Diamonds have been around for thousands of years and for good reason. These captivating gems sparkle brilliantly and the perfect diamond is always well sought after. However, less is known about the more rare and exotic fancy colored diamonds. In this piece, I have provided you with the most updated and relevant information to choose your perfect colored diamond for that special someone.
The Basics
When choosing a colourless diamond, you want to look for the 4 C’s:
- Clarity
- Carat weight
- Cut
- Colour
Clarity
The clarity of a diamond is detected using 10x magnification. The clarity grade will depend on whether the stone has imperfections, even the most minute ones. The fewer imperfections on the diamond, the more valuable it will be. Although, important for colourless diamonds, for coloured diamonds it is mostly irrelevant.
Carat weight
The weight of the diamond is measured via the carat weight system. Since the value of diamonds changes by even the most minuscule measurements, this system provides the most accurate weight possible. A diamond will be more valuable by carat weight and not by size.
Cut
The shape of the diamond is the way it is cut. Each cut is unique in its own way because they each reflect light differently. Some examples of cuts are round brilliant cut, princess cut, cushion cut, and oval cut – just to name a few. To see some options, click here.
Colour
Diamonds come in many exotic colours such as pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, purple, brown, white, and black.
Experts grade the colour of the diamond to determine its value. The value of the colour of the diamond is measured by checking the hue, tone, and saturation. The hue is based on the primary and secondary colours found in the diamond. The tone refers to how dark the colour is. The saturation is the distribution of colour in the diamond.
How these colours come to be
The colour of the diamond says so much about the diamond’s history before it is placed in the jewelry setting. Choosing the right coloured diamond will depend on personal taste, costs, and availability. Below is a list of the fancy coloured diamonds available and a brief description of each:
Pink and red – pink and red diamonds are the result of stress in the earth. Light passes through the glide planes that were created in the diamond due to stress. The light that passes through turns the gem either red or pink. When there is a strong transmission of light, the diamond turns red. When there is a weak transmission, it turns pink.
Orange – no one really knows how diamonds get this colour. This colour diamond is very rare and therefore very valuable.
Yellow – one of the most common natural colours in diamonds. This is caused by nitrogen atoms taking the place of carbon atoms in the diamond’s structure.
Green – this colour is caused when radiation penetrates the diamond thereby kicking out carbon atoms from the diamond. Green diamonds are also a result of either nitrogen, hydrogen, or nickel being present in the diamond’s composition.
Blue – when boron atoms take the place of carbon atoms, the blue colour is formed.
Violet – this is the result of hydrogen atoms replacing carbon atoms in the diamond.
Take Away
When shopping for colored diamond jewelry for that special someone, be sure to always check its certification so you can ensure you have the best quality colored diamond for your money. Although fancy colored diamonds are more expensive than colorless, you can still find beautiful pieces within your budget. To buy your next gift, click here.