Ever since Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck's nuptials (again), colored diamonds have seen another resurgence. Last time colored diamonds were in the spotlight was when Bennifer got engaged back in 2002. But colored diamonds have quite the history.
What are colored diamonds?
According to geology.com "Colored diamonds are diamonds that have a noticeable body-color when viewed in the face-up position". The variety of colors include yellow, green, blue, pink, and the rarest of all red.
A bit of H I S T O R Y
The color-grading system dates all the way back to the Sixth Century. Once used as a badge of rank, the color system was based on an ancient class structure. Members of specific status were permitted to wear only diamonds of a specific color. Thankfully the color-grading systems have evolved a lot since that time.
R A R E
Large Vivid Fancy are extremely rare and valuable. Only one in every 10,000 diamonds mined has a fancy color grade.
"The Hancock Red is one of the most famous red diamonds. At the time of its sale in 1987 it was the most expensive per-carat gemstone ever sold at auction. The hammer came down at $880,000—a remarkable $926,315 per carat, eight times its pre-sale estimate. [The total weight is only 0.95]".
-GIA
"The Pink Star, formerly known as the Steinmetz Pink,is a diamond weighing 59.60 carat (11.92 g), rated in color as Fancy Vivid Pink by the Gemological Institute of America".
-Wikipedia
On April 3rd, 2017, The Pink Star became the most expensive gem ever auctioned. The rare beauty was sold at an auction in Hong Kong for $71.2 million, shattering every price in current history.
Buyer B E W A R E
It is important to note that natural colored diamonds have a higher ticket price because of their uniqueness. This often causes manufacturers to "enhance" their diamonds. While there is nothing inherently wrong with treated diamonds, however, it's imperative that their identities are disclosed. A treated diamond is going to have a lower price tag. A GIA certified gemologist can assist you with choosing the right diamond.
Color me P R E T T Y
Because of the rarity of colored diamonds we couldn't be more thrilled than we are right now with our current acquisitions.
This 4.13-carat Light Yellow cushion cut is set in a delicate 18K yellow gold mounting. Perfect for that special, one-of-a-kind engagement ring. Or worn as an everyday cocktail ring.
This one has us B L U S H I N G
A 3.37 carat Fancy Light Pink diamond expertly set in a 14K white gold halo mounting with just a dash of rose gold to naturally enhance the color.
A ray of S U N S H I N E
Finding one color-diamond is extraordinary, but finding two matching Natural Fancy Yellow diamonds is exceedingly rare. A set of stud earrings totaling 4.83 carats, (that's just over 2 carats each!), set in 14K yellow gold is an ideal investment to add to any jewelry collection.
With colored diamonds you have the benefit of vibrancy combined with the hardness of the stone. Many colored stones are fragile and can crack easily, diamonds however are one of the strongest materials produced by the earth.
Sources: GIA, Wikipedia, Geology.com