Gray Diamonds – The Unique and Beautiful Choice You May Not Have Considered

Fancy colored diamonds are gaining more and more mainstream popularity every day. But while you may be familiar with the look and emotional ‘feel’ of pink, yellow and even blue diamonds, if you are a fan of colored diamonds have you ever considered gray diamonds?

Some people do tend to associate the color gray with drabness and boredom. But that is only one side of the color. From a color psychology perspective, gray is the color of compromise – being neither black nor white, it is the transition between two non-colors. The closer gray gets to black, the more dramatic and mysterious it becomes. The closer it gets to silver or white, the more illuminating and lively it becomes. And that is certainly true when it comes to gray diamonds which, although you may only just be learning about them here can be some of the most stunning and unique colored diamonds of all.

How are Gray Diamonds Created?

Like their reasonably close cousins blue diamonds, gray diamonds are believed to be created when they come into contact with the elements hydrogen, nitrogen, or boron during their long formation period. This interaction produces diamonds in all different hues and intensities of gray and many gray diamonds also boast gorgeous secondary colors that make them even more beautiful and unique.

Where are Gray Diamonds Mined?

Gray diamonds have been discovered in mines in South Africa, India, Russia and Brazil, but the largest concentrations of them are found at the Argyle Mine in Australia. Does that name sound familiar? If you are a fan of colored diamonds it should, as it is also home to the largest concentrations of pink diamonds in the world. What makes the land so special that it is so rich in fancy colored diamonds is something that scientists are still trying to figure out, although it is believed that it has a lot to do with the natural radiation
in the area.

Gray Diamond Variations

Like all colored diamonds gray diamonds vary in hue and intensity. Their intensity varies from faint to fancy dark and you can also find gray diamonds that have vibrant secondary colors.

Gray Diamonds As Jewelry

When you shop for fancy color diamonds, including gray diamonds, when working with a reputable diamond broker you can shop for the diamond alone and then choose later how it is set. A ring is what perhaps springs immediately to mind, but that would be far from your only option.

Because gray diamonds have such a distinctive, commanding appearance they make fantastic statement jewelry. Every woman who loves jewelry normally has one of those. A brilliant, wear everywhere necklace, a stunning pair of earrings, part of a stunning diamond bracelet can all make great signature pieces that help define your style and grey diamonds would be perfect for use in any of those.

Then there are, of course, gray diamond engagement rings. There was once a time – not so long ago – when it was almost assumed that an engagement diamond ‘should’ be a traditional clear diamond. Recently though fancy colored diamond engagement rings have become more and more popular. Today’s bride often values individuality in every aspect of the nuptials, and that included her engagement ring. And as gray is such a striking choice it is becoming a favorite among those who are looking for something truly different that they can make their own.

The post Gray Diamonds – The Unique and Beautiful Choice You May Not Have Considered appeared first on Asteria Magazine.

source https://www.asteriadiamonds.com/blog/2018/12/24/gray-diamonds-the-unique-and-beautiful-choice-you-may-not-have-considered/

The Colored Engagement Rings Option You May Not Have Considered

Colored engagement rings are enjoying a real renaissance right now, especially among Millennials. There is no longer any need to stick to tradition when it comes to almost anything related to a wedding and younger couples are embracing that fact. These days it’s as common to get married on a beach or in a barn as it is to make the traditional trip to a church, and bridal fashions have gone way beyond the once ‘mandatory’ puffy meringue of a white dress.

It’s only natural then that engagement rings – the very things that mark the beginning of the wedding ‘process’ should follow suit and more and more brides should look to colored engagement rings in order to have something that is best suited to their personal style and jewelry aesthetic.

However, what if you have shopped and shopped and still really found nothing that matches your vision. Maybe you’ve seen colored engagement rings that were almost right but something just didn’t quite match your vision; the cut, the setting, the particular shade of the center stone. Before you settle, it might interest you to learn that there is another option; designing your own colored engagement ring.

The Design Your Own Trend

While the average person might not know that much about the technicalities behind all of the elements that make up the average engagement ring – how it’s cut, how it’s set etc. – they do usually know what they like in terms of design. They can usually envision it in their mind’s eye, sketch it out even. They just lack the ability to bring their imagined creations to life.

That’s where a custom designed colored engagement ring comes in. There are now diamond houses who employ a staff of talented designers who can take any of the elements that are on offer – primary stones, secondary stones, settings, cuts, sizes and of course colors – and work with clients until their vision – and the perfect for them colored engagement ring – becomes a reality.

Why Design Your Own Ring?

What’s usually the first thing someone does when they get that longed for engagement ring? They show it off to the world of course. And for many, the more unique and special it is – as well as different from their peers – the better. There’s little danger of a ring being the same as anyone else’s if you design it yourself is there?

These days everything about a wedding is something that most couple’s carefully plan to be as true to them – and their relationship – as possible. From the venue (as we mentioned almost anywhere goes) to the members of the wedding party, the dress, the suit, the food, the decor and so much more the modern wedding is often all about individuality, and if you design your own colored engagement ring that ‘vibe’ is present from the start!

Designing your own ring also allows you to mix and match to your heart’s content. One of the great beauties of the colored diamond engagement ring is that you don’t have to follow any set rules. A pink diamond center stone surrounded by yellow diamond accents? Why not? A deep blue diamond heart shaped center stone accented by more traditional white diamond accents? A rose gold setting – which is very much on trend right now – instead of the more common white gold? All possible. In fact work with the right ring designer – and diamond house – and you are really only limited by your imagination.

Image Source: shefinds.com

The post The Colored Engagement Rings Option You May Not Have Considered appeared first on Asteria Magazine.

source https://www.asteriadiamonds.com/blog/2018/12/21/the-colored-engagement-rings-option-you-may-not-have-considered/

The Emerald Cut: A Style Not Only For Today But Forever

When picking any piece of fine jewelry we always consider the common 4C’s.
Whether a transparent diamond, a fancy colored diamond or even a colored stone, its shape and cut are integral to creating a personal connection between the wearer and the piece.
This article will speak about one of the oldest shapes, the Emerald cut, and how this simple yet flattering cut has grown through the years.

The Emerald Cut

Emerald cut diamonds have been around for years and rightly said it’s not a style only for today but one that lasts forever. Originating with the Point Cut that emphasised the natural point of a diamond crystal the cut graduated to the Table Cut. With one octahedron point removed, leaving behind a large table the apex point below allowed light to be internally reflected leaving a dazzling sparkle. Taking advantage of the crystal’s natural shape, the pavilion is still key and a part of gemstone cutting today.

With three essential cutting styles, the rose cut, the step cut and the brilliant cut, the step cut is one that is used most often with the emerald shape. Modern day emerald cut diamonds are characterized by a large table that is bordered by trapeze shaped facets that lie parallel to the girdle of the gem. On the pavilion, a similar structure terminates at the culet with an angle. Beveled corners that add durability also give the gem an architectural feel, straight out the Great Gatsby movie, both beautiful and enchanting.

A shape that rose to popularity during the Art Deco period, the Emerald cut along with the Baguette (a cut with long rectangular facets)were both perfect to be slotted into position. Geometric designs from the1920’s often used channel settings and these two proved efficient. A period that was defined by bold, sharp geometric motifs, emerald cut diamonds never went out of style since then. They even flourished long after in minimalistic jewelry and when glitzy glamour took over thanks to Hollywood.

Dependent entirely on the piece of rough, the cutter aims of give every emerald a pleasing set of proportions. From its length to width ratio or perfectly parallel sides, a diamond’s cut plays an integral role in determining the beauty of the gem.

