The Fantasy of Colored Diamonds: Buying guide
The Beauty and Allure of Diamonds
We all know Diamonds for their uniqueness and brilliance. Diamonds are the subject of all wedding fantasies and the most delectable purchases that many dreams of owning.
The word “diamond” alone stirs up feelings of euphoria and fairytale because of how it has been portrayed over the hundreds of years since it was discovered. Fun fact – most of the diamonds used for jewelry today are over a centennial old!
Beauty from Imperfection
Many people don’t know that Diamonds actually come in different colors – almost all the colors of the rainbow. Out of 100,000 diamonds, only a few will have these rare colors which make colored diamonds some of the rarest. The colors can have any intensity between “very light” and “vivid”.
To be considered a “colored diamond” the color must be noticeable when the diamond is in the face-up position. Black, gray, and white diamonds are also possible to find.
I bet you are wondering how they get their color. Some diamonds are colored in a lab but the most valuable diamonds are the ones that get their color naturally as they are forming. Most naturally-colored diamonds are created when trace elements, which are foreign substances to the diamond components, interact with the carbon atoms during the diamond’s creation and change its color. Different foreign substances cause different color reactions that give us a pretty wide selection of diamond colors.
Diamonds come in 27 base colors, listed in the color wheel above. However, the varying levels of intensities and modifying hues result in over 200 color combinations.
Brown and yellow are the most common colors in naturally colored diamonds. Diamonds that come in natural pink, blue, orange, green, red, black, violet, and even grey body colors are extremely rare and are also the most expensive.
When you are buying colored diamond jewelry, you can select what color works for you based on your sense of style or even the uniqueness of the diamond.
Unique colors
Pink Diamonds are very special in comparison to other colored diamonds because they are formed differently. How they’re formed is still a mystery. But some experts suggest that the pink color is actually acquired in conditions of very high pressure that cause deformities in the crystal. As a result, the light refracts, the green light is absorbed, and a spectacular pink light is projected as a result. An imperfection turned into beauty!
Pink diamonds are not just special because of their structure and composition; they’re also incredibly rare and they make some of the most romantic jewelry with their outstanding feminine color. In the world of loose diamonds, natural pink diamonds are the perfect choice if you are going for glamour and elegance.
Red diamonds are the rarest of colored diamonds. They get their beautiful red color from the rare way they are formed: the crystal structure of the diamond gets altered and causes light to penetrate it differently than colorless diamonds. This process is so rare that’s why a majority of red diamonds on the market are usually only half a carat to a carat in size. Still, their rarity and their intense, crimson color make them the most expensive per carat of all the colored diamonds. Because of this, red diamonds are considered the most luxurious.
The uniqueness of colored diamonds can even be identified from the intensity and shape of the diamond. Most people who are interested in purchasing diamonds as personal jewelry or for a special occasion have a specific preference. While these factors (like shape) can be easily determined by the buyer, the choice of quality, color, and placement should be carefully considered:
Quality – Crosscheck
The clarity, cut, and shapes of colored diamonds mean that your invaluable colored diamond is truly one of a kind. There are key things to look out for when you are looking at quality. Don’t worry, you don’t need to go into an in-depth course about the specifics – the expert you are buying from should be able to break those down for you.
What you are looking for is the level of clarity and brilliance.
Clarity – indicates a stone’s structural perfection. While flaws are not usually visible to the human eye, the clarity scales set by gemological institutes such as the GIA, specify the diamonds’ level of internal clarity when magnified 10,000 times. So make sure wherever you purchase the Diamond or diamond jewelry from is a GIA certificate. A certification is a report from a reputable independent laboratory such as the G.I.A. (Gemological Institute of America), that testifies to the stone’s authenticity, origin, and unique features.
Brilliance is basically saturation and tone. Saturation is manifested through the colors’ visible intensity. This is easily determined by the colors’ presence and strength. For example, notice these different saturation levels of the yellow diamond:
Tone represents the brightness or darkness level: Basically how deep the color is and how visible it is from afar. Look at the different tones and saturation levels possible with a blue diamond:
Depending on your taste, you might want to go with a diamond that has a deep intense color, or something light and fairytale-like. Knowing what you want beforehand will make the buying process much easier.
Take your pick – Choose your colors
As you read earlier there are 27 base colors and up to 200 hundred hues so you have a very extensive color range to choose from. A diamond’s cut (its angles and dimensions), is measured differently for naturally colored diamonds. While white diamonds are cut to emphasize their brilliance or sparkle, colored diamonds are cut to maximize their color: So the cut you choose is very important in relation to the color you are choosing.
Diamond cut also refers to how the gem catches and reflects light and it’s entirely up to your taste. If you consider yourself a very flashy and extravagant person, go for a deeper cut diamond which will have a deeper color effect like this purple diamond:
The opposite applies to people who have a more simple approach to life, go for something with a more shallow cut to give a pastel color effect like this beautiful Astteria ring:
The Perfect Placement & Style
When it comes to the style of jewelry for colored diamonds, follow your heart because, as they say, “the heart knows what it wants”. Several jewelers have different styles and color combinations you can choose from, so take your pick! And if you can’t find what you are looking for, you can customize a piece that will be yours alone. Exciting, right?
While style is entirely up to your imagination, placement is usually guided by very simple guidelines:
- When choosing earrings, make sure you go for a design that doesn’t overshadow your facial features. You don’t want your beauty to get drowned by the color, length, or size of the earing.
- When choosing a necklace, make sure that the piece sits on your neckline comfortably. Don’t get a piece that hangs so low that it can’t sit right or a piece that is choking you in a very unflattering way. When it comes to a diamond pendant though, feel free to express yourself.
- Lastly, with rings, make sure the size of the pendant is right; make sure the pendant is not too big for your finger because this will make your finger look either shorter or stubbier than they actually are. Secondly, pick a color that goes well with your skin tone; if you go with a diamond that has the exact same hue as your skin, it won’t look very flattering on your finger.
Fulfill your Fantasy
After knowing all this, you are ready to venture into the world of colored diamonds. This is a fairytale and you are the main character so fulfill your fantasy!