Fancy Color Diamonds

Fancy Color Diamond Terminology




What colors do fancy color diamonds exist in?

Natural colored diamonds come in all shades, hues and colors of the rainbow, with some of the most popular colors being shades and combinations of pink, blue, brown, yellow, orange, green and red. They are generally smaller than other diamonds and are used primarily in fashion jewelry. Yellow is the most commonly-occurring fancy color, while red, blue and green diamonds are extremely rare.

How can we interpret color names for fancy color diamonds?

The predominant hue is always expressed as a noun, such as "pink." Any secondary colors will precede the primary hue and are usually expressed with an "ish" at the end, such as purplish pink. This means that the primary hue is pink with some hints of purple throughout.

If the grade is stated as two nouns - like "brown pink," it means that the two colors are virtually even throughout the stone.

A Fancy Color Diamond Adds Pizzazz to Your Jewelry

As buyers, we spend a lot of time evaluating a diamond's lack of color. It's a desirable trait that drives demand–and diamond prices–upwards. But on the other end of the spectrum is another group of diamonds, ones we want to be colorful. These fancy color diamonds exist in a rainbow of vivid hues – yellows, reds, pinks, blues, greens, purples, and shades in-between.

Natural fancy color diamonds get their coloring in different ways:

From different trace elements present in the stones, such as nitrogen, which produces a yellow diamond.

From exposure to radiation during the diamond's creation. Green diamonds are an example of gems affected by radiation.

Inclusions, regarded as undesirable in a colorless stone, often contribute unique tones and interesting flashes of color in a fancy color diamond.

Making the Color More Intense

Fancy color diamonds are more popular than ever, so gemologists have developed ways to create affordable versions by treating less desirable diamonds.

Irradiation, followed by a high heat treatment, turns brownish and yellow diamonds into colorful show-stoppers, and at a price you can afford.

Treatments make it possible for more of us to own these vivid diamonds, because most natural colored diamonds are rare and expensive. You should assume that any affordable fancy color diamond has been treated in some way. If you question a stone's origins, ask for a lab certificate to verify its authenticity.

Synthetic Diamonds are Another Option

Synthetic colored diamonds are another option. They're real diamonds, but they are created in a lab. Synthetics make owning a fancy color diamond a reality for those of us who couldn't afford a natural stone.