Establishing a good Emerald cut diamond should include:

Factor	Description
Culet	Should be centered with only a fine line where the facets terminate, visible through the table.
Girdle	Should not be too thin or too thick to reflect through the table. Sharp girdle edges might chip.
Length: Width	1.50:1 – 1.75:1
Beveled Corners	Should not be too wide and very uneven.
Symmetry	Sides should be parallel and if a line was to be drawn on the gemstone it should cut into equal halves.

The Quality and Color

What makes a diamond’s value is a combination of factors and color is key. The intensity of color when it comes to emerald cut fancy colored diamonds and likewise the lack of color when it comes to emerald cut diamonds are both essential. Establishing the color in these fancy shapes should be done in both directions, length and width, as color tends to be more concentrated in its length.

The simplicity of this emerald cut is bold, geometric and symmetrical thus emphasizing the gem’s natural transparency. At 0.91 carats, this gemstone that is associated with elegance will easily stand out from all the others.

Within the colorless spectrum, colors beyond ‘J’ tend to have a visible yellow tint and can sometimes work well when you pair it with golden toned metals like yellow gold and rose gold. With crispier, whiter tones, the emerald cut comes alive in white toned metals as it reflects off the gemstone beautifully thanks to its trapeze shaped facets.

Even with emerald cut fancy colored diamonds it is important to accommodate intense color. Vivid pinks and even intense blues are cut as emeralds to add to their sensual drama. One key pick from our collection is this Faint Pinkish Brown emerald cut diamond. Resembling a rose that boasts it’s beauty, this gem flaunts exceptional clarity thanks to its clean cutting style. Simplistic yet full of rich color, the 1.71 carat diamond has nice, even proportions that give the romantic gem life in this setting. A unique choice to signify the past present and the future, this three stone ring, will make a confident statement.

In an emerald cut diamond, the table works as window into the stone. These classy, elite gems can sometimes look muddled when inclusions rest under the table. Easier to spot in an emerald cut, clarity characteristics are often camouflaged by the cutter to improve the overall look of the gem. A common feature is naturals hidden on the girdle.

Set in yellow gold prongs and flanked by white trapeze shaped diamonds, this VVS1, Fancy Light Yellow Diamond ring is magnificently refined. Princely in size and splendor the 7.11 carat sparkler will have everyone staring.

The post The Emerald Cut: A Style Not Only For Today But Forever appeared first on Asteria Magazine.

source https://www.asteriadiamonds.com/blog/2018/12/18/the-emerald-cut-a-style-not-only-for-today-but-forever/

Fancy Colored Diamond Investments: An in Depth Analysis

In 2008, the world saw what was according to the IMF, “the worst financial crisis since the great depression”: the U.S debt crisis, the Euro Crisis, and a gloomy political environment in the middle east.

Throughout the fall of 2008, as major financial markets lost more than 30% of their value, investors sought to protect their wealth by diversifying and hedging their portfolios. Savvy investors, particularly HNWIs, swiftly moved their assets from traditional stocks and bonds to alternative investments.

In particular, they sought out tangible assets with an actual, insurable, value that would remain resilient to market fluctuations. And for these savvy investors, no category of tangible assets proved as secure, attractive, and lucrative as fancy colored diamonds.

Recession proof and consistently valuable

In a time of recession and extreme market turbulence, the move to fancy colored diamonds was not surprising, as fancy colored diamonds as an asset class have consistently proven themselves to be recession proof. Despite global and national recessions, political turmoil or stock market suffering, colored diamond prices have experienced no significant drops in the last 40 years.

The reason for this is simple: a key factor that underlies market instability and volatility is the existence of the market speculation that is made possible by a line of credit. Essentially, it is the ability to control stocks or gold valued at $100 backed against an actual payment of only $10. With colored diamonds, there is no credit associated with the purchase.
The valuation of a diamond is not based on market behaviors or fluctuations, which are often arbitrary and greatly sensitive to investor and economic sentiment. Instead, it is the intrinsic value and rarity of FCDs that keeps their value highly appreciated

As natural colored diamonds are not subject to the same market forces as traditional investments, they have a significantly lower volatility than other assets including gold, the prices of which fell significantly due to political turmoil in the Middle East.

In addition, fancy colored diamonds do not adversely affect traditional investments such as stocks and bonds, and can be easily maintained as part of an overall, more diversified portfolio.

Experience and insure your investment

A natural colored diamond is completely unlike a traditional asset in an extremely fundamental way: it is a tangible, and in no way theoretical. Unlike any traditional asset, be it company shares, government bonds, funds, the stock market,a colored diamond can be seen, touched, physically evaluated, possessed, and experienced

There is also another key reason that savvy investors choose fancy colored diamonds over other tangible assets: in addition to their tangibility, unlike other collectables, rare colored diamonds are a multipurpose asset.This means that unlike fine wine or vintage cars, precious colored diamond jewelry can be used and enjoyed without any depreciation to the asset itself.

In fact, the longer a colored diamond sits in your possession, the more it will increase in value. Additionally, a diamond can be insured, which is highly reassuring for investors who seek security in turbulent markets.

 

The rosy future for colored diamond investments

The future of fancy colored diamonds undoubtedly looks rosy.

In the last ten years, colored diamond prices have risen 122% in the last ten years, with pink diamonds leading with 180% growth over the same period, proving that for investors with a low risk, long term perspective,fancy colored diamonds offers some of the highest and most secured returns amongst all asset classes.

In the future, the trend for rising colored diamond prices is expected to continue, compounded by the fact that supply of this rare, non-renewable natural resource is expected to dwindle significantly over the next 20 years.

The production of loose colored diamonds relies heavily on existing deposits, and today, many major diamond mines have exhausted their open-pit production, and experts estimate world diamond production will drop significantly within the next two decades.

This means unless a large number ofnew mine is discovered in the near future, that supply will become even more limited, and fancy colored diamonds for sale will become even rare – and expensive – than they are today.

To learn more about investing in fancy colored diamonds, speak to our dedicated diamond experts for comprehensive pre and post investment services.

---

http://www.valuewalk.com/2017/05/boost-retirement-…

The post Fancy Colored Diamond Investments: An in Depth Analysis appeared first on Asteria Magazine.

source https://www.asteriadiamonds.com/blog/2018/12/18/fancy-colored-diamond-investments-an-in-depth-analysis/

Apollo and Artemis: Divine colored diamond earrings set record

Divine Diamond Twins

The twins Apollo and Artemis are being much talked about in the world of fancy colored diamonds.

Blue for a boy and pink for a girl, Apollo and Artemis are a pair of pear-shaped “divine diamond twins”, named after the celestial twin brother and sister to symbolize their great power and beauty.

Perfectly matched in size, cut and tonality, and mounted as a set of stunning earrings, the Apollo Blue and the Artemis Pink sold together for $57.4 million this May at Sotheby’s Geneva Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels sale.

Setting records

These two highly anticipated rare colored diamonds, viewed at pre-sale exhibitions in Hong Kong, London, Dubai and New York were setting records before they ever went under the hammer, billed as the most valuable pair of diamond earrings ever to appear at auction.

Although set as a pair of earrings, the ‘Apollo Blue’ and ‘Artemis Pink’ were offered on separate lots on due to extreme rarity and value of both natural colored diamonds. Both colors are amongst the rarest of the rare colored diamonds, occurring in less than 0.1% of all natural colored diamond.

The “Apollo Blue”, a 14.54 carats, an internally flawless fancy sold for $42.1 million, becoming (as anticipated) the highest selling lot of the sale. Its pair the “Artemis Pink”, a 16.00 carats fancy intense pink diamond, sold for US$15.3 million, the second highest selling lot of the auction.

Sold together for a phenomenal $57.4 million, the pair set a record for the most expensive earrings ever to be purchased at auction. The Apollo Blue also holds the record for the largest internally flawless fancy vivid blue diamond ever to be offered at auction.

