Colored Diamonds

Colored diamonds are among the most exquisite gemstones in the world, captivating collectors, connoisseurs, and fine jewelry aficionados alike. With hues that span from delicate pastels to vivid, saturated tones, these natural marvels stand apart from their colorless counterparts in both character and value. Colored diamonds are not only breathtaking but also exceptionally scarce—making them some of the most sought-after treasures in the world of high jewelry. Fancy color diamonds, for instance, represent just 0.01% of all natural diamonds.

This guide explores the origins, grading, and allure of colored diamonds, offering insight into what makes them truly extraordinary.

What Are Colored Diamonds?

Colored diamonds are rare and exquisite gemstones that display hues beyond the classic colorless variety. Among them, Fancy Color Diamonds stand out as the most prized for their brilliance and intensity. These vibrant gems come in a stunning spectrum of colors, from yellow and pink to blue, green, and even the elusive red. Their scarcity and striking beauty make them exceptionally valuable, with some shades commanding record-breaking prices.

Unlike traditional colorless diamonds, which are graded on a scale from D to Z, these diamonds are graded based on their color, tone, and intensity. The rarest shades, like blue and red, can command over $1 million per carat due to their extreme rarity.

What Is a Fancy Colored Diamond?

A fancy color diamond is a diamond that exhibits a rich, distinct color. Unlike colorless diamonds, which are graded based on a lack of color, fancy color diamonds are valued for their depth and intensity of hue. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) classifies Fancy Color Diamonds based on three factors: hue, tone, and saturation. These diamonds can come in almost every color imaginable, including yellow, pink, blue, green, and red.

Are All Colored Diamonds Fancy Colored Diamonds?

No, not all colored diamonds are considered fancy colored diamonds. The term “fancy” applies specifically to diamonds that display a strong and noticeable color. Some diamonds may have faint color tints but are still categorized as colorless or near-colorless rather than fancy colored. The intensity and uniformity of the color are crucial in determining whether a colored diamond is classified as fancy.

How Are Colored Diamonds Created?

Colored diamonds form due to nature’s unique touch during their formation deep in the Earth. While all diamonds are made of carbon, trace elements, and structural distortions contribute to colored diamonds’ stunning range of hues. Every natural colored diamond tells a fascinating story about its journey through time and geology.  Below, find a breakdown of how some of the most famous hues occur.

Pink Diamonds

Pink diamonds get their distinctive color primarily from structural anomalies within the diamond’s crystal lattice. Unlike other colored diamonds, whose colors result from chemical impurities, the pink coloration is created by plastic deformation during the diamond’s formation deep within the Earth’s mantle. This deformation alters the diamond’s internal structure, affecting how light interacts with it, producing a pink shade.

Yellow Diamonds

The presence of nitrogen atoms within the diamond’s lattice give yellow diamonds their golden hue. The more nitrogen, the richer the yellow color.

Salt and Pepper Diamonds

Unlike traditional diamonds, which are graded for clarity based on their lack of inclusions, a salt and pepper diamond embraces its natural characteristics, making each stone one-of-a-kind.

Red Diamonds

Red diamonds are the rarest of all colored diamonds. Their unique red hue is believed to come from the same type of structural distortions that create pink diamonds, but at a more intense level.

Blue Diamonds

A trace amount of boron impurities causes the captivating blue color in blue diamonds. Boron absorbs certain wavelengths of light, producing shades of blue.

Green Diamonds

Green diamonds acquire their color from natural radiation exposure over millions of years, which affects the carbon atoms in their structure.

Orange Diamonds

Orange diamonds derive their color from the presence of nitrogen atoms arranged in a specific way that absorbs blue and yellow light.

Brown Diamonds

Brown diamonds, often called “chocolate diamonds,” get their color from structural defects and nitrogen impurities.

Black Diamonds

Also known as carbonado, black diamonds get their color from high concentrations of graphite and other mineral inclusions.

What Is a Fancy Deep Diamond?

“Fancy Deep” is a classification used in diamond color grading to describe stones with highly saturated, intense colors. Fancy Deep diamonds exhibit rich, dark tones and are among the most visually striking of all Fancy Color Diamonds. This term is often applied to diamonds with hues like deep blue, deep red, or deep orange, where the intensity of the color is at its maximum.

What Is a Fancy Vivid Diamond?

“Fancy Vivid” is the highest color intensity grade given to colored diamonds. Diamonds classified as Fancy Vivid have the most saturated and vibrant colors, making them incredibly rare and valuable. Fancy Vivid diamonds exhibit intense brightness, with colors that appear rich and lively. Some of the most famous colored diamonds, such as the Pink Star and the Blue Moon Diamond, fall into this category.

Color-Treated Diamonds

Color-treated diamonds are natural diamonds that undergo artificial enhancements to change or intensify their hue. Treatments include high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) processes or radiation exposure to alter the stone’s natural coloration. Treated diamonds are considered less valuable than natural colored diamonds because their color does not form naturally over millions of years.

Lab-Grown Colored Diamonds

Lab grown colored diamonds are synthetic stones created in a controlled environment using high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods. While they may look similar to natural diamonds, lab grown diamonds are mass-produced and lack the rarity and unique geological history that make natural colored diamonds so precious. Because they are not rare, lab grown colored diamonds do not hold the same investment potential as natural colored diamonds. To ensure you’re purchasing a genuine colored diamond, always seek an independent grading certificate to verify its authenticity. 