If you think of a Diamond, you probably think of a Colorless stone. But did you know that there is a huge array of colors of Diamonds naturally created by Mother Nature herself? So how do you choose a great Colored Diamond? Use this handy guide to help you pick the perfect gem for you.
Colored Diamonds have been gaining popularity in recent years. Popularised by the likes Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez and Heidi Klum, a Fancy Colored 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 Colored Diamonds are incredibly rare and can therefore be incredibly expensive.
Colors
Colored Diamonds are judged primarily for their color. The gems gain their color 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 colors of Diamonds you might come across (from least rare to rarest):
- Brown
- Fancy White
- Yellow
- Blue
- Green
- Black
- Pink
- Orange
- Purple
- Red
Colorless Diamonds are graded by how little color they have, but the opposite is true of Colored Diamonds. The most prized colors 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 Color Scale.
Once they have more color than this, they are ‘Fancy Colored’ - and there is a significant price jump.
Treatment
The rarest Naturally Colored 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 colors. Natural gemstones can have their color 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 Colored Diamond is cut can have a significant impact on how the color looks. Cuts are often chosen to emphasise the Diamond’s color.
Some of the best cuts to bring out the color in for Colored Diamond are:
Round Brilliant cuts, which are incredibly popular for Colorless Diamonds, aren’t one of the best cuts to bring out color. If you are lucky enough to get hold of a Round Brilliant cut Colored Diamond with rich color, you have an exceptionally unusual treasure.
Clarity
Like Colorless Diamonds, Colored 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 Colored Diamonds fetching millions of dollars per carat often have inclusions that are easy to see to the eye. When it comes to Colored Diamonds, color 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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