Fancy Color Diamonds: a Buyer's Guide

Fancy color diamonds are diamonds with colors that range from subtle pastel hues to vibrant, intense colors. These stunning stones have become increasingly popular as more people become aware of their unique beauty.

As one of the rarest and most sought-after gemstones, fancy color diamonds are highly prized for their exquisite colors and rarity. With a range of colors, such as yellow, pink, blue, red, and even black, these diamonds are truly one-of-a-kind. They are also extremely valuable, making them a luxurious and desirable choice for jewelry.

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What are Fancy Color Diamonds?

Fancy color diamonds are diamonds that have distinct and vivid colors, such as yellow, pink, blue, green, and more. They are extremely rare and are highly sought after by collectors and investors, who recognize their beauty and rarity.

The value of fancy color diamonds is determined by factors such as the color, size, clarity, and cut of the stone. For example, pink diamonds are the rarest and most expensive type of fancy color diamond, while yellow diamonds are the most common and least expensive.

Fancy color diamonds are considered to be a good long-term investment, as their value is likely to increase over time.

Related: The 4Cs of Diamonds

Color

Fancy color diamonds come in a wide variety of colors. Unlike normal diamonds, the color of fancy color diamonds makes them more valuable since they are even more rare. Here are some of the valuable colors:

Red Fancy Color Diamonds

Red fancy color diamonds are some of the rarest and most expensive diamonds in the world. These diamonds are prized for their intense and vibrant red hue and can range from purplish-red to orangey-red and beyond.

Red fancy color diamonds are graded using the Gemological Institute of America’s color grading scale. The GIA scale ranges from Fancy Light to Fancy Vivid, with Fancy Vivid reds being the most valuable.

The rarity of these diamonds is due to the fact that the trace elements that determine color are rarely found in the correct combination, making them extremely rare. The intensity of the color is also a factor, with Fancy Vivid reds being the most sought-after.

Red diamonds are incredibly expensive and are some of the most expensive diamonds in the world. The cost of a red diamond is determined by its size, clarity, cut, and color grade. The larger the diamond, the more expensive it is likely to be.

For those who are looking for a unique and rare item, red fancy color diamonds are a perfect choice. With their intense and vibrant color, these diamonds are sure to be the center of attention and will be a treasured item for years to come.

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Blue Fancy Color Diamonds

Blue diamonds, in particular, are incredibly rare. A blue diamond is formed when boron is present in the diamond’s crystal lattice. This type of diamond is extremely rare in nature and the few that are found tend to be very small.

The most famous blue diamond is the 45.52-carat Hope Diamond, which was discovered in India in the 17th century and is now part of the Smithsonian Institution's gem collection. The Hope Diamond is considered to be the most valuable blue diamond in the world.

Blue fancy color diamonds come in a variety of shades, from light blue to intense blue. The intensity of the blue color depends on the amount of boron present in the diamond. The more boron present, the deeper and more intense the blue color.

Blue fancy color diamonds are so rare that they are often priced higher than diamonds of the same carat size in other colors. They are also considered to be a good investment and often appreciated in value.

Green Fancy Color Diamonds

These beautiful stones are found in a variety of shades ranging from vibrant, vivid greens to more subtle lighter shades. They are also known as “Fancy Green” diamonds or “Fancy Intense Green” diamonds. Green fancy color diamonds get their color from the presence of natural trace elements such as chromium or vanadium.

Green fancy color diamonds are highly prized for their unique and exotic beauty. They are the perfect choice for anyone looking for a truly special and memorable piece of jewelry. Green fancy color diamonds are perfect for engagement rings, wedding bands, and other special occasions that require a unique and eye-catching piece of jewelry.

Related: What Color Jewelry Should I Wear?

Clarity

Fancy color diamonds are diamonds that have a unique color not found in traditional diamonds, such as yellow, pink, blue, or green. The clarity of fancy color diamonds is a major factor in determining their value.

Colorless diamonds are graded on a scale from Flawless (FL) to I3, with I3 being the lowest grade. In contrast, fancy color diamonds are graded on a scale from Faint to Vivid. The higher the grade, the more saturated and intense the color of the diamond will be.

A diamond-graded Vivid will be of the highest color saturation, clarity, and brilliance. In addition, the clarity of a fancy color diamond is impacted by any visible inclusions or blemishes. If the diamond has a high color grade but visible inclusions, its value will be significantly lower than one with both a high color grade and excellent clarity.

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How is a Fancy Color Diamond Graded?

GIA grades fancy color diamonds on the same scale as they do for white diamonds, with a colorless diamond being given a grade of D (the highest grade) on down to Z (the lowest grade). 

However, since fancy color diamonds are not colorless, they are graded on the intensity and hue of the color.

The color grade is presented as a combination of hue, tone, and saturation. Hue refers to the primary color in the diamond, tone refers to the lightness or darkness of the hue, and saturation refers to the degree of intensity of the hue. The grades for fancy color diamonds range from Fancy Light to Fancy Vivid, with Fancy Vivid being the highest grade.