GREY
Diamonds with grey as the primary dominant color are also unique. These diamonds are comparatively reasonably priced (in the high four to low five figures per carat).
Diamonds with grey as the primary dominant color are also unique. These diamonds are comparatively reasonably priced (in the high four to low five figures per carat).
Orange diamonds are not as rare as the red or green daimonds. Most orange colored diamonds have strong yellow or brown modifiers. Pastel colored orange diamonds are of similar value as pastel pinks and some blues.
PURPLE
Purple diamonds with no secondary hues are very rare. Most of these diamonds are less than one carat in size and are very seldom found in dark to vivid lilac colors. Most purple diamonds exhibit needle-like color zones.
Purple diamonds with no secondary hues are very rare. Most of these diamonds are less than one carat in size and are very seldom found in dark to vivid lilac colors. Most purple diamonds exhibit needle-like color zones.
Colored Diamonds
While most diamonds are in the colorless to light yellow range, some have a natural color that is deep, distinct, and opulent. These are known as fancy-color diamonds and are often blue, brown, or pink. Unlike colorless and near-colorless diamonds which are valued for their lack of color, fancies are valued for the intensity of their color. Colored diamonds are a small but increasingly popular segment of the diamond market.
The physical conditions necessary to color a diamond naturally occur very seldom, making natural color diamonds extremely rare. For every natural color diamond, there are 10,000 colorless ones that have made the trip from the earth’s depths to its surface. It is this entirely natural process of geographical formation which ensures that each natural color diamond is one of a kind.
The formation of natural color diamonds is a process that requires the presence of additional trace elements and distortions to the typical diamond crystal. During the creation of a diamond, if an element interacts with its carbon atoms, the color can change. Natural radiation and pressure on a diamond’s structure can also intensify its color.
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| Hancock Red |
Rather than emphasizing the brilliance and fire coveted in near-colorless diamonds, these stones are all about the color intensity. The Argyle mine in Western Australia launched a massive marketing campaign some time ago that helped change the public’s perception of these previously overlooked diamonds. The 1987 sale of the Hancock Red, at a record auction price of $926,000 per carat, further magnified the allure of fancies.
Color Grading of Fancy Diamonds
GIA’s system for color-grading colored diamonds was developed in the mid-1950s and revamped in the mid-1990s. The diamond color grading system expresses color using the attributes of hue (the characteristic color), tone (the color’s relative lightness or darkness), and saturation (the strength or weakness of the color). Using controlled viewing conditions and color comparators, the grader determines the stone’s color from one of 27 hues. The fancy grade describes the stone’s tone and saturation with romantic names like “Fancy Light,” “Fancy Intense,” and “Fancy Vivid.”
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| Blue Hope |
Today, the GIA color grading system for colored diamonds is used worldwide. Many of the most famous colored diamonds, including the Blue Hope, the Dresden Green, and the Hancock Red, have been examined by the GIA laboratory using GIA’s color grading system.
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| Dresden Green |
GIA offers two types of diamond grading reports for colored diamonds. The GIA Colored Diamond Grading Report contains the same comprehensive diamond information as the GIA Diamond Grading Report. In addition, the GIA Colored Diamond Identification and Origin Report, known as the color-only report, gives a color grade and the nature of the color.
Four Cs of Fancy Color Diamonds
Like other diamonds, the price of a color diamond depends in part on the Four Cs: color, cut, clarity and carat weight, but the factors used to judge those qualities differ somewhat from the Four Cs of colorless diamonds.
Tell us about color diamond color grading: Fancy color diamonds are graded in two ways. The first factor considered is the stone's basic hue, such as pink, yellow, blue, green, etc. The second is the diamond's intensity. Both color characteristics form the basis for determining a fancy colored diamond's worth. Usually, the more intense the color, the rarer and more expensive the diamond will be. For example, a fancy light pink diamond costs less than a fancy vivid pink diamond of equal size, shape and clarity.
Is there a scale of diamond color saturation that we can refer to? The GIA uses nine categories to grade color diamonds.
1. Faint
2. Very Light
3. Light
4. Fancy Light
5. Fancy
6. Fancy Dark
7. Fancy Intense
8. Fancy Deep
9. Fancy Vivid
What about color undertones? How do they fit in to the diamond's worth? A secondary undertone that enhances the color of a diamond is a plus. A secondary that detracts from the color is a negative. For instance: a purplish pink color diamond can be worth more than a pink diamond, depending on the amount and intensity of purple, a brownish tint in a pink diamond usually decreases its value, and makes it a more affordable gemstone.
A fancy diamond is a natural colored diamond, found in a wide range of hues, including red, green, purple, violet, orange blue and pink. These diamonds are amongst the most rare and beautiful diamonds that nature has to offer. In fact, out of the approximately 80,000 carats of rough diamonds mined every year, only 0.001% are regarded as fancy colors.
