed in person before the final ring is produced.