“Perfectly matched”

Lot 377: the Apollo Blue diamond Pear-shaped, Fancy Vivid Blue, Internally Flawless, 14.54-carat diamond mounted on platinum as a pendant earring, from a surmount consisting of a pear-shaped and round brilliant-cut colorless diamonds.

Lot 378: – the Artemis pink diamond

Pear-shaped, Fancy Intense Pink, VVS2 Clarity, 16.00-carat diamond mounted on platinum as a pendant earring from a surmount consisting of a pear-shaped and round brilliant-cut colorless diamonds.

Although they appeared in separate lots as individual colored diamonds for sale, the divine twins were destined to stay together, and after competitive bidding were purchased by the same anonymous buyer who has now rechristened them The Memory of Autumn Leaves (blue) and The Dream of Autumn Leaves (pink).

The chairman of Sotheby’s international jewellery division David Bennett said he was ‘delighted’ the earrings would remain together.
He added that while “These exquisite colored diamonds are enormously rare and each is a wonderful stone in its own right, together, as a pair of earrings, they are breathtaking.”

 

The post Apollo and Artemis: Divine colored diamond earrings set record appeared first on Asteria Magazine.

source https://www.asteriadiamonds.com/blog/2018/12/18/apollo-and-artemis-divine-colored-diamond-earrings-set-record/

10 stunning natural loose pink diamonds for under 2000$ you don’t want to miss!

Pink diamonds are the hottest and most coveted diamonds in recent years! With a steady rise in their value for almost 3 consecutive decades, a soft and flattering feminine look and increasing rarity over time, pink diamonds are a desired business goal for investors, jewelers and aspiring collectors, who are willing to spend hundreds or even millions of dollars per carat. But what about ordinary private individuals? Are the prices of rare and beautiful natural pink diamonds necessarily in the reach of millionaires only? The answer is – absolutely not!

How rare are pink diamonds?

Natural pink diamonds are among the most precious stones in the world, largely because it takes so long to find them in mines. For every million carats of rough diamonds, only 1 carat of pink diamond gemstone-level reaches the market. The Argyle diamond mine, owned by the world’s largest mining company RIO TINTO, supplies 90-95% of the world’s pink diamonds and its annual yield, estimated at only 40-50 carats, is sold in a prestigious tender.

Pink diamonds are so exceptionally rare that they have a special status in the diamond world, and their price continues to skyrocket and break records over time as their supply dwindles. With the potential closure of the Argyle mine in 2020, which would deprive the market of 90% of all pink diamonds, the future of pink diamonds, as well as their prices, are still likely to change and increase even more.

Pink diamond prices: How low can it go?

Natural pink diamonds come in a variety of weights and intensities, and their prices vary drastically based on these factors. In our online diamond store, you can find natural pink diamonds at affordable prices from $498 for 0.12 carat of Fancy Brownish Purple Pink diamond, for example.

We’ve assembled for you 10 high-quality natural loose pink diamonds in breathtaking colors, which cost less than $2,000 and can be embedded in old or new jewelry such as engagement rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets, giving yourself or a loved one, a rare and exceptionally beautiful token that originated from deep underground after a process that began millions of years ago, without breaking the bank. How cool is that?

10 Loose pink diamond prices for under $2,000

1. Fancy intense purplish pink diamond

Although the Fancy intense pink purplish diamond weighs only 0.06 carats, it embodies all the charm of the diamond world that will mesmerize, dazzle and astonish those willing to dive deep into its special color. With a pear shape emphasizing the beauty, and clarity of level SI2, this purplish pink diamond offers an astonishing and rare piece of nature for just $1,950. It even comes with an original GIA certificate!

• Color: Intense Pink Purplish
• Shape: PearWeight: 0.06 Carat
• Clarity: SI2
• GIA certified
• Price: 1,950$

2. Fancy intense pink diamond

With a pure pink color and excellent VVS2 clarity level, this beautiful fancy intense pink diamond will make every piece of jewelry look lavish, elegant and full of glamor. Its emerald shape, so carefully polished to create its symmetry and brilliance, directs the external light to hit the diamond, thereby creating a reflection that looks like an infinite sparkle. How much does this pleasure cost? Only $1,872!

• Color: Intense Pink
• Shape: Emerald
• Weight: 0.08 Carat
• Clarity: VVS2
• GIA certified
• Price: 1,872$

3. Fancy pinkish purple diamond

If you seek to create a very special jewel adorned by a rare stone millions of years old to convey a message of love to yourself or to someone special, the fancy pinkish purple diamond is probably the perfect choice for you. This diamond weighs 0.19 carats, with a delicate pink and rosy purple color. It comes with a certificate of authenticity that verifies its features from the world’s leading gemological organization, the GIA. The pink heart diamond costs only $1,762 and its main purpose is to spread love. Will you let it into your world?

• Color: Pinkish purple diamond
• Shape: Heart
• Weight: 0.19 Carat
• GIA certified
• Price: 1,762$

4. Fancy brownish purplish pink

If you wish to buy an outstanding pink diamond at a reasonable price, thisfancy brownish purplish pink diamond will exceed your expectations and represent a crucial step in your way to realizing a small dream. This diamond boasts a respectable weight of 0.60 carats and its color blends a dominant pink with subtle shades of purple and brown. Its oval shape is especially suitable for gold, platinum or silver rings, and it comes with an bonafide GIA certificate that confirms its features based on a thorough lab test. And the real bonanza? It costs only $1,903!

• Color: Brownish purplish pink
• Shape: Oval
• Weight: 0.60 Carat
• GIA certified
• Price: 1,930$

5. Fancy Light Purplish Pink Diamond

Look carefully at the beautiful pear shape of this fancy light purplish pink diamond, how all the light breaks into countless rays that then break again and reflect one another until they create a multi-dimensional and hypnotic world full of brilliance and glow to plunge into it. Its relatively considerable weight, 0.27 carats, will make it stand out on any jewel you decide to create and it comes with an original GIA certificate that corroborates its wonderful features. This enchanting pink diamond costs only $1,845, marvelously representing the rare pink charm on your own coveted personal jewel.

• Color: Light Purplish Pink Diamond
• Shape: Pear
• Weight: 0.27 Carat
• GIA certified
• Price: 1,845$

6. Fancy Light Pink Diamond Heart

If you wish to give your heart to someone special, there is no more symbolic and eternal way than doing so with this fancy light pink diamond heart. Weighing 0.20 carats, this diamond can fit perfectly in stunning engagement rings that can be passed down from generation to generation, a piece of history that will make history in your personal life as well. Its bright pink color creates a pleasant feeling of warmth and its symmetrical cut creates the glow and shine that give it a special depth. Although its clarity level is relatively low (I1), for $1,708 it seems to be worth the price.

• Color: Light Pink Diamond
• Shape: Heart
• Weight: 0.20 Carat
• GIA certified
• Price: 1,708$

7. Fancy Brownish Purple Pink Diamond

Buying a pink diamond is not a simple task and there are a lot of precautions to take into account, but like love at first sight, once you’ve found the one, you just know it. After one glance at this fancy brownish purple pink diamond weighing 0.22-carat and boasting a glamorous and sparkling cushion shape, you will start falling in love. Its gorgeous color, beautiful shape and reasonable weight suggest that it will be the perfect choice to embed in an unforgettable luxury jewel. The price of this special pink diamond is only $1,449 and it comes with a certificate of authenticity from the renowned GIA confirming its natural origin, color, size and other features.

