Fancy Coloured Diamonds: Types, Rarity, and What Determines Their Value

When it comes to natural diamonds, most people do not know the fact that they come in a wide range of colours. Such diamonds are called fancy coloured diamonds. Unlike their colourless counterparts, these diamonds display fascinating hues such as red, yellow, and green, to name a few.

The colour of such diamonds can range from subtle shades to deep tones that instantly catch your attention. Admired by jewellery lovers around the world, natural coloured diamonds are extremely rare. Another remarkable fact about such diamonds is that they come with a hefty price tag.

This article throws light on the nature, rarity, and value of coloured diamonds. Without further ado, let us learn about their charm.

What Are Fancy Coloured Diamonds?

Fancy coloured diamonds are alluring sparklers that come with a promise of eye-catching shades. What gives them colours is the presence of certain trace elements in their crystalline structure. For instance, the presence of nitrogen in the crystalline structure of a diamond contributes to its striking yellow colour. Similarly, the appealing colour of blue diamonds can be attributed to the trace element boron.

Formed deep within the Earth’s surface just like colourless diamonds, coloured diamonds are considered exceptionally rare. What makes natural coloured diamonds rare is that the geological conditions, trace elements, and crystal distortions required to form them are rarely encountered. The rarity of coloured diamonds, coupled with their unique colours, helps explain why they fetch exorbitant prices.

Available in all colours, coloured diamods have the same hardness and durability as colourless diamonds. Therefore, they can withstand the wear and tear of average everyday life, making them perfect for daily wear jewellery items. Fancy coloured diamonds are also suitable for high-contact jewellery pieces such as rings and bracelets.

Most Coveted Fancy Coloured Diamonds

Fancy coloured diamonds are coveted around the world for their incredibly beautiful hues. Out of them all, the three rare diamond colours that everyone wants to adorn themselves with are red, blue, and pink. Let us learn about them.

Red Diamonds

Though all fancy coloured diamonds are rare, red diamonds are the rarest of the lot. To give you a perspective of how rare red diamonds are, let us tell you that there exist only 20 or 30 of them, according the International Gem Society.

The intense red coloration of these diamonds makes them a cut above the rest in terms of allure. Now, you can assume how expensive they must be. If you can’t let us tell you that they fetch more than $1 million per carat.

Blue Diamonds

Did you know natural blue diamonds are found only in Australia, India, and South Africa? That too, only in a few mines. Now, you can imagine the rarity of these fancy coloured diamonds. Blue diamonds are available in a diverse range of intensity levels, from light sky blue to intense deep blue. The more boron present in the crystalline structure of a natural diamond, the deeper the blue colour.

Pink Diamonds

Pink diamonds are considered the most romantic fancy coloured diamonds due to their beautiful, delicate coloration. Did you know most pink diamonds originate from a single mine in Australia? Well, you read that right. The best part about pink diamonds is that gemmologists have yet not discovered what influences pink colour in these stones. They do not contain any trace element.

Fancy Coloured Diamond Value

Till now you may have formed an assumption about what influences the value of fancy coloured diamonds. Yes, you are right: it’s the combination of a striking colour and incredible rarity. Colour is one of the most significant factors that plays a crucial role in determining the fancy coloured diamond value.

Generally, deeply saturated stones command the highest prices. Apart from colour and rarity, another factor that contributes to the price of fancy coloured diamonds is carat weight. The price of fancy coloured diamonds increases with even the slightest increases in their carat weight.

Conclusion

Fancy coloured diamonds are the epitome of beauty and rarity. They are available in all colours, from pink, blue, green, and yellow to red. Primarily, their value depends on three factors: colour, rarity, and carat weight. Their exorbitant prices explain what makes them some of the world’s most coveted stones. It won’t be wrong to say that they’re in a class of their own. The more you learn about them, the more fascinated you become by them.

FAQ

1. What are fancy coloured diamonds?

Fancy coloured diamonds are incredibly rare stones that are sought-after for their striking colours.

2. What’s the importance of fancy diamond grading?

Fancy diamond grading is of utmost importance as it helps determine the quality, rarity, and overall value of a coloured diamond.

3. Are fancy coloured diamonds durable?

Yes, fancy coloured diamonds are incredibly durable. In fact, they have the same hardness and durability as colourless diamonds. So, they score a perfect 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness.

4. What’s the rarest fancy coloured diamond?

Red is the rarest fancy coloured diamond. For perspective, there are only 20-30 red diamonds in the world.

5. Are fancy coloured diamonds different from colourless diamonds?

Yes, fancy coloured diamonds are different from colourless diamonds in terms of colour and rarity. Apart from that, fancy coloured diamonds are no different from their natural counterparts.