Most people are familiar with the vibrant hues of precious gemstones like rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, but many aren’t aware that natural and lab-grown diamonds also come in a spectrum of shades. While there’s nothing quite like the classic and timeless beauty of a colorless diamond, fancy color diamonds have become a highly sought-after alternative. Whether set in an engagement ring or other type of fine jewelry, they give a personalized edge to any piece. Here's an introduction to these unique stones.
What Are Fancy Color Diamonds?
Traditional diamonds have a certain chemical and physical composition that leaves them light yellow to colorless. These are graded on a scale from D-Z, with D being the most transparent. Fancy color diamonds refer to any diamond that exhibit a hue beyond white, or past the Z range. These are available in just about every color you can imagine.
How Do They Get Their Color?
Natural fancy color diamonds get their coloring as they’re formed, similar to white diamonds. During the formation process, intense heat and pressure produce trace elements that reflect color. A diamond’s hue is determined by the chemical elements that are present. For example, yellow diamonds are created from exposure to nitrogen, while blue diamonds get their color from contact with boron. With lab-grown diamonds, color occurs artificially via irradiation treatment. The vibrancy of color will depend on how the trace elements interact with carbon atoms.
How Are They Graded?
Fancy color diamonds are graded according to the GIA’s color grading system. This is based on three main attributes: hue, tone, and saturation. Hue refers to the diamond’s primary color, while tone is how dark or light the coloring is, and saturation is the intensity of the color. The more brilliant the shade, the higher the stone’s value.
Are Fancy Color Diamonds Rare?
It’s estimated that only 1 in 10,000 diamonds can be classified as fancy color. Yellow and brown are the most common, as many natural white diamonds show a faint tint of these colors. However, deeper shades of yellow and brown are still considered scarce. Red is the rarest color for mined diamonds, making it the highest valued. Blue, green, and pink diamonds are also rare, especially in darker tones.
Whether you prefer traditional diamonds or you’re interested in adding a fancy-colored diamond to your collection, our staff at Anderson’s Fine Jewelry in Redding, CA will help you find the perfect piece. You can also work with our in-house jeweler to create a custom fine jewelry design that features the stones of your choosing. We have access to a wide selection of high-quality, one-of-a-kind stones our customers can pick from. Call (530) 223-3443 to schedule an appointment or visit us online to view some diamond options.
