Colored Diamonds

Colored Diamonds

Colored diamonds can occur in nature, when in the natural course of events trace elements create color variations. This is strictly an event in nature and without the helpful intervention of man.

Colored diamonds are usually smaller than the colorless gems and there is a wide variation of colors and color combinations where the gem cannot be defined strictly as one color. These natural diamonds are usually quite valuable, and when purchasing, you should request a certificate from a grading lab.

Inclusions, or inner flaws in colored diamonds can sometimes contribute to the overall appearance by the way it reflects the colored light.
Featuring two different colored diamond in one piece such as a blue & white diamond pendant can add real interest to a piece as the colors constast and play off one another.

Color Treated Diamonds

Color treated diamonds are just as real as the ones created by nature. By color treating diamonds that are less desirable in the colorless version, because of inclusions or flaws, gemologists make available gems that are attractive, desirable and more affordable for many people.

To accomplish this, diamonds are treated in one of two ways. They are either irradiated followed by high heat, or they are exposed to a painting process.


Fancy Colored Diamonds

While there is always a high demand for the traditional colorless diamond, there is also some excitement created by the vibrant colors and hues of fancy colored diamonds. There are people who have a preference for the colored versions, or who want to add colored diamonds too, in vivid hues of greens, yellows, reds, pinks and all the different colors in between to their jewelry wardrobe.
Blue diamonds are an interesting variation as can be seen in this uniquely styled blue & white diamond ring .

The grading process of colored diamonds is somewhat different than that of the colorless traditional diamond. First, a colored diamond is graded based on the primary hue, the pink or blue or red coloration that comprises the majority of the diamond's color. Secondly, they are graded based on the intensity of their color. Very intense, naturally colored diamonds are more rare than the less intense diamond, and it will be valued more highly and be more expensive. A treated diamond will cost less than a naturally colored diamond in most instances.

Synthetic Diamonds

Most diamonds are found in nature and mined , but more recently, scientists are finding more ways to create synthetic diamonds. While a synthetic diamond is still a “real diamond” in that it has the same composition as those found in nature, they are created within a laboratory instead of by nature.

Colored Diamond Names

Fancy colored diamonds come in a wide variety of shades. This can make it difficult to interpret the name of the diamond's color. You will often find two colors defining the shade of a diamond, such as greenish blue. Each name has a primary color description, and some have a secondary color description. When a diamond is labeled “blue diamond”, you know it will be a blue shaded diamond gemstone. If, however, the diamond is labeled as “greenish blue”, you may question what that means. Is the diamond green, or is it blue in color? The primary color in this description stands on it's own, and the color with the added "ish" is the secondary color. In this example, blue becomes the primary color. Therefore, a greenish blue diamond will be primarily blue, with specks of green seen throughout the stone. If you see a diamond that is labeled “brown red”, then the diamond will be equal quantities of both colors