• Color: Brownish Purple Pink Diamond
• Shape: Cushion
• Weight: 0.22 Carat
• GIA certified
• Price: 1,449$

8. Light Pink Diamond

Hold on tight because you won’t believe this: This beautiful light pink diamond weighing 0.19 carat, and with a clarity level of SI1, is now offered for an excellent price of less than $1,000! Its radiant shape makes it shine and glow and emphasizes its bright pink color with a gloss and sparkle that will light up your day! For only $925 you will receive this enchanting diamond by free delivery to your home with a genuine and official GIA certificate that verifies its unique features. It is highly recommendrd not to miss this opportunity!

• Color: Light Pink Diamond
• Shape: Radiant
• Weight: 0.19 Carat
• Clarity: SI1
• GIA certified
• Price: 925$

9. Faint Pink Diamond

If quality and presence are two important parameters affecting your choice of pink diamond, then this (name of diamond) may well meet your expectations. With a respectable weight of 0.40 carats and decent VS2 clarity, this faint pink diamond is available at an affordable price of $1,074, allowing you to take the first step towards your masterpiece jewel. Its round shape makes it particularly suitable for engagement rings, and its soft, pleasant and feminine color completes the picture and seeks to illustrate your declaration of love. Of course, its excellent features are backed by an original GIA certificate.

• Color: Faint Pink Diamond
• Shape: Round
• Weight: 0.40 Carat
• GIA certified
• Price: 1,074$

10. Fancy Intense Purplish Pink Diamond

This fancy intense purplish pink natural diamond is perfect for embedding in jewelry items of value and meaning for you. Due to its special geometrical shape – trilliant – and its wonderful symmetry and cut, this diamond can be embedded as a luxurious and wonderful addition to an elegant, fancy and sophisticated jewel. The diamond’s clarity level is SI1 and it comes with a genuine certificate from the world’s leading gemological institute (GIA), which confirms its features and characteristics based on lab test results. Its pink color is mixed with a secondary hue of purple, giving it a rare and intense shade. The price of this diamond is only $1,560 and it weighs 0.06 carats.

• Color: Intense Purplish Pink Diamond
• Shape: Trillaint
• Weight: 0.06 Carat
• Clarity: SI1
• GIA certified
• Price: 1,560$

Have you found a natural pink diamond you like? Excellent!
Here are some quick tips to help you move forward and get more information:

1. Each of the diamonds on the list has a link to its product page. Click on it to go to the respective page.

2. On each page you can view more pictures, enlarge them ten times, and some of them even feature 360° videos that let you inspect the diamond on all sides, as it appears in reality.

3. Need more details? Want to talk to a professional who can answer your questions? Send your details with the “How may we help you” button on the product page you selected.

4. Since each diamond is unique, as are its features, some of the diamonds in the list may not be available for purchase as time goes by. But don’t give up! Sort the available pink diamonds according to the same parameters and you will surely find a your perfect diamond, for less than $2,000. The product doesn’t exist anymore? click here for a new search of pink diamonds for

Why Buy Pink Diamonds with Asteria Diamonds?

1. We specialize in natural fancy colored diamonds, we don’t have synthetic or artificial diamonds, and we strongly believe in and adhere to the faithful work of mother nature. Therefore, all the diamonds you will find on our site will be millions of years old, originating from a natural source deep underground. No treatment or accent colors, but rather just as nature intended.

For more information on the formation process of pink diamonds click here

2. We have a team of expert consultants here to make your shopping experience pleasant and worthwhile. Contact us and they will help you find the perfect pink diamond, based on your needs, your budget and your personal expectations.

Click here for Asteria’s consulting service

3. Asteria Diamonds provides its clients with premium services: from insured shipments, thru private diamond viewings, to lifetime warranty. With Asteria you can rest assure that you are getting a fair and safe deal.

Click here for the list of services that Asteria Diamonds provides to its customers.

4. Want to create a custom jewel with your chosen pink diamond just as you imagined in your vision? Asteria Diamonds has created a very simple and efficient process for this very purpose.

Click here for more information on designing personalized diamond jewelry.

Any questions? Please contact us or leave a comment and we will be more than happy to help.

The post 10 stunning natural loose pink diamonds for under 2000$ you don’t want to miss! appeared first on Asteria Magazine.

source https://www.asteriadiamonds.com/blog/2018/12/18/10-stunning-natural-loose-pink-diamonds-for-under-2000-you-dont-want-to-miss/

​Colored diamond soaring prices: A growing demographic of ultra rich investors

– In November 2015 at a Geneva auction, the 12.03-carat Blue Moon sells for nearly $50 million

– the only diamond to ever sell for more than $4 million per carat. – In spring 2016, a Geneva-based fund manager famously purchases a highly rare colored diamond, a vivid orange, at the price of $1 million per carat.

– In May 2016, a 14.62-carat blue diamond sells for $57.5 million at another Geneva auction, becoming the most expensive diamond in the world ever to be purchased in auction.

In just the last two years, these are some of the high profile, high price colored diamond purchases that have made the news, and behind these headlines are an indication of the trends that signal good news for those considering investing in colored diamonds.

In this article, we’re going to explore recent trends reflecting the increased popularity of colored diamonds and investments, and what they mean for colored diamond investments in the future.

Colored Diamonds: Soaring prices and solid ROI

Prices paid at auctions are considerably over initial valuations, and colored diamond prices risen 122% in the last ten years, on average.

On the higher end of the spectrum, the price of extremely rare colored diamonds such as pink stones increased 180%. On the lower end, for more affordable colored diamonds such as blue and yellow, prices are up by around 70% and 90%, respectively, over the same period.

A transforming market of elite investors

It’s clear the marketplace has transformed. One of the drivers is a surge in loose colored diamonds being purchased as investments, to serve as discreet, valuable, and lucrative assets. Ultra rich investors are counting on the forecasted growth of colored diamond values and the relatively stability of these “recession proof investments” to bank on considerable profits with low risk.

Investors include professionals and funds investing on behalf of ultra rich clients who buy colored diamonds as alternative investments. This new demographic of investors has significantly expanded the diamond market, traditionally dominated by rare gem collectors and connoisseurs

Alternative investments and passion funds

China in particular is seeing a growth in the ranks of newly made and young millionaires, who are on average under 40 years old. These youthful, nouveau riche investors don’t only want to secure their wealth, they want to do so in style.

They’re investing increasingly in what are coming to be called “passion funds”, long-term investments in tangible and usually rare assets. These investments appreciate over time and are generally safeguarded against unpredictable inflation or market fluctuations.

Passion fund goods include fine wines, works of art, collectible musical instruments, as well as rare colored diamonds. In addition to guaranteeing high returns, part of the enticement of these niche investments is that they are luxurious and reflect the social status of their owners.

A significant advantage of diamonds over other passion fund investments is that they are an asset that investors can actually use and enjoy at no cost or depreciation to the asset itself.

Due to the nature of collectables, assets are largely valued for their rarity and limited supply. As one of the world’s rarest commodities, it’s no wonder that Fancy Colored diamonds are where an increasing number of wealthy investors are choosing to put their money.

Rare resources, rising values

Fancy colored diamonds are extremely rare, and much more so than white or colorless diamonds. According to the GIA, only 1 carat of colored diamonds is found for every 100,000 carats of colorless diamonds mined. Amongst these, some rare colored diamonds are so uncommon, such as the coveted red diamond, that few have ever been seen on the market. The GIA laboratory did not come across a single red diamond between 1957 and 1987.

In the uncommon instances that one comes across this rare colored diamond on the market, prices are extremely high, and the stones are typically purchased at auctions for amounts staggeringly above their pre-sale valuation.

The investment forecast of diamonds predicts that valuations are only set to rise as diamond production is set to to drop significantly within the next 20 years.

