Guide to Coloured Diamonds

Coloured diamonds are amongst the rarest and most beautiful miracles of natural resources, and for many centuries; they have been a symbol of strength, purity, status and power.

With a rise in popularity in coloured diamond jewellery, we decided to take a deeper dive into what a coloured diamond is and the options that are available to you.

Coloured diamonds are amongst the rarest and most beautiful miracles of natural resources, and for many centuries; they have been a symbol of strength, purity, status and power.

With a rise in popularity in coloured diamond jewellery, we decided to take a deeper dive into what a coloured diamond is and the options that are available to you.

What are coloured diamonds?

In simple terms, coloured diamonds are gemstones with a visible hue. The colours are derived from a flaw or impurity in the carbon atomic structure and crystal lattice, as opposed to the colourless (white) diamonds that are commonly seen in engagement rings and diamond jewellery.

Coloured diamonds are also referred to as “fancy colour diamonds” and come in a range of cuts and colour strengths, with the intense and vivid coloured diamonds being the most rare.

Here is a list of the fancy coloured diamonds that we offer at Lumiriver Jewellery

Yellow Diamonds
Pink Diamonds
Red Diamonds
Blue Diamonds
Purple Diamonds
Green Diamonds

Do the 4 C's apply with coloured diamond?

Typically when purchasing a white diamond, consumers will look at the brilliance of the diamond based on their cut, colour, clarity and carat. This is not the case when on the hunt for a fancy coloured diamond. The most important factor is the quality of the diamond's colour which also helps determine the price of the diamond.

There are three factors that are used to classify the colour of a fancy coloured diamond:

Hue - the primary colour the catches your eye when observing the diamond
Saturation - the intensity and vibrance of the colour
Tone - the lightness or darkness of the colour

It is important to note that there is a colour grading system when trying to understand the quality of the diamond's colour.

Faint
Fancy Light
Fancy
Fancy Dark
Fancy Deep
Fancy Intense
Fancy Vivid

Intense and Vivid fancy diamonds are the most rare and most valuable.

The cut of the coloured diamond also plays a big role as it is the cut of the stone that highlights the diamond's colour.

Typically when purchasing a white diamond, consumers will look at the brilliance of the diamond based on their cut, colour, clarity and carat. This is not the case when on the hunt for a fancy coloured diamond. The most important factor is the quality of the diamond's colour which also helps determine the price of the diamond.

There are three factors that are used to classify the colour of a fancy coloured diamond:

Hue - the primary colour the catches your eye when observing the diamond
Saturation - the intensity and vibrance of the colour
Tone - the lightness or darkness of the colour

It is important to note that there is a colour grading system when trying to understand the quality of the diamond's colour.

Faint
Fancy Light
Fancy
Fancy Dark
Fancy Deep
Fancy Intense
Fancy Vivid

Intense and Vivid fancy diamonds are the most rare and most valuable.

The cut of the coloured diamond also plays a big role as it is the cut of the stone that highlights the diamond's colour.

Yellow Diamonds

Yellow Diamonds, also known as Canary Diamonds, are the most common and sought coloured diamond. The desire for this stunning diamond has been fuelled by a host of a-lister celebrities parading the jewellery, such as Adele and Paris Hilton. Due to its reputation, yellow diamonds are generally the first choice when it comes to coloured diamond engagement rings.

According to colour psychology, yellow is the colour of knowledge, intellect and wisdom. It is uplifting, illuminating, cheerful and fun – it is the best colour to provide optimism and enthusiasm.

Yellow Diamonds, also known as Canary Diamonds, are the most common and sought coloured diamond. The desire for this stunning diamond has been fuelled by a host of a-lister celebrities parading the jewellery, such as Adele and Paris Hilton. Due to its reputation, yellow diamonds are generally the first choice when it comes to coloured diamond engagement rings.

According to colour psychology, yellow is the colour of knowledge, intellect and wisdom. It is uplifting, illuminating, cheerful and fun – it is the best colour to provide optimism and enthusiasm.

Pink Diamonds

Pink Diamonds are one of the rarest and most expensive types of coloured diamonds. Pink diamonds generally have a very distinct colour tone typically with a secondary hue; red, purple and blue.

Unlike other coloured diamonds, pink diamonds use their own colour grading system.

PP (Purplish Pink)
P (Pink)
PR (Pink Rose
PC (Pink Champagne)
BL (Blue Violet)
Red

Pink Diamonds are one of the rarest and most expensive types of coloured diamonds. Pink diamonds generally have a very distinct colour tone typically with a secondary hue; red, purple and blue.

Unlike other coloured diamonds, pink diamonds use their own colour grading system.

PP (Purplish Pink)
P (Pink)
PR (Pink Rose
PC (Pink Champagne)
BL (Blue Violet)
Red

Blue Diamonds

Blue diamonds are natural diamonds with a noticeable blue tone and range in colours from light, to deep blue. Similar to pink diamonds, blue diamonds typically have a secondary hue; violet, grey and green. Like all coloured diamonds, the higher intensity of the blue, the higher the value of the diamond's worth.

Found in only a few mines around the world, blue diamonds are also one of the rarest and most expensive coloured diamond. They can be found in the Cullinan mine in South Africa and the Argyle Mine in Western Australia.

A blue coloured diamond, no matter where the stone falls on the blue colour diamond chart, is bound to be a stunning, rare gem.

Blue diamonds are natural diamonds with a noticeable blue tone and range in colours from light, to deep blue. Similar to pink diamonds, blue diamonds typically have a secondary hue; violet, grey and green. Like all coloured diamonds, the higher intensity of the blue, the higher the value of the diamond's worth.

Found in only a few mines around the world, blue diamonds are also one of the rarest and most expensive coloured diamond. They can be found in the Cullinan mine in South Africa and the Argyle Mine in Western Australia.

A blue coloured diamond, no matter where the stone falls on the blue colour diamond chart, is bound to be a stunning, rare gem.

Red Diamonds

Red diamonds are the most rare of all fancy coloured diamonds and as such, sit at the very top of the value scale. They represent one of the most sought after hues, mainly because they are so rarely available.

It is common for people to mistake a pure red diamond for a diamond with a purplish or pinkish tone. A true red diamond is a stone that lacks all other colours. It is important to also note that fancy red diamonds do not have a saturation level similar to other fancy coloured diamonds, as reds represent the greatest level of colour in the pink diamond family - there is no greater saturation possible.

Typically the price for a rare pure red diamond starts from approximately 7 figures per carat. This is mainly due to the rarity of the diamond.

Red diamonds are the most rare of all fancy coloured diamonds and as such, sit at the very top of the value scale. They represent one of the most sought after hues, mainly because they are so rarely available.

It is common for people to mistake a pure red diamond for a diamond with a purplish or pinkish tone. A true red diamond is a stone that lacks all other colours. It is important to also note that fancy red diamonds do not have a saturation level similar to other fancy coloured diamonds, as reds represent the greatest level of colour in the pink diamond family - there is no greater saturation possible.

Typically the price for a rare pure red diamond starts from approximately 7 figures per carat. This is mainly due to the rarity of the diamond.