Are there colored diamonds? What colors are available in Fancy Color diamonds?
Suddenly affordable: Your dream diamond becomes affordable
Fancy Color Diamonds are extremely rare in nature and extremely expensive.
Color is what sells a colored stone.
Color is what sells a colored stone. It is the “special” quality that catches the eye, often before the stone is even cut.
Availability Fancy Color Lab Diamonds
Please note that even with Lab diamonds, fancy color diamonds are not a dime a dozen. Fancy Color diamonds are also something rare, exclusive and precious in Lab diamonds.
Green World Diamonds has excellent direct contacts to the best “Fancy Color Laboratories” and is specialized in finding special colored stones in good quality for you!
Lab Grown Diamonds in “Fancy Colors Diamonds”, colored diamonds
Lab-grown diamonds are produced in a range of colors and can prove cost-effective for those seeking large colored diamonds that are significantly rarer. Thanks to Lab Grown diamonds, fancy colors that are extremely rare in nature and cost 100’s of thousands or even millions are suddenly affordable!
How about a real “Fancy Color Diamond” e.g. Yellow, Blue or Pink which for a long time were only reserved for the stars and the super rich?
Fancy Color Lab Diamonds
→ same chemical composition and crystal structure as mined diamonds
Lab diamonds should not be confused with “simulants” which have different chemical, physical and optical properties.
Fancy Color Diamonds → more valuable/expensive than White Diamonds
Colored diamonds are rare and beautiful gemstones. These “fancy” diamonds are often more valuable than colorless diamonds and make truly stunning and outstanding pieces of jewelry. But while white diamonds are uniformly versatile, fancy colored diamonds should be set in settings that accentuate their exceptional color and beauty.
Colored diamonds are the “orchids” among gemstones (French mineralogist RJ Hauy). One look at a red or blue diamond and you will understand his feelings. These diamonds are delicate, beautiful and rare. From playful pink to beguiling black; the world of diamonds is not a colorless world. In fact, there is a whole spectrum to explore.
Buying Tips Fancy Color Diamonds
What should I look out for when buying Fancy Color diamonds? How is the color of colored diamonds assessed and classified? What are the different colors of diamonds? What color saturations are available with Fancy Color diamonds?
Diamond color saturation: Saturation-Tone Grade: Faint, Light, Fancy, Intense, Dark, Deep, Vivid
What color saturations and color intensities are available with Fancy Color diamonds? How are Fancy Color Diamonds classified? How does color saturation affect the price and value of colored diamonds?
- dark Fancy: Fancy Color Diamonds e.g. Blue, Pink etc.
- Dark
- light/pastel fancy
- Faint
- very light
- Light
- Fancy Light
- Fancy
Weak (pastel) shade -> idR. lower price. However, with Lab Grown Diamonds, a lighter color such as light blue can be more difficult to produce and require better diamond quality than a darker color and therefore be rarer and more expensive.
- Fancy (rich intense colors); Fancy Color Diamonds e.g. Yellow, Blue, Pink etc.
- Fancy Intense
- Fancy Vivid
- Fancy Deep
More expensive → “brightest color saturation” (dark color saturation) – real deep yellow, blue, pink and orange tones.
Fancy Color Diamonds: yeah, right. The stones that until now only stars and the extremely rich could afford have now become affordable. Of course, they are also very special and rare in Lab Grown diamonds.
In Fancy Color diamonds, the rarest and most valuable colors are saturated pinks, blues and greens. Red, green and blue diamonds with medium to dark tones and moderate saturation are extremely rare.
Generally, the rule of thumb is:
- The purer and more intense a color is (without secondary tones), the more valuable it is.
- Plus, if paired with an even rarer secondary color (e.g. Pink, Blue, Orange, Green, Purple, Red), this can also be very beneficial.
Diamond clarity, Diamond Clarity
In Fancy Color Diamonds, even diamonds with numerous inclusions (low clarity SI & I) are appreciated by connoisseurs if they have an attractive face-up color. Most colored mined diamonds fall somewhere in the SI-I clarity range. Mined diamonds with VS clarity or better are extremely rare.
Only around 23% of Fancy Color diamonds are VS or better, with almost exactly half of them classified as VS2 (i.e. only around 11% VS1 or purer).
Jewelry and metal choice for fancy color diamonds
Which jewelry and which metal should I choose for colored diamonds? What should be considered when choosing the metal, gold, platinum for Fancy Color Diamond jewelry and rings?