These beautiful colors are the result of the differing processes experience in their formation, for example:
YELLOW DIAMONDS are the result of the presence of nitrogen in the diamond’s creation
GREEN DIAMONDS are created though the diamond’s exposure to irradiation
PINK and RED DIAMONDS are considered to be the result of manganese inclusions within the diamond.
GREEN DIAMONDS are created though the diamond’s exposure to irradiation
PINK and RED DIAMONDS are considered to be the result of manganese inclusions within the diamond.
Unlike clear diamonds, the grading of fancy diamonds improves in relation to a greater presence of strong colors. Fancy colored diamond grading differs from clear diamond grading and a few simple descriptions will be useful in analyzing fancy colored diamonds: Where there is a predominant color the diamond is named in this color, for example “pink”. If there is a secondary color it is described with an “ish” as in “greenish pink”. This is described as difying color.
Where a colored diamond has two colors that are equally present they are both named, for example “purple pink”. Fancy colors vary from “faint” to “intense”. These ranges in intensity are graded, with higher intensities of colour increasing the value of the diamond.
YELLOW
Yellow is one of the most familiar names known aside from white “colorless” diamonds. Canary is a term commonly used to describe intense yellow diamonds. Some of the yellows with higher intensity of color (Fancy Vivid Yellow) are as rare as the pinks and blues and command unusually high prices.
Yellow is one of the most familiar names known aside from white “colorless” diamonds. Canary is a term commonly used to describe intense yellow diamonds. Some of the yellows with higher intensity of color (Fancy Vivid Yellow) are as rare as the pinks and blues and command unusually high prices.
PINK
Pink diamonds are rare and highly desired. Pink diamonds of higher intensity are the most rare and command very high prices. Most pink diamonds mined are faint to light colored (pastel colored). Many of the deep colored pink diamonds come from the Argyle mine in Australia.
Pink diamonds are rare and highly desired. Pink diamonds of higher intensity are the most rare and command very high prices. Most pink diamonds mined are faint to light colored (pastel colored). Many of the deep colored pink diamonds come from the Argyle mine in Australia.
BLUE
Natural blue color is one of the rarest of fancy color diamonds. These diamonds are amongst the most sought after by collectors. Color can range from faint to a very deep blue, and blue diamonds can command even higher prices than pink diamonds.
Natural blue color is one of the rarest of fancy color diamonds. These diamonds are amongst the most sought after by collectors. Color can range from faint to a very deep blue, and blue diamonds can command even higher prices than pink diamonds.
RED
Red is by far the rarest of all colored diamonds. Fewer than 20 stones have so far been certified as red diamonds. Some of these have fetched over a million dollars per carat, although most other colored diamonds fetch between five to six figures per carat.
Red is by far the rarest of all colored diamonds. Fewer than 20 stones have so far been certified as red diamonds. Some of these have fetched over a million dollars per carat, although most other colored diamonds fetch between five to six figures per carat.
GREEN
Green diamonds with no other secondary hues or modifiers are some of the rarest, and depending on intensity and purity of color, can command astronomical prices. Most green diamonds have either grey, brown or yellow modifiers.
Green diamonds with no other secondary hues or modifiers are some of the rarest, and depending on intensity and purity of color, can command astronomical prices. Most green diamonds have either grey, brown or yellow modifiers.
BLACK
Black diamonds are not transparent, and do not show fire (flashes of color) as other diamonds, but can be extremely expensive where they are in the dark to vivid color ranges. Black diamonds may give off secondary color hues of grey or white.
Black diamonds are not transparent, and do not show fire (flashes of color) as other diamonds, but can be extremely expensive where they are in the dark to vivid color ranges. Black diamonds may give off secondary color hues of grey or white.
BROWN
These are the most widely available and surprisingly affordable colored diamonds. They provide a beautiful low cost alternative to pink, blue, grey, green or yellow diamonds. Common names used to describe brown color are: champagne, chocolate, coffee, golden, honey, bronze, cognac, etc.
These are the most widely available and surprisingly affordable colored diamonds. They provide a beautiful low cost alternative to pink, blue, grey, green or yellow diamonds. Common names used to describe brown color are: champagne, chocolate, coffee, golden, honey, bronze, cognac, etc.
Creating Colorful Diamonds
Irradiation, followed by a high heat treatment, can turn brown and yellow diamonds into fancy colored diamonds--greens, vivid yellows, blues, purples, reds and other colors. The color is usually permanent, but could possibly change if high heat is used during setting repairs.
Natural fancy colored diamonds are expensive and out of the reach of most buyers. A certificate from a respected grading lab should accompany all fancy colored diamonds that are marketed as natural.
Question the ethics of anyone who attempts to sell you a natural fancy colored diamond for a bargain price.
Treatment-produced fancy colors are affordable, and allow more of us to own a brightly colored diamond. They should not be considered an investment. Buy one because you love it, not because you think you can sell it for a profit later.
Ask the jeweler for care instructions when you buy an irradiated fancy color diamond.
This is a great primer on the 4 Cs. And an excellent example of the black diamond. Thanks!
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