Fancy Color Diamonds: A Guide to Rare Colors
Fancy Color Diamonds: A Guide to Rare Colors
Fancy color diamonds are among the most extraordinary and coveted gems in the world. Their rarity and vibrant hues set them apart from traditional clear diamonds, making them a unique treasure for collectors and jewelry enthusiasts. This guide delves into what makes certain colors so rare, the geological processes behind their formation and interesting facts you might not be familiar with.
What Makes Rare Colors Rare?
The rarity of fancy color diamonds is attributed to several factors, including the presence of specific trace elements, unique structural anomalies, and the geological conditions during the diamond's formation.
Only one out of every 10,000 carats of cut diamonds exhibits a fancy color, and the likelihood of a diamond displaying an intense color is even slimmer—just one in 25,000. Among fancy colors, browns and yellows are the most common, while red, blue, green, purple, and orange remain the rarest.
Red diamonds are exceedingly rare, with only a handful known to exist in the world. The blue color in diamonds, caused by the presence of boron, is also rare, as there is less than one boron atom per million carbon atoms. This rarity is a result of the unique conditions required for these elements to integrate into the diamond's structure. Here’s a closer look at what makes some colors exceptionally rare:
Trace Elements
Certain colors in diamonds are caused by the presence of trace elements. For example, boron can give diamonds a blue hue, while nitrogen is responsible for yellow and orange tones. The presence of these elements in the right quantities is exceedingly rare, contributing to the diamond’s unique coloration.
Structural Anomalies
Structural anomalies or defects in the diamond's crystal lattice can also cause color. For instance, pink and red diamonds get their color from a distortion in the crystal structure, which alters the way light is absorbed and reflected. These anomalies are rare and occur under specific conditions, making such diamonds extremely valuable.
Geological Conditions
The unique geological conditions required for the formation of color diamonds are not commonly found. Extreme pressure and temperature changes deep within the Earth over millions of years contribute to the formation of these rare colors. Such conditions are not prevalent in all diamond-forming environments, adding to the rarity of these gems.
Rare Colors and Their Unique Traits
Blue Diamonds
Blue diamonds owe their color to the presence of boron. These diamonds are exceptionally rare, with only a few notable examples found, such as the famous Hope Diamond. The presence of boron is incredibly rare in diamond-forming environments, making blue diamonds one of the most sought-after color varieties.
Red Diamonds
Red diamonds are perhaps the rarest of all fancy color diamonds. Their red hue is caused by a unique crystal lattice distortion. Red diamonds are so rare that only a few natural red diamonds are known to exist, with the most famous being the Moussaieff Red.
Pink Diamonds
Pink diamonds are created by a similar lattice distortion that causes red diamonds. However, the distortion is less intense, resulting in a pink hue. The Argyle Mine in Australia has been the most significant source of pink diamonds, though it ceased operations in 2020, making pink diamonds even more rare and valuable.
Green Diamonds
Green diamonds obtain their color from natural radiation exposure during their formation. This radiation alters the diamond's crystal structure, creating a green hue. These diamonds are rare because the conditions required for this radiation exposure are uncommon.
Quality Factors
When evaluating a fancy color diamond, several factors must be considered: color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. The rarity of the color significantly influences the diamond's price. Some fancy color diamonds with lower clarity grades can still be more expensive due to their unique and rare color—here, color trumps clarity. The brilliant cut is the most common, enhancing the diamond's color and making it stand out.
Carat weight also plays a crucial role. Fancy color diamonds under a carat in pink, green, and orange are particularly rare and can be more valuable than a flawless white diamond over a carat with the best clarity and cut.
The valuation of fancy color diamonds involves many factors. While experts globally have attempted to standardize this process, true expertise is often passed down through generations. Only the most experienced fancy color diamond experts can accurately determine the real value of these exceptional gems.
Conclusion
Fancy color diamonds come in different shapes, carat sizes, clarity, and most importantly COLORS. They conform 1% of all diamonds in the world and are rare and unique as diamonds get. Geological conditions, structural anomalies, and trace elements define their color hues and their rarity. There are more common colors among fancy color diamonds like yellow and orange and less common colors like red, blue, pink, and green. Paloma has great variety of high quality jewelry that features fancy color diamonds.
