Fancy Intense vs Fancy Vivid Lab-Grown Diamonds: What to Specify for Pink and Yellow
Fancy Intense and Fancy Vivid are the two color grades trade buyers order most in lab-grown pink and yellow diamonds. This guide explains how the grades are built, how size changes the way color reads, what a modifier such as brownish means on a report, and what to put in a wholesale spec, with real stone examples from Liora's current listings.
The short version: Fancy Intense and Fancy Vivid are neighboring color grades on a laboratory-grown diamond's report. Fancy Vivid is the stronger, more saturated one. Both read clearly as color in a setting, and trade buyers ask for them most. The choice depends on how strong your client wants the color, the stone's size, and what you can afford. The safest way to buy is to specify a range, such as Fancy Intense to Fancy Vivid, and judge the actual stones on daylight video.
How the grades are built
GIA, the laboratory whose color terms the trade uses as a reference, grades fancy-color diamonds on three attributes: hue (the basic color, such as pink), tone (how light or dark it is), and saturation (how intense it is). GIA says the grade name describes the combined effect of tone and saturation. That differs from white diamonds, which GIA grades on the relative absence of color.
The grade names on Liora's fancy-color lab-grown diamonds page run Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid and Fancy Deep. Do not read this as a single ladder in which each step is "more". Vivid is about strong saturation; Deep is about a darker tone. They are different directions, and GIA's own list places Fancy Deep before Fancy Vivid. For most pink and yellow orders, the practical decision sits between Fancy Intense and Fancy Vivid.
Liora's page puts it directly: intensity is the grade that sets the price, and most buyers order Fancy Intense or Fancy Vivid because they "read clearly as color in a setting."
Fancy Intense vs Fancy Vivid in practice
| Fancy Intense | Fancy Vivid | |
|---|---|---|
| Color strength | Strong, clearly colored | Stronger, brighter, more saturated |
| Typical use | Statement pieces where the stone should read as color but sit comfortably with a setting | Pieces where the color is the whole point |
| Matching pairs | Two stones in the same grade can still differ | Two stones in the same grade can still differ; compare on video |
| Main risk | The buyer expects Vivid and is disappointed | You pay for Vivid on a report grade without checking the video |
Neither is "better". A Fancy Intense stone with a clean, pure hue can look more attractive than a Fancy Vivid stone with a weak modifier. The grade tells you the strength band; the video tells you whether you like the stone. Liora does not publish prices, so ask for quotes on both grades before you decide.
What the live stock shows
Liora's listings show how the grades are distributed. This is a snapshot of the first 24 stones on each of the pink and yellow:
| Ref | Carat | Shape | Grade | Clarity | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LDC325B7 | 30.16 | Pear | Fancy Intense Pink | VS2 | IGI |
| LDFD152F | 5.03 | Heart | Fancy Intense Pink | VVS2 | IGI |
| LDF4E13F | 5.01 | Heart | Fancy Vivid Pink | VVS2 | IGI |
| LD4CE6EC | 10.02 | Pear | Fancy Vivid Pink | VS2 | IGI |
| LD05D70C | 5.03 | Cushion | Fancy Intense Yellow | VS1 | IGI |
| LD5917AE | 5.07 | Oval | Fancy Intense Yellow | VS2 | IGI |
| LDDFE725 | 5.02 | Pear | Fancy Light Yellow | VS1 | IGI |
Two points stand out. In pink, both Intense and Vivid appear at 5 ct and above: of the 24 pinks shown, 17 were Fancy Vivid, and 7 were Fancy Intense. In yellow, every stone at 4.5 ct and above in the snapshot was Fancy Intense or Fancy Light, while the Fancy Vivid yellows shown were all small (1.16 ct or less), and none of those named a lab on the listing. That is a snapshot of one page of results, not a statement about everything Liora can source. If you need a large Fancy Vivid yellow, ask the trade desk rather than assuming it exists or doesn't.
