Why choose a purple diamond ring

A purple diamond ring is one of the most individual choices in fine jewellery. Purple is rarely seen in diamonds, and a purple diamond ring carries a rich, regal quality that sets it completely apart from a traditional engagement ring. The colour ranges from a soft lilac through to a deeper, more saturated purple, sometimes with a pink leaning tone, and the lighter shades feel delicate and contemporary while the deeper purples carry drama. It suits someone who wants a stone that is genuinely uncommon.

Among the rarest of colours

Natural purple diamonds are extremely rare, rarer than yellow, blue or even most pinks, and a mined purple of any real colour is both scarce and very expensive. Many of the finest came from the Argyle mine in Australia, the same source famous for its pinks and reds, which closed in 2020 and has made these colours rarer still. Pure purples are seldom seen, and most natural stones carry a secondary pink tone. That scarcity is why purple is so prized, and the colour is now achievable as a lab grown stone.

What gives a purple diamond its colour

Purple is one of the diamond colours that comes from a distortion in the crystal structure rather than a trace element, the same kind of plastic deformation that lies behind pink and red. As the stone is reshaped deep underground, the distortion changes the way it absorbs and reflects light and produces the purple we see. The same colour is achieved in a lab grown purple diamond during the controlled growth of the stone.

Why lab grown makes sense for purple

With natural purples so scarce and so costly, lab growing is what makes a purple diamond ring a realistic choice. A lab grown purple diamond offers that unusual and sought after colour with a clear, traceable origin at an attainable price. Lab grown diamonds are created in advanced laboratories using the same processes that form diamonds within the earth. The result is a real diamond, with the same chemical, physical and optical properties as a mined stone, the only difference being its origin. Each diamond is grown under controlled conditions, which makes it fully traceable and conflict free, and removes the environmental impact of mining.

Choosing the shape and setting

Cushion and radiant cuts deepen and concentrate the colour, while round and oval brilliants keep the focus on sparkle. Against rose gold a purple diamond reads soft and romantic, while platinum or white gold makes it crisper and more vivid. A halo of colourless diamonds brightens the stone and deepens the purple at its centre, and shoulder set and trilogy designs add brilliance along the band.

Buying a purple diamond ring from Lily Arkwright

This collection can be viewed by appointment at the London and Manchester showrooms, where a consultant can talk through colour, shape and setting in person. WhatsApp video and virtual consultations are available for anyone who would rather start from home.

Each ring is made to order in platinum or 18ct gold, with free and insured global shipping.