 |
Pink Diamonds
The Argyle mine, located in Western Australia produces almost the entire World’s red and pink diamonds. Although it is the world’s largest diamond mine, most of its diamonds are champagne and cognac color. Around 0.1% are actually pink. Due to the rarity of natural pink diamonds, they tend to be on the more expensive side of the fancy colors. |
| Yellow Diamonds
Fancy yellow diamonds can command prices as high as D color whites or more. Diamonds with colors below the Z range have a yellow color that is considered an asset and are graded in the fancy color range. |
 |
Blue Diamonds
Natural Blue diamonds come in a variety of hues. Often blue diamonds are a light in color or a light grayish blue which is more of a more “steely” blue. Fancy and intense blue diamonds will exhibit a richer, more noticeable blue color; and some of our deep blue diamonds exhibit the color most often associated with sapphires. |
 |
Green Diamonds
Green Diamonds have come in contact with radioactive minerals such as uranium through natural irradiation of the earth. The most well known green diamond is the Dresden, however these lovely stones come in a variety of shades and hues as well. Authenticating that the radiation occurred naturally requires laboratory analysis at a leading gemological institute. |
 |
Red Diamonds
Red Diamonds are the rarest of the fancy color diamonds. In fact, they are so rare in nature that most jewelers and diamond dealers have never even seen a natural red diamond. The world's largest red diamond is known as the Red Shield, and weighs "only" 5.11 carats, compared with over 600 carats for the largest diamond of any kind. It is not a large stone by any means, but is so rare simply because it is red. |
 |
Multi-Color Diamonds
Fancy Colored Diamonds can and do occur in every possible color. Often, the diamond color is described with a second or even third color. The dominate hue is always expressed last with the secondary colors preceding it. Usually, these secondary colors are followed by the suffix “-ish” at the end, as in fancy purplish pink. If the color grade contains two colors such as fancy purple pink, this means the colors are dispersed evenly throughout. |
 |
Treated, Cultured or Genesis Diamonds
Fancy Colored Diamonds are not always “natural.” Their color may have been modified or enhanced through one or more processes involving irradiation and/or extreme heat known as High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) treatments. This process creates yet artificial colors from low grade diamonds to improve their value. While this enhancement may in fact be permanent, the occurrence of natural color in diamonds is far rarer and thus more costly. The tests for identification of “origin of color” are usually conclusive, but may require sophisticated equipment and highly qualified testers. It is highly recommended that GIA confirm the origin of color as “natural” in any fancy colored diamond of enough size to warrant it. Any diamond merchant is required to provide full disclosure as to any artificial treatments performed on a stone. If you are sold an uncertified stone, be sure to have it certified to ensure that your purchase is justified. |
Fancy Color Intensity
When certified, fancy colored diamonds are given a color grade. This grading explains the intensity of each color. Usually, the more intense the color is, the rarer and more expensive the diamond will be. For example, a fancy light pink diamond will cost significantly less than a fancy vivid pink diamond of equal size, shape and clarity. The standard scale of grading fancy colored dimaonds is as follows: |
Very Light
Light
Fancy Light
Fancy
Fancy Intense
Fancy Vivid
Fancy Deep
|
