Jewelry 101: Colored Diamonds

Color diamonds are created when impurities or deformities occur in a diamond’s lattice of carbon atoms. (What is the diamond’s lattice?) Particular impurities result in different color formations. The most valuable stones are those that are purest in color, most saturated, and most even in tone. To assess the grades of color, colored diamonds are placed into one of nine categories: faint (least valuable), very light, light, fancy light, fancy, fancy dark, fancy intense, fancy deep, and fancy vivid (the rarest and most expensive).

Blue Diamonds

• Color Source: The blue color in diamonds is primarily due to the presence of trace amounts of boron within the diamond’s crystal lattice. Boron impurities absorb yellow light, resulting in the diamond’s blue appearance.
• Intensity: The intensity of the blue can vary, ranging from light blue to deep blue, with the most valuable blue diamonds displaying a vivid, saturated color. The Hope Diamond is one of the most famous blue diamonds.
• Grading: Blue diamonds are graded based on the intensity of their color, from faint to fancy deep. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) uses this scale to determine the value and quality of blue diamonds.
• Rarity: Blue diamonds are extremely rare, especially those with intense and vivid blue colors. This rarity makes them highly sought after and valuable.
• Market Value: Due to their rarity and stunning color, blue diamonds often fetch very high prices at auctions and in the market. The presence of boron adds to their unique appeal.
• Popularity: Blue diamonds are highly coveted by collectors and investors, often making headlines when large or notable stones are sold.
• Hope Diamond: Weighing 45.52 carats, this deep blue diamond is one of the most famous gems in the world.
• Blue Moon of Josephine: A 12.03-carat Fancy Vivid Blue diamond known for its exceptional color and clarity.

Pink Diamonds

• Color Source: The pink color in diamonds is less understood but is generally believed to result from a distortion in the diamond’s crystal lattice structure caused by intense pressure during formation. This distortion causes selective absorption of light.

• Intensity: Pink diamonds can range from very light pink to intense pink. The strength and distribution of the pink color significantly affect the diamond’s value.

• The Pink Promise is a notable pink diamond, known for its exceptional size and vivid pink color.

• Grading: Pink diamonds are graded on the intensity of their color, from faint to fancy vivid. The distribution of color is also a critical factor in their grading.

• Rarity: Pink diamonds are very rare, particularly those with a deep and vivid pink color. Their rarity, combined with their unique color, contributes to their high market value.

• Market Value: Pink diamonds command high prices due to their rarity and the mystery surrounding their color origin. Their romantic and delicate color adds to their desirability.

• Popularity: Pink diamonds have gained significant popularity, especially for engagement rings and high-end jewelry, symbolizing love and uniqueness.

• Pink Star: A 59.60-carat Fancy Vivid Pink diamond that holds the record for the highest price ever paid for a gemstone at auction.

• Graff Pink: A 24.78-carat Fancy Intense Pink diamond that was once owned by Harry Winston.

Yellow Diamonds

• Color Source: The yellow color in diamonds is caused by the presence of nitrogen atoms, which replace some of the carbon atoms in the diamond’s crystal lattice. These nitrogen atoms absorb blue light, giving the diamond a yellow hue.

• Intensity: Yellow diamonds, also known as canary diamonds, can range from light yellow to deep, vivid yellow. The most prized yellow diamonds exhibit a strong, pure yellow color.

• Examples: The Tiffany Yellow Diamond is one of the most famous yellow diamonds.

• Grading: Yellow diamonds are graded on the intensity of their color, from faint to fancy vivid. The term “canary diamond” is often used to describe those with the most intense yellow color.

• Rarity: While yellow diamonds are more common than blue and pink diamonds, intense and vivid yellow diamonds are still considered rare and valuable.

• Market Value: Yellow diamonds are generally more affordable than blue and pink diamonds, though intense yellow diamonds can still command high prices. Their value is influenced by the purity and intensity of the yellow color.

• Popularity: Yellow diamonds are popular for their vibrant and cheerful color, often used in fashion-forward jewelry designs and statement pieces.

• Tiffany Yellow Diamond: A 128.54-carat Fancy Yellow diamond, known for its association with the luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co.

• The Incomparable Diamond: Originally weighing 890 carats in the rough, this diamond was cut into a 407.48-carat Fancy Deep Brownish Yellow gem.

Green Diamonds

High-quality green diamonds with a deep, consistent color are extremely rare. Most green diamonds are light in color or only partially colored, often requiring careful cutting and treatment to enhance their appearance. Because of their rarity and unique beauty, green diamonds are highly sought after by collectors and investors, driving up their value. The limited supply means that high-quality green diamonds command significant premiums in the market.

Red Diamonds

Pure red diamonds are even rarer. Very few red diamonds have ever been discovered, and they are often small in size. The Argyle Diamond Mine in Australia, known for its pink diamonds, has produced some of the most famous red diamonds—but in very limited quantities. The scarcity of red diamonds, combined with their striking color, makes them incredibly desirable. Their rarity means that even small red diamonds can fetch astronomical prices, further emphasizing their exclusivity. They are often kept in safes and rarely mounted in jewelry, making them ideal as investment stones.

Red diamonds are somewhat mysterious to researchers, as the cause of their coloration remains unknown. Moreover, as only a handful of stones are known, they remain the holy grail of natural-colored diamonds.

• Moussaieff Red: The largest known red diamond, weighing 5.11 carats, was discovered in Brazil in 1990 and purchased by Moussaieff Jewellers in the early 2000s for an estimated $8,000,000.

Blue, pink, and yellow diamonds each have unique characteristics that distinguish them from one another, primarily based on the elements and conditions present during their formation. These differences contribute to their varying levels of rarity, market value, and desirability. Whether it’s the boron-infused blue, the lattice-distorted pink, or the nitrogen-tinted yellow, colored diamonds remain among the most fascinating and treasured gemstones in the world.