Imagine stumbling upon a secret that the Earth has been keeping under wraps for billions of years! Natural colored diamonds are a rare and enchanting treasure that seems straight out of a fairy tale. These are not your run-of-the-mill gemstones. No. They are so much more. Fancy colored diamonds are Mother Nature’s finest creations. These beauties don’t just sparkle in your usual white. They come in an eye-catching kaleidoscope of colors, such as pink, yellow, blue, green, purple and even red.
So, if you find yourself spellbound by the rainbow hues or rarity of colored diamonds, trust me, you are not alone. So, let’s delve into the dazzling realm of these rare and colorful gems. We’ll explore why they are nature’s most stunning enigma!
What Are Natural Colored Diamonds?
Natural colored diamonds are like little pieces of art from the Earth. They come in a wide range of beautiful hues, from soft pastels to vibrant tones. These colored diamonds get their hues from chemical impurities and structural anomalies that develop deep within the Earth. These differences contribute to each colored diamond’s character and appeal.
The Rainbow Realm of Colored Diamonds
Did you know that only 1 in every 10,000 comes out as a naturally colored diamond? That’s because colored diamonds require very specific conditions to form. These gems form naturally over billions of years. Isn’t that fascinating? Let’s explore how some of these naturally colored diamonds get their hues!
- Blue Diamonds: These gems flaunt their beautiful hue thanks to the presence of boron impurities.
- Yellow Diamonds: These gems owe their stunning color to the presence of nitrogen within the crystal lattice.
- Pink Diamonds: These gorgeous gems derive their vibrant hues from a unique distortion in their crystal structure. It occurs due to the intense heat and pressure they experience during their formation within the earth.
- Green Diamonds: These diamonds owe their lovely color to the natural radiation they are exposed to within the Earth during their formation.
- Black Diamonds: These black beauties get their sleek color from a bunch of tiny mineral inclusions such as graphite, pyrite and hematite. These minerals are trapped inside as the diamond forms, scattering light and giving the stone its beautiful dark appearance.
- Brown Diamonds: These gems owe their unique hue to structural imperfection and nitrogen impurities in the diamond’s crystal lattice.
Unique Hues, Unique Symbolism
Each natural colored diamond has a unique symbolism and allure.
- Blue Diamonds: These gems stand for love, commitment and regality.
- Yellow Diamonds: These beauties remind us of sunshine, symbolizing positivity, prosperity and happiness.
- Pink Diamonds: These gorgeous diamonds are all about femininity, romance and individuality.
- Green Diamonds: With their rarity and unique color, these stones are a beautiful symbol of the vibrant energy of nature. They are like a refreshing breath of fresh air, embodying vitality and life.
- Black Diamonds: These sparkling beauties in black represent mystery, strength and elegance.
- Brown Diamonds: These stones are a powerful symbol of stability, clarity and dependability.
The 4 Cs of Natural Colored Diamonds
Here are the 4 factors that help determine the quality and value of these colorful sparklers!
Color
White diamonds are graded on a diamond color scale from colorless (D) down to pale yellow (Z). However, natural colored diamonds are evaluated based on how saturated their color is. The most valuable and rare fancy colored diamonds are the ones with rich pinks, blues and greens.
Grading colored diamonds can be a bit challenging because each diamond’s color intensity is unique. On top of that, each certifying agency follows its own grading system. However, the most common color grades are Light, Fancy, Dark, Intense, Deep and Vivid. As the color grade moves from light to Vivid, the value of diamond increases. You can find natural colored diamonds and lab color diamonds in all grades on our website.
Cut
When it comes to choosing a cut for natural colored diamonds, don’t forget that the style can also affect the hue! Fancy shapes such as radiant cuts are a popular choice because they make the color pop. So, if you want to amp up the intensity of your gemstone’s hue, consider opting for a radiant cut.
Clarity
Even if a colored diamond has many inclusions affecting its clarity, it can still fetch a great price if it showcases a beautiful face-up hue. However, if these inclusions pose a threat to the diamond’s durability, its value can decrease significantly.
