Rare diamonds
Fancy colored diamonds are, by nature, rare. Only one in 10,000 diamonds has a natural color. That is why buying a colored diamond has different criteria than buying a colorless diamond.
Thus, although quality criteria related to cut and clarity play their role, the most important selection criteria in the value of a diamond are mainly based on the choice of color, and its intensity. The more intense the color of a colored diamond is, the rarer and more valuable it would be, unlike with white diamonds, wherein the complete absence of color makes it so valuable.
All colored diamonds on the Woodeex platform are of natural color, without ever having been artificially modified by irradiation or technical treatment.
Color and intensity
Most natural-colored diamonds found are not of a single color.
Some diamonds usually have a combination of two main colors in the stone's composition, sometimes even three or four colors:
- The main color of the diamond (for example, yellow)
- The secondary color of the diamond (for example, orange)
The intensity of the color is described as the strength of the color in the diamond. As a general rule, a colored diamond increases in value as the intensity of the color increases.
Just as there is a wide range of colors, so is there a wide range in the degrees of intensity. The GIA Gemological Laboratory has developed a grading scale to define the intensity level of the diamond. The seven main grading levels are: Very light, Light, Fancy, Intense, Vivid, Deep.
The origin of the diamond is also another factor which affects the intensity of the color. Different diamond mines produce different shades or tones of color. For example, a pink diamond found in South Africa is not comparable to a pink diamond found in the Argyle diamond mines in Australia.
What kind of setting should I choose for my diamond?
When choosing a setting for a colored diamond, it is best to choose a gold color that will enhance the natural color of your diamond. For example, yellow diamonds are often set in yellow gold, while pink diamonds look much better when set on pink gold.
The Fancy Color diamonds in detail
Yellow
Yellow diamonds, often referred to as canary diamonds, are the most famous among all fancy diamonds. While many white diamonds can have a yellowish appearance and fall at the end of the standard diamond color scale (Y-Z), they are not classified as fancy yellow diamonds.
A yellow diamond earns the fancy designation when it is graded under categories such as light yellow, fancy light yellow, fancy yellow, fancy intense yellow, fancy dark yellow, fancy deep yellow, and fancy vivid yellow. Genuine fancy yellow diamonds exhibit a strong, vibrant color, making them more costly per carat due to their exceptional beauty.
Around 60% of all fancy colored diamonds are yellow. The presence of nitrogen in yellow diamonds is what imparts their yellow hue.
Pink
Pink diamonds are among the most captivating fancy diamonds available. Their extreme rarity makes them some of the most valuable stones one can purchase. Pink diamonds can range in color from very light pink, light pink, fancy light pink, fancy pink, fancy intense pink, fancy vivid pink, to fancy deep pink.
The exact cause of the pink hue in pink diamonds remains a mystery, unlike other fancy color diamonds. Some scientists believe that the pink color results from a lattice defect at the atomic level, which selectively absorbs light to produce the pink hue.
Highly saturated pinks and purplish pinks are exceptionally rare and are often sought after by collectors. When a rare vivid pink or purplish pink diamond becomes available on the market, it can command prices reaching millions of dollars per carat.
Orange
Orange diamonds frequently display overtones and hues of brown, yellow, or pink. These fancy orange diamonds typically originate from the Argyle mine in Australia or from South Africa. They are primarily graded as fancy orange, fancy intense orange, fancy vivid orange, fancy deep orange, and fancy dark orange.
For a diamond to be classified as orange, it must be free of any brown traces, making such diamonds extremely rare. Due to their rarity, true orange diamonds are less understood compared to other fancy color diamonds like pink or yellow.
Black
Black diamonds, also known as carbonado diamonds, are unique and striking due to their dark color and opaque appearance. Unlike other diamonds, their color comes from numerous inclusions of graphite, pyrite, or hematite, which give them their distinctive black hue.
Black diamonds are popular in modern jewelry for their bold and unconventional look, making them a favorite for those seeking something different from traditional white or colored diamonds. These diamonds are often found in Brazil and Central Africa and are known for their toughness and durability.
Brown
Fancy brown diamonds offer an appealing alternative to the traditional white diamond. Their brown color results from alterations in the diamond's molecular structure. Light brown diamonds are referred to as champagne diamonds, while those with orange hues are known as cognac diamonds.
Purple
Purple diamonds are known for their mesmerizing hue, which ranges from light lavender to deep violet. The coloration is believed to stem from a combination of hydrogen and lattice distortions within the diamond's structure during its formation.
These diamonds are exceptionally rare and highly coveted for their unique and mysterious color. Purple diamonds can command significant prices in the market due to their scarcity and distinctive beauty.
Blue
Fancy blue diamonds are among the rarest and most valuable colored diamonds. Their colors range from light blue to dark blue. The grading scale for blue diamonds includes: faint blue, very light blue, light blue, fancy light blue, fancy blue, fancy intense blue, fancy dark blue, fancy deep blue, and fancy vivid blue.
Some blue diamonds also display traces of green or grey. Various elements contribute to their distinctive blue hue, with boron being the primary element, followed by hydrogen and nitrogen. The most famous fancy blue diamond is the Hope Diamond, weighing over 45 carats.
Blue diamonds form when boron becomes trapped in the diamond's crystal structure. They typically contain minimal nitrogen impurities.
Green
Fancy green diamonds are the second rarest fancy color diamonds, surpassed only by red diamonds. Since green results from a mix of blue and yellow, green diamonds often range from blue-green to yellow-green. Some fancy green diamonds may also have hints of grey or brown. Diamonds that show a pure green color without traces of other hues are exceptionally rare and valuable.
The grading scale for green diamonds includes: faint green, very light green, light green, fancy light green, fancy green, fancy intense green, fancy dark green, fancy deep green, and fancy vivid green.
Green diamonds form over millions of years through exposure to beta and gamma rays, which contribute to their green color. Sometimes, the green coloration is only surface-deep and can fade over time. As a result, truly pure green diamonds are extremely scarce.
Red
Red diamonds are among the rarest and most valuable of all colored diamonds. Their striking red color is thought to result from unique distortions in the diamond's crystal lattice during its formation. Red diamonds are graded from faint red to vivid red, with pure red diamonds being exceptionally rare.
The most famous red diamond is the Moussaieff Red, which weighs 5.11 carats. Due to their scarcity and captivating beauty, red diamonds are highly sought after by collectors and investors.
Grey
Grey diamonds, also known as gray diamonds, are distinctive for their subtle yet elegant coloration ranging from light grey to deep charcoal. The grey hue in these diamonds is typically caused by the presence of hydrogen or graphite within their crystal structure.
While not as commonly sought after as white or colored diamonds, grey diamonds have gained popularity for their understated charm and unique appearance in jewelry.
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