- Platinum & 18 carat yellow or rose gold inline with the diamond color
- Possibly smaller white diamonds combined
→ enhances the contrast and brings out the Fancy Color color ideally - Small diamonds combined in the same color
- Customized Ring-Setting e.g. designed and cast/forged in Switzerland
Matches “Yellow” Fancy Color Diamond
- Everything in yellow gold or rose gold
…brings out warm color - Only prongs in yellow gold and ring bar in platinum
- Classic without additional diamonds
- “Halo” Yellow small diamonds combined
- Larger Yellow “Side-Stones”
- “Halo” white small diamonds combined or larger white “side-tones”.
Blue” Fancy Color Diamond goes with
- Everything in platinum
- Rose gold or red gold
…gives a vintage touch - Classic without additional diamonds
- “Halo” white small diamonds combined
- Larger white “Side-Stones”
- “Halo” Pink small diamonds combined
- Bigger “Pink Side-Stones”
Matches “Pink” Fancy Color Diamond
- Everything in rose gold or red gold
- Only prongs in rose gold and ring bar in platinum
- Everything in platinum (very beautiful and is also often done)
- Classic without additional diamonds
- “Halo” white small diamonds combined
- Larger white “Side-Stones”
- “Halo” Blue/Green Diamonds Combined
- Larger Blue/Green “Side-Stones”
The following jewellery settings go perfectly with Fancy Color Diamonds
Halo or 3-Stone Settings for Fancy Color Diamonds
Fancy diamonds often do not have the same brilliance as colorless diamonds. The color of the diamond will not sparkle/brilliance as much, even in shapes that are often known for their brilliant-like appearance and round brilliant shapes. If you love the look of colored rainbow arrows, add brilliance to your fancy diamond jewelry with a diamond halo or 3-stone setting. Choose colorless white diamonds surrounding your fancy stone in the center of the jewelry to add fire and more attention to the colorful stone.
Fancy diamonds are the ideal choice for jewelry if you appreciate the value, durability, rarity, and color of a gemstone. Diamonds with fancy hues are incredibly rare and unique in nature and make stunning gems for any jewelry design. Choose metallic tones that bring out the beauty of the stone’s color, and add colorless diamonds to enhance the brilliance.
Green World Diamonds will be happy to support and advise you.
Fancy Color Diamonds: Classification 4 Cs and Diamond Fluorescence
VS 1, VS 2:
- eyeclean
- occasionally
I.F., VVS 1, VVS 2:
- valuable ->investment
- better for taller
- Brilliant cut -> lots of sparkle
- Step cut -> “icy look
SI 1, 2, I 1-3:
- 77% Mined diamonds
- Color hides inclusions better
Diamond purity, diamond clarity (inclusions and flaws)
See also section “CLARITY” at “White Diamonds“.
→ here we limit ourselves to differences & specific characteristics of Fancy Color Diamonds.
Color (high color intensity) = dominant value factor
Clarity/purity = less decisive than for white diamonds
Even diamonds with numerous inclusions (low SI &I clarity grades)
→ appreciated by connoisseurs, IFS attractive face-up color
Critical = inclusions that threaten the durability of the diamond
Clariy Frequency of Mined Diamonds Fancy Color:
SI & I | most | 77% |
VS-Clarity or better | occasionally | 23% |
VS1-Clarity or better | extremely rare | 11% |
Fancy Color diamonds can have colored “grit” (bands or lines of color)
= inclusions (considered as inclusions)
Inclusions can affect the way light enters and exits the diamond, affecting the sparkle and shine for which diamonds are famous.
Color → “hides” inclusions better than clear white diamonds
Often ” white” inclusions like feathers and clouds are hidden by the diamond color.
Black inclusions and diamond integrity threatening inclusions are significantly depreciating in value.
Budget Tips Fancy Color Diamonds
Price-conscious buyers can choose diamonds with some degree of inclusions, as most inclusions are not visible to the naked eye. Clarity is not as important in Fancy Color Diamonds due to their rarity, especially in the less common colors like red and pink.
Diamond Color of Fancy Color Diamonds, Diamond Color of Fancy Color Diamonds
Atomic elements and structure -> influence the color
Deep & clear shades = higher prices than weak or pale shades
Unlike colorless diamonds, fancy color diamonds are valued less for brilliance or fire and more for color intensity.
