It is said that there is only one coloured diamond for every ten-thousand colourless. Described in the spectrum of light to vivid, coloured diamond are created by the chemistry and forces of nature that are highly infrequent. The ultimate celebration of uniqueness, each characterful colour is intensely individual, expressive and engaging
The most obvious benefit of buying certified diamonds and other gemstones is the insurance that you’re getting what you pay for, and that it is of the utmost quality and beauty. However, even if those things matter little to you, some other advantages to buying certified diamonds are:
If a certificate isn’t as important to you as the pleasure the diamond brings, there are advantages to buying non-certified diamonds:
While at-home methods for evaluating real vs. fake diamonds aren’t absolutely full-proof, they are surprisingly accurate. All you need is a couple of household items.
This is an extremely easy diamond test because all you need is sandpaper (and a bit of elbow grease). Simply rub the gritty side of the sandpaper against the stone. Diamonds are one of the world’s hardest materials, so a real diamond won’t be affected by the sandpaper and will remain in perfect condition. However, if it’s some type of fake diamond, then it will scratch.
The read-through test is exactly what it sounds like: a diamond test where you attempt to read text through the diamond. Any diamond that is unmounted in a setting or piece of jewellery also known as loose diamonds can be tested this way. Simply turn the diamond upside down on a sheet of paper with plain black text on it, and look through the upturned diamond to read it. It’s impossible to read through a real diamond, but fake diamonds will allow you make out the words printed on the page.
The way a stone reflects and refracts light is a good indication of its authenticity. The at-home sparkle test is a visual inspection of the stone’s behaviour in the light. A stone’s natural light refraction cannot be altered, so the light refraction or lack thereof of a gem is typically accurate. Synthetic, or fake, stones, sparkle less than real, or natural, diamonds.
With light reflection, look for shades of grey. Synthetic stones, such as cubic zirconia, sparkle with more iridescent colours. Natural diamonds reflect light in more greyish hues. So, if yours is a stone of many colours, it’s probably synthetic.
Contrary to popular belief, lab-created diamonds aren’t fake diamonds, they’re just made in different ways. That said, there are still some minor differences between the two that you should be aware of while researching.
While real diamonds are mined from the earth, lab-created diamonds are made using techniques know as Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) or High-Pressure Crystal Formation (HPHT). To create the diamonds, carbon atoms are extracted from high-pressure vapor in a chamber. This process creates the diamond layer by layer over time typically three months, though it can take longer. Real diamonds, on the other hand, can take thousands of years to form.
Contrary to popular belief, moissanite is not a lab-grown diamond. Moissanite was first discovered in the late 1800s in a meteor by Henri Moissan (hence the name). Moissan first assumed the clear particles were diamonds, but later discovered that these gemstones are not made from carbon, but silicon carbide
While moissanite is a naturally occuring substance, it’s difficult to find so the majority of today’s moissanite stones are created in labs. They’re almost identical to diamonds, but there are a few big differences.
One of the most easily identified differences between moissanite stones and authentic diamonds is the colour. The colours of natural diamonds are also more saturated, purer, than that of moissanite stones, which tend to appear to change colours as it disperses light throughout the gem. Although both produce stones that are yellow, clear or green, those with naturally red, blue, brown, black or purple tinted stones are likely in the diamond category.
stones, which tend to appear to change colours as it disperses light throughout the gem. Although both produce stones that are yellow, clear or green, those with naturally red, blue, brown, black or purple tinted stones are likely in the diamond category. Gemstone weight will also tell you whether you’re dealing with a diamond or moissanite. Moissanite stones weigh less than their diamond counter parts, no matter how similar or exact their physical shape is. This is a harder quality to assess yourself, unless you happen to have professional jewel equipment at home, unless you’re especially sensitive to the weight differences of two similar objects.
All diamonds sold by Rainbow Gems (HK) Ltd are guaranteed Conflict Free and have been purchased from legitimate sources that are not involved in funding conflict diamonds, and are in compliance with United Nations resolutions.