As diamonds are a non-renewable resource, a precious mineral formed through millions of years of creation, the availability of diamonds on the market is dependent on existing deposits, which are being depleted at a much faster rate than there are being renewed.

Unless new mines are discovered in the near future, colored diamonds will be even more rare than they are now – and considerably more valuable.

Air of allure and a secret society

The unique and uncommon nature of colored diamonds is underscored and enhanced by the secrecy surrounding a rare colored diamond when it appears on the market.

Only 15% of colored diamonds for sale are purchased at auctions. In many mines, the best colored diamonds, typically around only 50 annually, are sold through sealed bids in an annual tender.

Investors must be invited to the viewings, which are held at secret locations in London, New York, and Hong Kong. These secret viewings of the world’s most expensive colored diamonds create a covert ultra niche market accessible only by the initiated – which significantly enhances the stone’s allure and perceived value.

Adding even more to the air of mystery surrounding these purchases, investors are allowed to examine the stone for sale one by one, in a hidden, windowless room, reinforcing the atmosphere of being members of a secret society.

To be a part of this growing buyer’s club for the world’s most valuable diamonds, one must be a part of the initiated elite – a much sought after status in the growing ranks of the super rich.

Private purchases, anonymous ownership

The discretion and anonymity that surrounds the viewings, and which are so valued by the often immensely private ultra rich investors, continues throughout the purchase process.

Diamonds are an extremely discreet investment: transactions don’t need to be registered with government agencies or financial institutions. Ownership can even be anonymous if the investor so prefers.

Additionally, Fancy color diamonds are easy to transport privately. Diamonds have a high size to value ratio: as they are so small, they are highly portable, which makes it easy to transfer wealth.

___

However, investing in diamonds is a complex decision. Learn more about each colored diamond in our diamond education articles, or consider speaking to our investment experts for pre and post valuation services.

If you’ve made up your mind to join the club of elite investors seeking recession proof investments, get one step closer to your invaluable investment with Asteria invest.

The post ​Colored diamond soaring prices: A growing demographic of ultra rich investors appeared first on Asteria Magazine.

source https://www.asteriadiamonds.com/blog/2018/12/18/%e2%80%8bcolored-diamond-soaring-prices-a-growing-demographic-of-ultra-rich-investors/

Colored diamonds Wiki: The great mystery of natural colored diamonds simplified

Everyone is familiar with white, or colorless diamonds, the type immortalized in engagement rings. While it is common knowledge that white diamonds are amongst the world’s rarest and most beautiful stones, not as many people are familiar with an even more valuable and aesthetically pleasing type of diamond: extremely rare natural colored diamonds.

What are colored diamonds

Many people who are aware of the existence of colored diamonds, often mistakenly believe them to be treated or synthetically colored stones. However, colored diamonds occur naturally in all colors of the rainbow, ranging from vibrant red, pink and orange, to brilliant blue, green, violet, and muted yellow, brown, gray – and even black.

Are colored diamonds rare?

Colored diamonds are extremely rare, and much more so than clear or colorless diamonds. In fact, the formation process of colored diamonds occurs so rarely in nature, that less than 1 carat of colored diamond is found for every 10,000 carats of clear diamonds mined. Given their rarity, colored diamonds are also considered significantly more valuable, and demand is considerably higher.

However, not all colored diamonds are equally rare. For example, black, brown and yellow diamonds occur much more frequently than green or blue diamonds. For comparison, only 2 to 4 major blue diamonds are released to the market every year, and only 50 Fancy Vivid blue diamonds have been sold at auctions since 1999.

Which colored diamond is most rare?

In comparison, red diamonds, the rarest of all the colored diamonds, occur so infrequently that even experienced jewelers never see pure, or Fancy Vivid red diamonds in their lifetime. Few colors of fancy colored diamonds come in only a single color intensity, and red diamonds are one of these rare stones.

Red diamonds occur in only the Fancy intensity, and only around twenty to thirty true red diamonds are known to exist in the world. Most of these are less than half a carat in size, and valued at amongst the most expensive diamonds in price per carat.

How are colored Diamonds Formed?

The formation process of colored diamonds is largely similar to that of white diamonds: all diamonds are composed of carbon atoms that are transformed by extremely high temperatures (around 1300° to 2000° C) and tremendous pressure (70 ton/cm²) into a crystalline structure.

These transformations occurred in the Earth’s mantle 150 kilometers below the surface, as a result of geological processes that lasted millions of years between 550 million to 4 billion years ago. As they are composed of the same element and transformed by the same process, colored and colorless diamonds have the same material properties, scoring 10 on a Mohs scale, which makes them the hardest natural material on earth.

So what makes them different from colorless diamonds?

Despite being composed of the same element, being acted upon by the same physical processes, and having formed in the same time span and geological region, there is one small but key difference between the creation of colored and colorless diamonds.

This singular difference involves a chemical interaction with foreign particulates that integrate into the diamond’s carbon structure during the crystallization process. This chemical process can include interactions with other elements such as boron, nitrogen, as the result of uncommonly high temperatures or pressures (as is the case with red or pink diamonds), due to radiation (such as with green diamonds) or even due to a higher than usual concentration of inclusions of carbon, the native element (as is the case with black diamonds).

Depending on how the chemical process of diamond formation is affected, and by which abnormal factors, the result is an extremely rare and exceptionally beautiful natural colored diamond.

How many colors do colored diamonds come in?

Diamonds come in 27 base colors, listed in the color wheel above. However, with the varying levels of intensities and modifying hues, this results in over 200 color combinations.

In addition, the various clarity, cut, and shapes of colored diamonds mean that your invaluable colored diamond is truly one of a kind.

Colored diamonds pricing:

The more affordable colored diamonds

The least expensive of the colored diamond colors include brown, gray, and yellow – the most commonly occurring of the colored diamonds. Although these colored stones are more rare than white diamonds, they typically cost less than white diamonds of a comparable quality and carat due to generally lower levels of demand. However, the relatively lower cost is not applicable for stones with stronger intensities such as vivid or fancy vivid yellow, or for a diamond with a modifying color that is more valuable, such as a blue gray diamond.

The typical price per carat of the affordable colored diamonds is listed below:

Fancy light yellow – $4,320/carat

Yellowish brown – $4,320/carat

Fancy yellow – $9,720/carat

Brownish yellow (cognac) $6,480/carat

Mid range colored diamonds pricing

The mid-range priced level of diamonds include stones with lower saturations due to the presence of secondary colors.

Price ranges for this group of diamonds vary greatly depending on the strength and tone of the secondary color, however typically diamonds in this category are generally more expensive than white diamonds.

Mid range colored diamonds often include orange diamonds, which commonly come with strong modifying hues.

Deep Yellowish Orange Diamond $9,500/carat

Orange Brown – Gray $10,800/carat

Brownish Orange – $28,080/carat

Orange Yellow $21, 600/carat

The mid range diamonds also includes Intense yellow or “canary” diamonds, which are more expensive than the typically “affordable” yellow diamonds.

Fancy Intense Yellow (Canary) – $25,488/carat

On the upper end of the prices for mid range colored diamonds include the lighter intensities of the expensive colored diamonds. Typically, these include:

Lime green – $38,880/carat

Intense blue – $38,880/carat

Light brownish pink – $43,200/ carat

Light pink – $43,200/ carat

Rare and Expensive colored diamonds

The most expensive, and rarest, colored diamonds are significantly more expensive than white diamonds, with a value that rises exponentially the higher the carat and color intensity.

These includes pink, purple, green, blue, violet and pure or “pumpkin” orange diamonds. Even the base valuations of price per carat usually start in the tens or thousands of dollars. Loose diamonds of these colors are typically sold through auctions for bids that are easily in the millions of dollars. Given the rarity and demand for these colors, they also tend to make secure investments that are likely to see exceptional returns.