Carat Weight
Natural colored diamonds are a rare find. Large colored diamonds are hard to come by and have a higher value than smaller ones.
Know the Origins
Did you know that certain regions of the Earth have a greater likelihood of producing certain colors of diamonds? For example, you can find yellow diamonds in South Africa, as well as in Australia and Brazil. Blue diamonds, on the other hand, are mainly mined in the Cullinan mine near Pretoria, South Africa and the Argyle mine in Australia.
The Argyle mine in Australia does not just produce blue diamonds. It is also famous for supplying over 90% of the world’s natural pink diamonds! Quite fascinating, isn’t it? Africa and South America are where you can find natural green diamonds. And if you are looking for brown diamonds, Botswana, Russia, South Africa and Australia are some of the major sources.
As for black diamonds, you will only find them in Brazil and the Central African Republic. Isn’t it truly wonderful to think about how these diverse regions bless us with such incredible natural wonders?
Famous Colored Diamonds
Natural colored diamonds have a fascinating and rich history. We have the Hope Diamond, which is undoubtedly one of the most famous colored diamonds known for its charismatic blue hue and enigmatic history. The Tiffany Diamond is one of the largest yellow diamonds and it has been worn by famous celebrities, including Audrey Hepburn and Lady Gaga. The Dresden Green Diamond is another fascinating discovery. This sparkler is considered one of the finest green diamonds with a color of natural origin. We also have the Pink Star diamond, which was formerly known as the Steinmetz Pink.
If you want to learn more about these iconic diamonds and a few others that have captivated people with their breathtaking beauty throughout history, check out our blog on 20 Most Famous Diamonds of the World.
Celebrities and Colored Diamond Jewelry
Over the years, we have spotted many celebrities owning or adorning themselves with jewelry featuring stunning colored diamonds. Let’s take a look at a few!
Nicole Kidman
The actress stole the show at the 2022 Academy Awards with her unforgettable red carpet appearance! She made heads turn with her stunning yellow diamond jewelry including a necklace, ring and earrings. She truly glowed on the big night.
Blake Lively
Ryan Reynolds proposed to the Gossip Girl actress with a swoon-worthy 12-carat pink oval-cut diamond engagement ring.
Jennifer Lopez
J.Lo has owned some gorgeous engagement rings over the years, including ones with natural colored diamonds! Ben Affleck popped the question to Lopez for the first time after they met on the set of Gigli. He did so with a stunning 6-carat pink diamond ring.
However, their engagement didn’t last long. Later on, J.Lo reconnected with her ex-boyfriend, Anthony. He proposed to her with a beautiful 8.5-carat blue diamond ring. The couple tied the knot and stayed married for a decade before officially getting divorced in June 2014.
In April 2021, after 17 years of going their separate ways, Lopez and Affleck found their way back to each other. Just a year after that, Affleck proposed to Lopez once again, this time with a stunning 8.5-carat green diamond ring. However, the couple separated once again in August 2024.
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson’s engagement ring sparkles with a beautiful 5-carat canary yellow diamond surrounded by white diamonds.
Carmen Electra
Imagine being proposed to by a gorgeous black beauty! That’s exactly what happened when the talented guitarist Rob Patterson proposed to former Baywatch star Carmen Electra. He popped the question with a breathtaking 2-carat black diamond engagement ring.
Anna Kournikova
Guess what’s even more amazing than having one rare engagement ring? Having two! Tennis sensation Anna Kournikova owns not one but two incredibly rare sparklers from Latin heartthrob, Enrique Iglesias. The first engagement ring features an 11-carat pink pear-cut diamond surrounded by trillion side stones. The second engagement ring showcases a stunning yellow radiant diamond with trillion-cut diamonds on either side. Anna sure is a lucky woman!
Final Thoughts
Are you ready to step into the mesmerizing world of natural colored gemstones? It is a place where beauty, rarity and symbolism come together to shine brightly.
At GemsNY, you can discover an impressive collection of high-end natural colored diamonds. These gems are 100% conflict-free and a perfect match for every taste. So, what are you waiting for? Shop something colorful and sparkling today!