The way natural coloured diamonds are made is a process that takes place over millions and millions of years. Yeah, that's right, the stone on your finger is really, really, really old! Under conditions of immense pressure and unimaginable heat, Carbon elements form together into rough diamond rocks. The addition of colour is simply other elements that compound themselves together with the Carbon. Studies show that high levels of Nitrogen can cause Yellow colouring whereas Boron would cause a bluish tint. Different elements can have different affects to the stones we see. Also, other natural causes, such as radiation which is known to influence a greenish tint, can happen and that will affect the colour as well.
Natural fancy colour diamonds are completely authentic in every way. The colours were developed within the stones through nature and over millions of years formed into the rough stones found in the mines throughout the world. Experienced diamond polishers then work on the rough stones and create the final products we see today. But again, the colours seen are 100% natural unless otherwise stated.
Questioning the rarest natural diamond colour is actually quite a disputed topic. The majority of people in the trade will adamantly declare that natural red diamonds are in fact the rarest colour found. Although it might be true, absolutely pure violet diamonds are seen more infrequently then red diamonds. Therefore, if you were to ask us, we would say Violet, Red, and even Purple are among the rarest colours found.
With colourless diamonds the absence of colour is what makes them so precious. However, with fancy coloured diamonds, it is the presence of colour and the intensity of how it shines which makes these pieces so incredible and unique. Coloured diamonds are in essence the very same things, only the colours with which they are found make them 10,000 times rarer than the more common colourless stone.
Both colourless stones and natural fancy coloured diamonds are assessed by the same four main diamond attributes (colour, clarity, cut, and carat). However, unlike colourless stones where they are all considered equal value, the colour is significantly more important in fancy coloured diamonds. As a result of the rarity of these stones, not only are they used in the most fantastic and articulate pieces of diamond jewellery, but they are collected, traded, and utilized as exceptional sound investments as well.
People often get worried when considering such an important purchase, that they won't get an authentic product. That is actually one of the most common reasons people steer away from natural coloured diamonds. However, these people couldn't be any more wrong!
The addition of colour to the diamond is the minerals that exist in the compound element. It is actually the atomic structure of the stone itself. Having that said, as long as they can assure (with the help of a diamond certificate from GIA, IGI, EGL) that it is a NATURAL fancy coloured diamond, there is nothing to worry about. Coloured diamonds are just as "real" as any colourless stone out in the market today.
As nice as natural coloured diamonds are, some people tend not to approach these stones because they are simply not familiar with the trend. Though these diamonds are beautiful, they are different and unique. However, the colours we see in the diamonds are natural and authentic.
Since some natural fancy coloured diamonds are so unique, many can often demand a higher cost. As a result, in order to make it more affordable, there are a number of artificial enhancements that some companies make to their stones. First off, there is nothing "wrong" with purchasing an artificially enhanced diamond. However, cubic zirconium for example, which is a great example of a "fake" colourless stone, is not considered by the general public as an authentic stone as it is not a "real" diamond. Artificially enhanced coloured diamonds fall in a similar category. When searching for a coloured diamond, make sure it is certified NATURAL, and you have nothing to worry about.
In order to classify the types of diamonds available, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) developed a uniform list of 12 main colours, 90 secondary hues, 9 different intensity levels, and over 230 colour combinations. Diamonds are found with dominant colours of Yellow, Pink, Green, Champagne, Gary, Violet, Blue, Orange, Chameleon, Purple, Fancy White and Fancy Black. The 9 different intensity grades are Faint, Very Light, Light, Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid, Fancy Deep and Fancy Dark.
The market demand of certain diamond colours over the others has a strong affect on its price. However, the rarity of a natural fancy coloured diamond is actually one of the most influential characteristics of its value. Unlike colourless stones, where the "more beautiful" the stone the more expensive it will cost, fancy colour diamonds work on an entirely different price scale. Granted, beauty is essential for any product to sell, but "beauty" is the least of any quality diamond's troubles.