A few high profile purchases of the world’s rarest and most expensive colored diamonds include:

7.37 carat Fancy Intense Purplish Pink Diamond sold for $819,201 per carat

The Vivid Green Diamond sold for USD $3.08 million, a price of $1.22 million per carat.

The 12.03-carat Blue Moon sells for nearly $50 million – the only diamond to ever sell for more than $4 million per carat.

Which is the Most Expensive Diamond Color?

Despite the stunningly high prices of rare colored diamonds, there is one diamond color so rare that only 20-30 have been known to ever exist in recorded history; and even most of these are extremely small: half carat or smaller.

Red diamonds are the most rare and most expensive of all the colored diamonds, and come only in a single intensity: Fancy.

They are so rare, and there is such a small set of pure red diamonds on the market historically, that it is very difficult to determine prices for them. Even when red diamonds appear with a purple modifying color (the most commonly found secondary hue in red diamonds), prices vary dramatically based on the percentage saturation of red in the stone. However, typically, a 0.20ct purplish red can cost about $300,000 per carat and 0.40ct about $500,000.

The red color in diamonds is so rare that even if the red color appears in a diamond at an extremely low saturation, as a modifying secondary color, the price of that diamond will rise exponentially. Thus, while a brown diamond costs only about $2,400 per carat, a reddish brown diamond can cost the astonishing sum of over $30,000 per carat – over 12 times as much due to the effect of the red color! No other color has such a drastic effect when it appears as a modifier.

The most known red diamond is the Mousaieff Red – a 5.11ct Pure Red diamond that was purchased for over $ 1.6 million per carat. Recently, at the 2013 Argyle Pink Diamond Tender, a 1.56 carat red diamond known as the Argyle Phoenix, was sold for over $1.25 million per carat.

What factors account for the disparity of pricing within the same color of diamond?

The intensity color grading of a diamond is based on a combination of saturation and tone, and represents the color’s strength and vibrancy. The color grading of the GIA, is divided into 9 color intensities: faint, very light, light, fancy light, fancy, fancy intense, fancy vivid, fancy dark, and fancy deep.

This is the primary factor that affects the cost and demand of a diamond – the higher the intensity of the color, the rarer, and more valuable the diamond is.

Other than the color of the diamond, what are the factors that influence prices of colored diamonds?

While the intensity of the color, is the primary factor that influences the pricing of diamond, the other 3 C’s – Carat, Clarity and Cut – are also important considerations.

Carat – represents a diamond’s weight (not size). As a rule, the more carats, the higher the price per carat, as well as the higher than a price overall.

Clarity – indicates a stone’s structural perfection. While flaws are not usually visible to the human eye, the clarity scales set by gemological institutes such as the GIA, specify the diamonds’ level of internal clarity when magnified 10,000 times.

The clarity rating is represented in a scale that includes 9 grades divided into 6 groups:

FL – Flawless: No inclusions or blemishes are visible even at 10x magnification.

IF – Internally Flawless: No inclusions, only blemishes visible at 10x magnification.

VVS1, VVS2 – Very, Very Slightly Included: Inclusions slightly visible at 10x magnification.

VS1, VS2 – Very Slightly Included: Minor inclusions clearly visible under 10x magnification.

SI1, SI2 – Slightly Included: Minor and major inclusions visible at 10x magnification.

I1, I2, I3 Included: Inclusions are obvious at 10x magnification and visibly affect transparency and brilliance.

Cut – refers to the way the diamond is polished to best flatter its natural qualities, maximize its color, augment its sparkle and make it look larger than its actual carat weight.

Colored diamonds, are generally cut into pear, radiant, cushion, or other unconventional shapes as such fancy shapes, which reflect less white light, work to enhance the intensity of the color.

It is possible to find colored diamonds in rounds, princess and emerald cuts. However, as it is very difficult to cut colored diamonds into these shapes without losing color, these shapes are usually rare, and extremely valuable.

Difference Between synthetic and natural Diamonds

Synthetic diamonds are created artificially from carbon. This process barely requires three weeks, compared to billions of years for natural diamonds. Only laboratories possessing leading-edge technology are able to detect these diamonds, which have exactly the same physical and chemical properties as natural diamonds.

The surest way to determine the authenticity of a diamond is to see its certification. A certification is a report from a reputed independent laboratory such as the G.I.A. (Gemological Institute of America), that testifies to the stone’s authenticity, origin, and unique features.

Techniques used to create synthetic diamonds

A variety of different techniques are currently used to produce synthetic diamonds

CVD (chemical vapor deposition): this technique was developed in the late 1960’s and involves the propulsion of CO2 into plasma. The diamonds created with that process are low nitrogen type IIa crystals, and can be colorless, brown, faint pink, blue or black.

HPHT (high pressure high temperature): The most widely adopted technique, HPHT subjects carbon atoms to very high temperatures and pressures, re-creating the geological conditions in which diamonds crystallize.

HPHT diamonds are extremely similar to the “real thing” and one of the few ways to detect differences is by using special equipment to reveal growth lines in the crystal.

Another way to recognize a synthetic diamond is that it has characteristic impurities quite different from those occurring in natural colored diamonds. Even the most perfect natural color diamonds have some minor blemishes invisible to the eye. These are the signature of the natural creation process, and part of the unique character of each diamond.

A third method exists: the DND (Detonation Nanodiamond) It consists of using a detonation to make diamonds. However, as this recent technique only allows to produce tiny particles of diamond. Therefore, it is only used for industrial and medical purposes.

Treating natural diamonds does not mean the diamonds are synthetic as opposed to the above where the diamond is actually created. Instead a colorless diamond is taken and ‘treated’ to change its properties and lend it a particular hue.

However, while it is easy to find treated or synthetic diamonds on the market, a natural colored diamond is truly rare – and increasingly in demand.

With colored diamonds becoming more popular both as fashion accessories and as investment options, it’s no surprise that values are increasing exponentially.

If you’re considering buying a colored diamond, or looking to sell one, visit Invest Asteria for in depth information on diamond investment. Alternatively, consider speaking to our diamond experts for dedicated pre and post sale services.

The post Colored diamonds Wiki: The great mystery of natural colored diamonds simplified appeared first on Asteria Magazine.

source https://www.asteriadiamonds.com/blog/2018/12/18/colored-diamonds-wiki-the-great-mystery-of-natural-colored-diamonds-simplified/

Black Diamonds Wiki: Prices, engagement rings, investments & much more

Unlike other colored diamonds, black diamonds gain their distinct color through a mixture of graphite and amorphous carbon, as opposed to naturally occurring interactions with other elements such as nitrogen or boron.
Also known as ‘carbonados’, the mysterious allure of natural black diamonds make them a favorite with collectors and lovers of statement jewelry, as well as a popular choice for engagement rings and men’s bands.

In this natural black diamond education article, we’ll provide you with all the information you need to make an informed purchase. We’ll explain how these stones are formed, how they are graded and, most importantly, how you can determine the natural black diamond prices before you make an invaluable investment. Whether you are looking to buy a piece of jewelry, add to your diamond collection, or make a secure investment for the future, this article will help you make the right decision.

How are natural black diamonds formed?

Whereas other fancy colored diamonds are formed as a result of sustained interactions with elements such as boron or nitrogen during the creation process, natural black diamonds owe their unique coloration to a large number of inclusions (defined as small imperfections present in all diamonds) that are spread throughout the stone. Although these inclusions are usually comprised of graphite, it is not uncommon to find traces of magnetite and hematite as well.

