The Irresistible Allure of Natural Color Diamonds

In the world of jewels, nothing compares to the sparkle and allure of a natural diamond or a beautiful colored gemstone. For discerning buyers who appreciate both sparkle and color, natural color diamonds are the perfect addition to any jewelry wardrobe.

Fascination with color is found in ancient history, so it should come as no surprise that we
are still drawn towards colorful jewels today, whether in making a fashion statement or wearing
a treasured jewel. Many famous natural color diamonds have a rich history, such as with the Blue Tavernier that traveled through several incarnations of re-cutting, under different names, over centuries. Today, it is known as the Hope Diamond, the world’s largest deep blue diamond at 42.52-carat, on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. The diamond got its name after it surfaced in 1839 in the gem collection catalog of a well-known gem collector, Henry Philip Hope. While many people think of natural color diamonds as those with historic significance, today’s jewelry designers are using them to add pizazz to their jewelry designs. Natural color diamonds are certainly among the rarest gems mined on Earth, with only one found in 10,000 stones. Scott West of LJ West Diamonds based in New York describes his vision of color diamonds:

“In the world of luxury products, natural color diamonds bear comparison to works of art, hidden
treasures, and rare books. They speak the language of exclusivity, desirability, and collectability.”

When color diamonds come to mind, many people think of famous diamonds that sell at auction
for incredibly high prices, however; more retailers are adding natural color diamond jewelry to their bridal and fine jewelry lines. The bridal market is known for demanding the authenticity of a diamond, and in recent years has seen a surge in preference for color diamond engagement rings. Millennials are part of the reason for the increase in natural color diamond sales as they are looking for something different fromtheir parents’ traditional diamond engagement ring. In her latest publication on diamonds, gem and jewelry expert Antoinette Matlins wrote, “Of all
the gems on earth, nothing surpasses the palette ofnatural color diamonds for beauty, distinctiveness, and desirability” (Diamonds Buying Guide, 4th Edition).

Some of the better known natural color diamonds are the yellow and brown stones. Pink diamonds come in pastel shades to deep raspberry colors. Aside from their extraordinary color, pink diamonds gained popularity with celebrities, such as Jennifer Lopez, who received a pink diamond ring from former beau Ben Affleck.

Natural color diamonds are also found in a variety of intensities in orange, green, blue, purple and red. Red is considered the most rare, but famous diamonds can be found in all colors. The NCDIA
website contains information on some of the most famous color diamonds ever found.
Regardless of the main body color, natural color diamonds are known for modified colors and complementary colors. To explain these terms, Thomas Gelb, of Gelb Gemological Consulting advises jewelers that, “A large percentage of diamonds that receive a certificate from a gem lab have more than one word in their color description.” Modifiers might be described on a certificate as bluish gray or grayish blue, while complementary colors might be described as orangey pink or pinkish orange. NCDIA has published information for retailers on how to understand natural color diamond grading.

It’s important for retailers to be able to explain to clients that not all natural color diamonds come in vivid or intense colors. Fancy and fancy light color diamonds, as well as those with modified colors and complementary colors, are just as beautiful as other colored jewels.