Diamonds are mainly made of carbon. However, there are other elements that are part of the diamond’s internal structure, and these affect the color grade of fancy color diamonds.
Type I diamonds
- Diamonds WITH nitrogen (N) atoms (= “nitrogen group”)
- approx. 98% of all mined diamonds
- IaAB, IaA, IaB and Ib (depending on the way nitrogen combines with carbon in the internal structure of the diamond).
- white diamonds → nitrogen in them is not “light-absorbing
- e.g. yellow (Yellow), orange (Orange) → nitrogen in them absorbs color
- brown, in some blue & green & in australian pink diamonds
Type II diamonds
- almost 100% nitrogen-free (= WITHOUT nitrogen)
- approx. 2% of all mine diamonds → very rare group of diamonds
Type IIa diamonds
- purest diamonds = consist almost entirely of carbon
- they can be colorless (White), brown (Brown) or pink (Pink)
- for white diamonds are TypeII
☑️ purest
☑️ rarest
☑️ most expensive
Type IIb diamonds
- ultra-red and nitrogen-free
- blue fancy diamonds (Fancy Color BLUE)
- contain boron (B) atoms → this boron in the otherwise pure carbon atom structure is responsible for the blue color in blue fancy diamonds
- conduct electricity
The most famous diamonds, the Blue Hope Diamond, as well as the Dresden Green and the Great Conde Pink, are all fancy colored diamonds that are undeniably some of the most exciting and valuable diamonds around.
Since about 1960, fancy colors have attracted more and more attention and are passionately sought after by collectors and connoisseurs . Fancy colored diamonds, especially blue and red gemstones, have reached the highest diamond prices ever achieved.
Description and analysis of Fancy Color Diamonds
The color recognition of diamonds is extremely complex. IGI and other certification companies use state-of-the-art technologies for this purpose. Fancy Color diamonds are also judged by the 4C’s, but the analysis of the “Color” differs!
Rate Graders:
- Hue (Hue)
- Tone (Tone)
- Saturation
The human eye can distinguish about 13 million shades and nuances of color. To distinguish and differentiate color, a three-dimensional approach is used. We measure:
Diamond shade, Diamond Hue
Hue (hue)
= total body color of a diamond → “characteristic color”.
→ Primary & Secondary Color
The “basic” natural fantasy colors are: black, white opalescent, grey, brown, yellow, orange, lime, green, blue, purple and pink. Red, exists, but is infinitely rare. These colors can also be described in combination. The seven most basic hues are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet and purple.
Diamond Tone, Diamond Tone
Tone
= brightness or darkness of a diamond in relation to the body color
→ relative brightness or darkness of the color
Desirable is a shade that
- not so far to the black / not too dark
- not so far to the white / not too bright
(color not well visible)
That being said, darkness can visually favor certain hues, while brightness can visually favor others.
Diamond color saturation: Saturation-Tone Grade: Faint, Light, Fancy, Intense, Dark, Deep, Vivid
Saturation
= intensity (strength) or the degree/depth/strength of the color
the degree of strength, purity or intensity of the color present
The “strength” of a color is expressed in a saturation tone: light, dark, intense, deep, or vivid.
saturation-tone grade: light, dark, intense, deep, vivid
Sometimes a single, generic color without a prefix is used to describe the color result of a diamond.
GIA “Fancy Color Diamonds” classification in increasing color strength:
- Faint
- Very Light
- Light
- Fancy Light
- Fancy
- Fancy Intense
- Fancy Vivid
- Fancy Dark
- Fancy Deep
As a rule, the color that stands out the most is the most valuable. In this case
“Fancy Intense”, “Fancy Vivid” and “Fancy Deep” the highest prices
Secondary colors or modifying colors
- 1 single shade, e.g. a fancy yellow
- second or even third color, which contributes to their final color determination
Secondary or modifying colors are also evaluated as they affect the overall hue of the fantasy color
→ 20 additional descriptors with combination of basic shades:
- Orangish Red,
- Reddish Orange,
- Yellowish-Orange,
- Yellow-Orange,
- Orange-Yellow,
- Orangish Yellow,
- Greenish-Yellow,
- Green-Yellow,
- Yellow-Green,
- Yellowish-Green,
- Bluish-Green,
- Blue-Green,
- Green-Blue,
- Greenish-Blue,
- Violetish-Blue,
- Bluish-Violet,
- Reddish-Purple,
- Red-Purple,
- Purple-Red,
- Purplish-Red.
