Diamond News
What Is A Colored Diamond?
What Are Coloured Diamonds and are They More or Less Valuable than a White Diamond?
Careful marketing through the years has placed white – or clear – diamonds on the pedestal of diamond perfection. This has led people to believe that the clearer a diamond, the more valuable the stone is.
Truth be told, clarity is an important factor in determining the value of a diamond, but only truly when discussing imperfections that mar the light reflective qualities of a diamond, causing the stone to be less beautiful to the eye.
The value of an object, diamonds included, is measured in terms of that object’s rarity. Considering that Colored diamonds are, by far more rare than their ‘white’ counterparts, logic dictates that diamonds of differing colours are therefore more valuable.
Natural Coloured versus Irradiated Coloured Diamonds
Early last century a physicist by the name of William Crookes discovered that he could change the surface colour of a diamond by pelting it with intense radiation. Of course, technology back then wasn’t what it is now and this treatment left the diamond radioactive and unwearable.
Today, we have discovered how to irradiate diamonds without making them dangerous to the wearer. This means that we can change the colour of a natural white diamond, to make it more attractive to buyers wanting something a little more exotic.
The problem with making our own Colored diamonds is that the reason for a Colored diamonds value is its uniqueness. Colored diamonds are the result of millions of years of crystallization and freak events during the process of its forming. This means that a natural Colored diamond is one of the rarest objects in existence, each one is completely unique.
For instance, two natural red diamonds will not be identical. If they share the same cut, carat and clarity, their color will not be identical, they will both be different variations of red.
When it comes to grading, natural diamonds and irradiated diamonds are considered in completely different lights. A diamond that naturally posses color will always be considered far more valuable than an identically Colored diamond that has been treated to give it its hue.
How Many Naturally Occurring Diamond Colors Are There?
The varieties of natural diamond coloration are almost limitless, appearing in differing degrees of rarity.
Some popular natural diamond colours are:
- Steel gray
- White
- Blue
- Yellow
- Orange
- Red
- Green
- Pink
- Purple
- Brown
- Black
These colors occur in a wide range of hues, from canary yellow and mustard, to beer-bottle green to a vivid emerald color.
Uses And Forms Colored Diamonds Could Take
While Colored diamonds are technically more valuable than clear white diamonds, they should not be purchased just because of this perceived value. One should have a clear and certain idea of what they want to use specifically Colored diamonds for.
For instance, a mens ring would not be suited to a pink Colored diamond, a deeper, richer red would be for more appropriate.
Of course, women’s jewelery allows for far more leeway in terms of color, cut and set. A silver necklace, embedded with deep blue, or vivid yellow diamonds, would perfectly suit most ladies.
Famous Colored Diamonds
There have been many famous Colored diamonds throughout the years, and centuries, their beauty and luminescence giving life to the imaginations of all who came into contact with them. Some of the most famous of these diamonds are:
- Allnat (vivid yellow)
- Black Orlov (black)
- Blue Heart (Blue)
- Darya-i Nur (pale pink)
- Orlov (blue green)
- Red Cross (canary yellow)