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What are Fancy Colored Diamonds?

Diamonds that aren’t colorless or white are called fancy color diamonds. Fancy color diamonds are among the rarest types of diamonds. Their rarity also makes them more expensive than regular diamonds. 

Nowadays, lab-grown fancy color diamonds are also available. Engagement rings made of synthetic materials tend to be less expensive and look as good as natural ones in some cases.

The colored diamond grading system includes nine different color descriptions. Here are the intensities in order:

  • Faint
  • Very Light
  • Light
  • Fancy Light
  • Fancy
  • Fancy Dark
  • Fancy Deep
  • Fancy Intense
  • Fancy Vivid

Types of Fancy Color Diamonds

There is a unique reason for the coloring of each colored diamond. As well as the rarity of the diamond, the vividness, saturation, and intensity of its color will determine its price. According to their rarity, here is a list of each type of colored diamond.

Brown Color Diamond

Diamonds with browner tones are the most common colored diamonds, caused by nitrogen present when the stones were developing. Under different lighting conditions, brown diamonds appear in a variety of saturations and intensities. Tones that run from medium to dark and have a golden appearance are typically sought after. The Golden Jubilee diamond is the world’s largest brown diamond.

Yellow Color Diamond

Yellow fancy color diamonds, also known as canary diamonds, are the second most common type of colored diamond, found mostly in South Africa. Yellow fancy diamonds can come in quite intense saturations, such as ‘The Incomparable’, the third largest yellow diamond in the world. From yellow to brownish hues, yellow diamonds are most prized for their brilliance; the more intense the color, the higher the value.

Green Color Diamond

The origin of green diamonds can be explained by radiation dislodging carbon atoms within a crystal structure. Most cutters leave an untouched ‘natural’ along the girdle of a green diamond because it’s hard to tell if it’s artificially enhanced. Dresden Green is a natural 40.70 carat green diamond.

Orange Color Diamond

It’s an interesting case with orange diamonds. Even though they’re rare, their price is low because of lower market demand. Orange diamonds can be quite vivid, so if you like the look, you can get a rare beauty at a great price. Probably the most well known orange diamond is the Pumpkin Orange, a 5.54 carat fancy vivid orange gemstone that sold for USD $1.3 million at a Sotheby’s auction in 1997.

Pink Color Diamond

Argyle in Western Australia is the source of the majority of fancy color pink diamonds. Interestingly, only 1 carat out of 1 million is sellable. Although they come in a variety of saturations, the more vivid they are, the more valuable they are.

Purple Color Diamond

It is believed that purple diamonds, which are incredibly rare, are found only in Australia and Siberia, and are almost exclusively under 5 carats, with deep and vivid colors that are rare to come across. Their coloring is caused by crystal distortion, just like pink diamonds.

Blue Color Diamond

In general, blue diamonds have a limited range of color strength, making them extremely rare to find. A fancy color blue diamond that is intense or vivid is unlikely to be found. Diamonds with blue color are caused by the presence of boron. A higher boron content results in a bluer color. However, blue diamonds usually have a lighter tone than blue sapphires. Strong, deep blue diamonds are among the rarest and most valuable diamonds on earth.

Red Color Diamond

The red diamond is the rarest, and therefore the most valuable, of all fancy color diamonds. One of the most well-known red diamonds is the Moussaieff Red, weighing 5.11 carats and selling for USD $8 million ($1.6 million per carat) in 2008.

Pick the Color that suits You Best

At James Allen, they believe that choosing the right colored diamond is more about what suits your individual style. Whether you’re looking for a statement piece or something more understated, they have a wide range of fancy color diamonds to suit every taste. Browse their collection today and find the perfect diamond to complement your personal style.