As such, natural black diamonds are formed in essentially the same way as colorless diamonds but they have so many inclusions that they take on a black color. The large number of inclusions also means that natural black diamonds, unlike other colored stones, are usually opaque.

How exactly is the formation process different from white diamonds?

While they are formed in the same conditions as white diamonds, precisely how black diamonds come to have the large number of inclusions that lend them their distinctive color remains a mystery.

The more mundane explanation is that they are the result of high pressure conditions in the earth’s interior combined with dark inclusions of graphite. However, this theory does not explain why the stones are found almost exclusively in Brazil and the Central African Republic.

A more exciting theory holds that natural black diamonds were part of a star that exploded 3.8 billion years ago. Having drifted through space for 1.5 billion years, the stones crashed to earth as part of a meteorite and have been here ever since.

So, are natural black diamonds low quality white diamonds?

It is a commonly held misconception that black diamonds, due to their high number of inclusions, are essentially colorless diamonds with an extremely low clarity grade.

While having a large number of inclusions generally indicates that a diamond is of a lower quality, this standard of grading is not applicable to natural black diamonds, since the extremely high number of inclusions within them is what gives them their value.

Are black diamonds rare?

Although not as rare as pink fancy colored diamonds or even yellow diamonds, natural black diamonds are still exceptionally rare, and more so than colorless diamonds. However, as they can be less expensive than colorless diamonds, this may be a surprise to some.

The reason for their relatively low prices is simply that there has not been as large a demand for them as there has been for colorless or other colored diamonds. However, this is slowly changing as in the past few years demand has increased and so too, naturally, have prices.

Unfortunately, as the demand for black diamonds has increased, so too has the number of treated black diamonds. As such, most black diamonds one sees on the market are not genuine, nor rare.

Are black diamonds popular for engagement rings and other jewelry?

Due to their unique, highly aesthetic appearance and deeply rooted symbolic value, black diamonds are a popular option for engagement rings, and have been for several centuries.

In Renaissance Italy, rare black diamonds were believed to possess the power to restore the happiness of a married couple. Today, black diamonds continue to be associated with romance and conjugal happiness.

Natural black diamonds provide stunning contrasts in all kinds of jewelry. They could be the centerpiece of a luxurious wedding ring or fit into a more subtle and sophisticated piece of casual wear. Their lack of flash also means that they can suit men’s jewelry just as well as they do women’s. Indeed, one of the most attractive features of natural black diamonds is they can fit neatly into an either feminine or masculine aesthetic.

Are black diamonds a good investment?

Although not traditionally considered a stone for investors, natural black diamonds have become increasingly popular in recent years. This has meant that the price, which was comparatively low in the past, has now increased to be of similar value to white diamonds.

For those looking to invest in natural black diamonds, the best move would be to look for a stone of considerable size or, alternatively, one with a distinctive feature that would add to its value.

However, investors should be extremely careful when purchasing a black diamond, as the increasing popularity of these stones has led to a burgeoning market for black diamonds that are artificially treated in laboratories. These treated black diamonds are substantially cheaper and of a significantly lower quality than natural black diamonds.

If you are unsure as to whether or not you are making the right purchase, speak to our diamond experts. They will be able to provide you with pre and post-sale valuation services, ensuring that you will only make the best purchases and get the right deal when selling.

Black diamonds pricing

In comparison to the rarer fancy colored diamonds, natural black diamonds are relatively affordable, and comparable in price to colorless diamonds. A fancy black diamond will cost anywhere in the region of $3000 to $5000 per carat. This would mean your average 1 carat wedding ring is likely to cost $3000.

According to legend, the Black Orlov diamond was stolen from a Hindu temple in the mid 19th Century. Originally 190 carats, in 1950 the diamond was cut down to 67.5 carats and was sold at auction for $352 000 – meaning the stone cost $5,214 per carat.

As natural black diamonds are more difficult to cut than other diamonds, a particularly well cut stone is likely to cost more than average black diamond. Other factors, such as how smooth the stone’s surface is and whether or not it is porous, will strongly contribute to a natural black diamond’s price.

Treated black diamonds are substantially cheaper than natural black diamonds as there is less demand for them and they are not especially rare. If you are looking to purchase a treated black diamond then expect to pay around $300 per carat.

	0.50 carat		1.00 carat		2.00 carat		3.00 carat
	Per Carat	Per Diamond	Per Carat	Per Diamond	Per Carat	Per Diamond	Per Carat	Per Diamond
Treated Black Diamonds	$200	$100	$300	$300	$400	$800	$500	$1,500
Natural Black Diamonds	$2,000	$1,000	$3,000	$3,000	$3,000	$6,000	$3,000	$9,000
Colorless White Diamonds	$2,500	$1,250	$5,000	$5,000	$9,500	$19,000	$12,000	$36,000

Asteria Black Diamonds For Sale

Visit our online store to see our extensive range of certified natural black diamonds for sale.

Color

Along with red and white diamonds, natural black diamonds only have one level of intensity; fancy black. This is because black diamonds are completely opaque and don’t vary in hue, tone or intensity (a combination of tone and hue). As such, the grading systems that determine intensity for other fancy colored diamonds do not apply to natural black diamonds.

The black color of the stones also means that, unlike other diamonds, black diamonds do not sparkle in light. This lends them a refined, understated quality that fits well with wedding rings and pieces of jewelry.

Clarity

The high number of inclusions present in natural black diamonds means they do not refract light in the same way that other colored diamonds do. Thus, clarity is not an applicable factor in determining their quality and value. Indeed, as the inclusions are the very thing that give these diamonds their color, natural fancy colored black diamonds do not receive clarity grades.

Cut

Black diamonds are notoriously difficult to cut, due to the densely packed inclusions that give the diamond it’s color, and often have cavities in the feathers (areas of the diamond that block light) near their surface.

Due to the expert craftsmanship required in cutting them, black diamonds with a higher quality cut will be of significantly greater value, and thus cut is the most important quality to take into consideration to judge a black diamond’s value.

When purchasing a natural black diamond, be sure that its surfaces are smooth and there are no visible blemishes.

Treated black diamonds are much easier to cut because they lack the high density of inclusions that exist within natural colored diamonds. That being said, treated black diamonds are usually made from low quality diamonds. This means that, even if the cut is of a high quality, the end piece is still likely to be of a low quality.

Carat

A diamond’s carat refers to the weight, not size of a diamond. Thus, as they are denser than other fancy colored diamonds, natural black diamonds may have the same number of carats but look smaller. A one carat, natural black diamond, for example, will be significantly smaller than a one carat, white diamond.

How do opacity, polish, and shape affect the value of black diamonds?

Shape

Due to the difficulties entailed in cutting them, natural black diamonds don’t often come in the same variety of shapes as other fancy colored diamonds. If you are able to find a well cut and unique design then you should consider making a purchase as the stone is likely to be a good investment for the future.

Natural black diamonds appear opaque because of their polycrystalline structure which prevents them from reflecting light. Some natural black diamonds do, however, have gaps between their inclusions that enable light to shine through the stone. These areas do not sparkle but will usually appear as a brown or pale color.

Treated black diamonds are not opaque. This is because they do not get their color from inclusions spread throughout the stone. Instead, their black coloration is present only on the stone’s surface.

Polish

As they are opaque, natural black diamonds will not sparkle in the same way other fancy colored diamonds do. A well-polished black diamond will, however, have a glossy finish to it that gives it a shiny quality that is unique amongst other colored diamonds.

Natural vs. treated black diamonds

Black diamonds for sale in the marketplace are divided into two categories: diamonds that became black naturally during the formation process and diamonds that are treated by a variety of processes to give them a black color

Truly natural fancy black diamonds are very rare and expensive. As demand for them has increased over the past few years, so too has the number of treated black diamonds. Natural black diamonds tend to have a more porous structure than treated ones. This enables them to absorb more light and hence makes them more opaque.