The rarest diamond colours, such as red, pink, violet, and blue diamonds can be found. However, even the "more common" coloured diamonds, such as brown and yellow stones account for less than 0.1% of colourless quality diamond carats. Natural fancy coloured diamonds are the rarest gemstones on the planet.
We live in amazing times, and given that fact, people today will find a way to do or create almost anything. Science has proved it possible to artificially enhance diamonds and actually influence the colours we see in the stones. However, one they are enhanced, because these stones are not natural, the World Federal Diamond Bureau (WFDB) and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) said that any stones have been artificially enhanced absolutely must make mention on the certificate as not to fool the consumer.
The first thing any of these lucky ladies will be flaunting after announcing the engagement will be the precious stone on her finger. What better way to prove how unique your love is than to present something that shows her love is like no other. People enjoy standing out from a crowed and there is no better way to do it than a sparkling coloured diamond engagement ring.
In fact, this fashion trend has attracted so much attention that some of the most famous celebrities have been seen about with their pink or yellow diamond engagement rings.
As a result of a depleting supply and a very high demand, the realized prices paid at auction for these colours has increased at a phenomenal rate far beyond other investment options one may consider.
When it comes to value there are almost no other assets that retain value as well as coloured diamonds. Even the strongest alternative investment options in the market, such as Platinum or Gold, have seen a shaky ground through history. However, as a hard asset which people physically claim into their possession, together with the ease of mobility, fancy coloured diamonds have recently become sought after by some of the most influential economists as exceptional investment options.
In general, natural fancy colour diamonds are indeed worth more per carat than white diamonds. However, the diamond characteristics will determine the value of the stone. That means that although a natural fancy vivid yellow diamond is worth far more per carat than a white diamond, if it was only 0.50 carats with a low clarity grade and the value was compared with a 50.00 carat flawless white diamonds, logically the white diamond would be worth a lot more.
One of the greatest benefits of a coloured stone is that one cannot say that any specific diamond colour is more beautiful than another. When looking at a colourless stone one can clearly say that a whiter stone, a D colour for example, is indeed more beautiful than a J-H-I coloured stone. However, colours speak to people in different ways since people familiarize certain colour tones to certain moods or special moments in their life. Regardless of how rare the stone is, some might prefer a blue diamond because they see luxury or prestige while others go for a pink because of the passion and femininity.
Fancy colour diamonds are made with 12 main natural diamond colours, 9 intensity grades, and over 230 color combinations. Just have a look at the World of Colours to get a clearer idea of how many variations each stone offers! The image below depicts Pink, Blue, and Green Diamonds with only single colours at different intensity levels.
Some people scare from the words like luxury, thinking this is definitely not for their crowed. Especially after reading such stories of high price tags, or how fancy coloured diamonds broke over 13 price records between 2007 and 2012 in the largest auction houses in the world. However, what most people don't realize is that not all colours or intensities are considered "high priced." In fact, a nice Champagne diamond sells for about 30% less than a comparable Yellow diamond and can cost half of what a quality white diamond of the same quality would run them.
The prices of coloured diamonds vary according to the rarity and market demand. Meaning, that through the wide selection of stones available it isn't all that difficult to find one that fits within your price range.
Take all the information you have learned and browse through some of the loveliest precious stones available in the market. You would be surprised at some of the products you can find!
Yes, fancy diamonds will definitely become trendier in the coming years. They are already on the rise in Asian markets. A shift in purchasing habits towards unique, personalized pieces coupled with the fact that coloured diamonds will always be as rare as they are now will cause fancy diamonds to be more and more desirable.
The colours that have been discovered are: pink, blue, yellow “canary” diamonds, orange, red, green, purple engagement rings, grey, black diamond and brown chocolate diamonds engagement rings. Canary diamonds are the most commonly found fancy diamonds; on the other hand, pink diamond engagement rings and blue diamonds are extremely rare. A chocolate diamond engagement ring is becoming increasingly sought after, seen as a way to stand out from the crowd.