Refraction & fluorescence also play a role in color perception
Since we all perceive colors slightly differently, color differentiation ultimately becomes very subjective. In classification labs like IGI, professional gemologists analyzing thousands of examples are more competent, consistent and accurate in differentiating and identifying the final color grade of fancy color diamonds.
3D color universe of Fancy Color diamonds
Hue, Tone, and Saturation
Using the Munsell Color System parameters, Fancy Color diamonds are graded by measuring the hue, saturation, light to dark tone (value) and uniformity of the diamond’s color distribution. Through this disciplined approach, gemologists determine the end result of a diamond’s color.
Pictures with permission of IGI “Courtesy of International Gemological Institute”.
Quality and price of Fancy Color diamonds
Quality & price of Fancy Color Diamonds mainly depends on
1. the “rarity” of the color
2. the “strength”: higher tone (Tone) and higher saturation (Saturation)
While clarity and carat play an essential role in grading a colorless diamond, the quality and price of colored diamonds depend significantly on the strength of their color. Stones that have a strong, singular color fetch higher prices than those with a weak color or secondary hue. In the case of color, this means that a diamond is generally more valuable the more color it carries → higher tone and saturation.
When buying colored diamonds, look for visible inclusions and consider the shape and intended setting, as certain shapes and settings can accentuate the color.
Four main price color groups and price categories of Fancy Color diamonds
- Relatively affordable colored diamonds
- Grey, brown and extravagant yellow diamonds
- Middle price range
- Intense and vivid yellow diamonds and orange diamonds
- High price range
- Pink, purple, violet, green and blue diamonds
- Ultra High
- Only one color is without doubt the rarest diamond color, which is also the most expensive: red
Diamond cut quality, Diamond CUT
Image courtesy of IGI “Courtesy of International Gemological Institute”
See also section “CUT” at “White Diamonds“.
→ here we limit ourselves to differences & specific characteristics of Fancy Color Diamonds.
The cut of a diamond refers to the workmanship of the diamond, the number of facets, and the proportion of the arrangement of the facets that optimize the sparkling quality we associate with diamonds. It is also important because it can enhance the diamond and increase its value.
“Fancy Color Diamonds” → Cut so that color is maximized
The deeper the pavilion (lower half of a diamond) → more color
Common shapes = Cushion, Radiant, Pear, Oval
Unlike white diamonds, “Fancy Color” are cut to maximize the color. Certain shapes intensify the fantasy color, and the deeper the pavilion (lower half of a diamond), the more color is returned to the eye. It is not uncommon to see yellow diamonds in radiant cuts, as the mixed cut enhances the yellow hue.
Shape and cut play a big role in the color of a diamond. Since color is the primary determinant of price, diamonds are cut to retain the most color and pay less attention to clarity, symmetry, proportion, etc. In fact, many colored diamonds have deep pavilions because it allows light to travel farther and often presents a richer color to the eye.
Round (Brilliant) shape is rare with “Fancy Color Diamonds”; more common are Fancy Shapes, which do not soften or even intensify the color.
While the shape is different from the cut quality, it also plays a big role in the color. The “Rounds/Brillant” shape, for example, was created to enhance the sparkle in white diamonds and make them appear whiter. For this reason, very few rough colored diamonds are saturated enough to be cut into round shapes.
To maximize color, many are cut into fancy shapes like radiants, pears and ovals. Some fancy shapes even offer a higher yield of rough diamonds, resulting in a better carat weight and a more desirable diamond.
To accentuate the depth of their shading, diamonds in Fancy Color are usually available in Cushion or Radiant shapes. Other shapes that might affect the color are rarer, which makes them more expensive.
Diamond Fluorescence, Diamond Flueoescence
The same stones as with an ultraviolet lamp (top) and normal illumination (bottom).
See also section “FLUORESCENCE” at “White Diamonds“.
→ here we limit ourselves to differences & specific characteristics of Fancy Color Diamonds.
Fluorescence can enhance “Fancy Color” but often has no effect on “Fancy Color Diamonds”.
In Fancy “Pink” for example, fluorescence is very common and affects beauty idR. not
Diamond fluorescence can enhance a fancy color, but fluorescence often has no effect on a fancy color diamond under normal viewing conditions. Yellow diamonds that fluoresce yellow become more vivid under direct sunlight or UV light, but many yellow diamonds actually fluoresce blue. If you find a diamond with complementary fluorescence, the color is only intensified or supported.