If you think of a Diamond, you probably think of a Colourless stone. But did you know that there is a huge array of colours of Diamonds naturally created by Mother Nature herself? So how do you choose a great Coloured Diamond? Use this handy guide to help you pick the perfect gem for you.
Coloured Diamonds have been gaining popularity in recent years. Popularised by the likes Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez and Heidi Klum, a Fancy Coloured Diamond is as eye-catching as it is rare. Follow these useful tips to make sure you get your perfect gem.
Budget
Pick a budget and stick to it. It is very tempting to spend more than you wanted, but it is worth shopping around to make sure you’re getting a great deal.
Multiple money saving tips will be mentioned in this blog, as Coloured Diamonds are incredibly rare and can therefore be incredibly expensive.
Colours
Coloured Diamonds are judged primarily for their colour. The gems gain their colour from impurities inside them - either Boron, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, natural radiation or, in the case of Pink or Red Diamonds, by an unusual alteration in the crystal structure. Black Diamonds are even thought to be from outer space!
These are the colours of Diamonds you might come across (from least rare to rarest):
- Brown
- Fancy White
- Yellow
- Blue
- Green
- Black
- Pink
- Orange
- Purple
- Red
Colourless Diamonds are graded by how little colour they have, but the opposite is true of Coloured Diamonds. The most prized colours are deep in tone and richly saturated; most Diamonds are Yellow or Brown, but the majority will be at the low end of the D-Z Colour Scale.
Once they have more colour than this, they are ‘Fancy Coloured’ - and there is a significant price jump.
Treatment
The rarest Naturally Coloured Diamonds are incredibly expensive – regularly hitting $1 million per carat at auction. Most of us don’t have this kind of cash!
Luckily, with a little help, Diamonds can be enhanced to show these colours. Natural gemstones can have their colour improved with the following treatments:
These treatments mimic the work of Mother Nature herself, resembling the natural processes of heat, radiation, and pressure. These are always regarded as genuine Diamonds, and will always command higher prices than synthetics and simulants.
If your Diamonds have had treatment of any kind, we will always let you know.
Cut
The way a Coloured Diamond is cut can have a significant impact on how the colour looks. Cuts are often chosen to emphasise the Diamond’s colour.
Some of the best cuts to bring out the colour in for Coloured Diamond are:
Round Brilliant cuts, which are incredibly popular for Colourless Diamonds, aren’t one of the best cuts to bring out colour. If you are lucky enough to get hold of a Round Brilliant cut Coloured Diamond with rich colour, you have an exceptionally unusual treasure.
Clarity
Like Colourless Diamonds, Coloured Diamonds are judged for their clarity.
Here at Gemporia, we usually recommend I1 graded Diamonds, as you can’t see the difference between any of the higher grades to the naked eye (but your wallet will notice the difference!).
However, it is worth bearing in mind that even Coloured Diamonds fetching millions of dollars per carat often have inclusions that are easy to see to the eye. When it comes to Coloured Diamonds, colour is by far and away the most important thing!
Carat Weight
When it comes to size, then bigger is obviously better. Diamonds range from fractions of a carat to hundreds of carats, but the larger stones have a larger premium, as they are rarer. If you double the size of a Diamond, the price would more than double, as the rarity increases.
Certificate
When you are buying any gemstone, particularly if you are looking to spend a lot, it is important to make sure that the item comes with a certificate. The certificate should have, as a minimum:
- What the gemstone is
- The carat weight
- If it is in a setting, what the metal is
- What treatments the gem might have had
Additionally, make sure you know the seller’s returns policy, and that their Diamonds are ethically sourced.
Do You Love It?
By far the most important! In the end, it all comes down to this question, because nobody’s opinion is as important as yours. Yes, it is worth checking what other prices are on the market, and being sure that you know what you are getting. But, if you fall in love with a gemstone, it is probably the gemstone for you. Gemstones are unique, they have a character that we can fall in love with, and no other gem is going to be exactly the same. If you love it, go for it!
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