Diamonds come in every color of the rainbow — so why do most people think of them as being white? Because almost all of them are. Here, a primer on the rare, ravishing, colored stones known as fancy diamonds — and what wearing them can mean.
To learn more about these mesmerizing treasures, please contact us: 214-522-2400.
Fancy diamonds are extremely rare — only one in 10,000 has a noticeable color — and exceptionally beautiful. Yellow, pink, red, green, blue, brown: There is a diamond to match every preference, mood and meaning. But how do these brilliant beauties happen? Impurities, elements or structural defects in chemical composition — all considered imperfections in other gems — are precisely what make fancy diamonds extraordinary. The rarer and more vivid the color, the higher the diamond’s value will be. Stunning and dramatic, these gems are miracles of nature.
Look for a fancy diamond that is richly, evenly colored. Unlike with white diamonds, a great body color is more important than clarity. Fancy diamonds are cut a bit differently, too. The goal is to maximize their unusual color instead of their flashes of light. And, something to consider: Fancy colored diamonds are a phenomenal way to store wealth in a highly portable form — with the marvelous benefit of making for a stunning piece of jewelry.
Below, explore how each fancy diamond is formed — and all the meanings they possess.
HOW THEY HAPPEN
Natural pink diamonds gain their appearance from subtle alignment changes in a stone’s carbon atoms, known as atomic distortion or lattice distortion. The arrangements of the atoms in the crystal from the heat and pressure in the earth determine the color a stone becomes. This is the same structural anomaly that causes a diamond to appear red, purple or brown. Most pink diamonds today came from the Argyle mine in Australia, which has now been depleted.
WHAT THEY MEAN
Passion and power.
HOW THEY HAPPEN
Yellow diamonds are found in most diamond mines around the world. The biggest sources are South Africa, Australia, Canada and Russia. Yellow diamonds are caused when an atom of nitrogen replaces a carbon atom in the diamond’s crystal structure during its development in the earth, modifying light and absorbing the blue part of the visible spectrum. Thus, the greater the amount of nitrogen in the right patterns the stronger the saturation of color. Insider FYI: De Boulle has a history of handcrafting yellow-diamond masterpieces. Take, for example, our High Jewelry Collection 35th Anniversary Ring, featuring an 18-plus-carat natural fancy yellow diamond framed in delicate pavé.
Our High Jewelry Collection 35th Anniversary Ring, features an 18-plus-carat natural fancy yellow diamond framed in delicate pavé.
WHAT THEY MEAN
Joy and happiness.
HOW THEY HAPPEN
Blue diamonds are caused when an atom of boron replaces an atom of carbon in the diamond’s crystal structure during its growth in the earth. Depending on the amount of boron and its position in the crystal lattice, a blue diamond can appear as pale blues, like the sky, or deep blues, like the ocean. Most blue diamonds come from the Cullinan mine in South Africa.
WHAT THEY MEAN
Purity.
HOW THEY HAPPEN
Diamonds which are green owe their appearance to naturally occurring radiation, which altered their atomic structure eons ago deep within the earth. The strength of the natural radiation and the duration of exposure determine the level of saturation. Exceedingly rare, green diamonds are found in various mines in Africa, Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela.
WHAT THEY MEAN
Nature, abundance and prosperity.
HOW THEY HAPPEN
The element nitrogen — the same element responsible for color in yellow diamonds — causes a stone’s unique orange color when combined with other anomalies within the crystal structure. The level and position of nitrogen determines the strength and purity of color. All orange diamonds are fiery and beautiful; ones with no modifying of secondary color are extremely rare.
WHAT THEY MEAN
Strength, power and confidence.
HOW THEY HAPPEN
Red diamonds — the rarest of the fancy colored diamonds — get their appearance from subtle alignment changes in the carbon atoms of the diamonds. They mostly exist in sizes below one carat. The source of most of the red diamonds today was the Argyle mine in Australia, which has now been depleted. Insider FYI: The largest documented red diamond was 5.11 carats.
WHAT THEY MEAN
Love — of course.
HOW THEY HAPPEN
A natural color diamond with a violet appearance is extremely rare.Violet diamonds are caused by the element hydrogen that was trapped in the carbon structure during its growth in the earth. Violet colored diamonds come exclusively from the Argyle mine in Australia, which has now been depleted.No other locations have been identified as a source.
WHAT THEY MEAN
Faith and awareness.
To schedule a viewing of these rarefied stones, contact deBoulle at 214-522-2400 or send us a request below.