How size changes how color reads
A bigger stone has more body, so the same color can look deeper when light travels through more material. Liora's large pink lab-grown diamonds guide makes the same point: larger stones show more body color. That is the industry view and not something GIA's grading pages quantify, so treat it as a reason to check the video rather than as a rule. The practical consequence is that a 1 ct Fancy Intense stone and a 10 ct Fancy Intense stone are the same grade on paper and can look different on the hand. If your client is moving up in size, don't assume a grade that suited a smaller stone will look the same.
If your orders are heading towards the larger tiers, our 5 carat wholesale guide, 10 carat guide and 20 carat guide cover how each size tier is bought.
Cut and shape matter too. Elongated and brilliant-style shapes can show color differently, so compare candidates in the same shape. For more on cut, see our guide to diamond cut grades.
Modifiers on the report
A grade can carry a modifier that changes the hue: Fancy Intense Brownish Yellow, or Fancy Vivid Purplish Pink. For example, Liora's yellow listing includes a 1.12 ct pear graded Fancy Intense Brownish Yellow (ref LD342A9F). A pink with a purplish or orangey modifier is different from a pure pink, and a yellow with a brownish modifier isn't the same as a clean yellow. "Fancy Intense Yellow" and "Fancy Intense Brownish Yellow" are not interchangeable, so read the full color description, not just the intensity word.
Treatment and disclosure
Liora's fancy-color page states that lab-grown fancy colors are usually created or intensified after growth, that the grading report records this, and that the invoice states it. Color in a laboratory-grown diamond is not "natural color", and it should not be sold as such. Pass the report wording on to your own clients. Our fancy color lab-grown diamond supplier guide and the IGI-certified lab-grown diamonds guide explain what to look for on a report. If you are deciding between white and colored stones for a range, see our white vs fancy color sourcing guide.
What to put in the spec
- Hue, including whether a modifier is acceptable (for example, "pure pink only" or "slight purplish accepted").
- Grade range, such as Fancy Intense to Fancy Vivid, not one grade.
- Carat band and shape, with a fallback shape.
- Clarity minimum, and whether eye-clean is enough.
- Pair or single. For pairs, ask for the two stones side by side on video in the same light.
- Report preference, and request that the color grade, growth method, and treatment statement appear on it.
- Video in daylight-equivalent light. Screen color varies, so a photo is not a spec.
Quote against the report, not against a listing title or a photo. If you are comparing a smaller and a larger stone, ask for each in the same grade so you can see how size alters the look. For a fuller walk-through of writing a request, see our RFQ template for big lab-grown diamonds. For pink above 5 ct, the large pink guide goes further, and the pink lab-grown diamond wholesale guide covers the basics.
Ask for large fancy colors with hue, grade range, carat band and shape, or send them to the trade desk on WhatsApp. Trade only; US$2,000 minimum per order. You can also browse the current pink stones and yellow stones listings.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fancy Vivid always more expensive than Fancy Intense?
Not automatically. Liora's page says intensity is the grade that sets the price, and a stronger grade generally costs more, but size, clarity, shape, and modifier also move price. Ask for quotes on the specific stones. Liora does not publish prices.
What does "brownish" mean on a fancy yellow report?
It is a modifier: the stone has a brown component in its hue. It is a different product from a clean yellow, so read the full color description.
Why does color look different on screen?
Screens differ in brightness and color calibration, and lighting changes how fancy color reads. Ask for daylight-equivalent video and base the decision on the stone and the report.
What is Fancy Deep, and how is it different from Fancy Vivid?
Both are fancy grades. GIA says the grade reflects the combined effect of tone and saturation; Vivid is strongly saturated, while Deep is darker. Fancy Deep is listed on Liora's fancy-color. Contact us for more details.
Can I order a range of grades?
Yes, you can request a range, such as Fancy Intense to Fancy Vivid. The trade desk will shortlist from stock, and the desk will confirm availability.