CVD and HPHT

Today, most of the black diamonds one sees on the market are treated. They are created by a process known as HPHT – high pressure and high temperature. By subjecting a normal diamond to both high pressure and high temperature, the surface of the diamond blackens. The same effect is achieved via another process known as chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

Color Enhanced

Color enhanced black diamonds are diamonds that have been subjected to radiation to give them a black color. In most cases, the diamond has been subject to a level of radiation that turns it a dark green color that appears black. As with treated black diamonds, color enhanced black diamonds are less opaque and less valuable than natural black diamonds. Nonetheless, they can still look exceptionally beautiful and are now commonly used in wedding rings.

Treated black diamonds are not ‘fake’ diamonds because a real, colorless diamond is used to begin with. As economic sense – and a craftsman’s expertise – would never allow a high quality colorless stone to be treated, in most cases, the diamonds that are treated are of inferior quality.

Nonetheless, they are still often sold misleadingly as natural black diamonds.

Determining the authenticity of a back diamondWithout specialized equipment it is extremely difficult to determine whether a black diamond is natural or has been treated. If the price seems too good to be true then you are likely dealing with a treated black diamond.

To be sure you are purchasing an authentic natural black diamond, we recommend only purchasing stones that have an accompanying certificate from a recognized gemological institute such as the GIA. At Asteria, all our diamonds are rigorously inspected and come with an original certification from leading gemological institutes.

 

The post Black Diamonds Wiki: Prices, engagement rings, investments & much more appeared first on Asteria Magazine.

source https://www.asteriadiamonds.com/blog/2018/12/18/black-diamonds-wiki-prices-engagement-rings-investments-much-more/

Orange Diamonds Wiki: Everything you need to know before choosing the perfect Orange Diamond ring

Ranging from vibrant orange to warm and mellow amber, rare orange diamonds – or “fire diamonds” as they are often called – are generally regarded as the most vibrant and beautiful of all the colored diamonds. Formed through a grouping of nitrogen atoms during the stone’s creation process, these stones are a favorite with diamond collectors and investors alike.

With our orange diamond education article, we’ll bring you all the information you need to make a knowledgeable decision, whether you’re a first time owner, or an experienced investor.
We’ll take you through all you need to know and more, about natural orange diamonds, including how they are formed, how they are graded, and how you can accurately determine the value of a stone before you make your priceless purchase.

How are orange diamonds formed?

The distinctive color of natural orange diamonds is created by the presence of nitrogen, the same element that give yellow diamonds their unique hue. However, while nitrogen is commonly present in nature, natural orange diamonds are formed through a rare process of nitrogen atoms grouping in a particular permutation during the creation of the diamond. If the conditions for this particular arrangement are present, the diamonds then absorb blue and yellow light, which on the color spectrum, come together to radiate an orange hue.

More rarely, when nitrogen atoms are consistently distributed throughout the carbon structure, the diamond absorbs green light as well as blue light. Such diamonds are called Type 1B diamonds, and have a darker color than Type 1A diamonds. Depending on the precise concentration and spread of the nitrogen atoms, natural orange diamonds come in a variety of overtones and intensities, from faint orange with yellow or brown as modifying colors, to Fancy Vivid or “pumpkin” orange.

Where are orange diamonds quarried?

Fancy orange diamonds are predominantly found in one of two places: Australia’s Argyle mines or the mines of South Africa.

Are orange diamonds rare?

The majority of orange diamonds are type 1B, indicating a scattering of individual nitrogen atoms consistently throughout the stone. Overall, less then 0.1% of diamonds are considered type 1B, which means that these stones are comparable to Type 2B diamonds for being the rarest kind. However, orange diamonds are less rare than some other natural colored diamonds such as blue, red, or pink diamonds.

Within orange diamonds, the purity of the color tone largely determines its rarity. While it is common to find Fancy orange diamonds with modifying secondary color hues (such as overtones of brown, yellow, or pink), pure Fancy orange diamonds are highly uncommon; not nearly as rare as coveted Fancy red diamonds, but comparable to certain pink and blue diamonds.

What are “pumpkin” and “orangy” diamonds?

Pure Fancy Vivid orange diamonds, which are extremely rare, are also referred to as “pumpkin diamonds” as they occur in the same tone and intensity as the color of a pumpkin. These include Fancy Vivid orange diamonds, as well as Vivid orange diamonds with a yellowish tone.

“Orangy” diamonds refer to diamonds with less than a 25% saturation of the color orange, which makes orange the secondary hue. The primary color for these diamonds is often yellow, brown, pink, or more uncommonly, the much sought after red. The price and demand for “orangy” diamonds depend greatly on the characteristics and value of the secondary color.

Natural orange diamonds prices & investment opportunities

Natural colored diamonds represent excellent investment opportunities for several reasons: they are compact with a high size to value ratio, they don’t require registration as an asset, and most importantly, they’ve seen unprecedented valuations with exponential returns – in some cases up to 600% over the course of a decade.

The most lucrative investment choices are orange diamonds with intense color saturation and the highest carat that you can purchase within your desired budget.

However, diamond dealers and alternative investment professionals have noted recent trends that indicate the increasing desirability – and increased prices – of diamonds with mixed hues, such as brownish-orange.

The most accurate indications of pricing information for diamonds is typically through auction house records, and a key example of orange diamond valuations include “the Orange”, 14.82 carat pear shaped Fancy Vivid Orange VS1 pear sold at Christie’s Geneva auction in November 2013 for $2.4 million per carat. The diamond’s price tag of nearly $36 million shattered previous forecasts, which hovered around $20 million.

Orange diamonds for sale by Asteria

 

Natural loose orange diamonds value by the 4c’s

The pricing of diamonds – whether they’re colored or colorless – is based on four key parameters: Color, Carat, Clarity and Cut – the well-known 4Cs of diamond valuation. However, unlike with white diamonds, the value of a colored diamond is determined primarily by its color. The more dominant orange is as a diamond’s primary color, and the higher the intensity of this base color, the more valuable it will typically be.

Professional gemological institutes officially measure a diamond’s color according to three main parameters: Hue, Tone and Saturation.

At the end of the process, the color definition will be listed in the diamond’s official certificate of authenticity, an important consideration when purchasing a diamond to ensure that the value you pay for is the value you get.

The parameters affecting the Fancy orange color definition

Hue represents the diamond’s dominant color, orange in this case. The hue value will be specified in the certificate for your diamond, accompanied by any lesser or secondary hues.

Secondary color modifiers found in natural orange diamonds: brown, yellow and the very rare red color.

As an orange diamond is a true hybrid, formed by the combination of yellow and red on the color spectrum, strong modifying colors – typically combinations of brown and yellow– commonly occur in these stones. However, such mixed hue diamonds are typically less expensive, as orange diamonds are rarest – and more valuable – when they exist without any modifying colors.

The only instance in which orange diamonds with modifying colors are considered more valuable than pure Fancy orange diamonds is when they have secondary hues of a color that’s even more rare than orange, such as red or pink. Thus, a “Fancy reddish orange” diamond will be considered more valuable than a pure orange stone of an equal intensity.

Saturation

Saturation refers to the strength of color, or how much color is present and how intense it is. The further along this spectrum you go, the richer and more vibrant the orange is – and the richer a diamond’s color saturation, the more it will be worth. Thus, a Fancy Intense orange diamond will be worth more than a Fancy orange diamond.

Tone

Tone refers to the penetration of light, or lightness or darkness of an orange diamond, which make affect the perceived intensity of the diamond’s color. Thus, to the untrained eye, a Fancy orange with a darker tone can be mistaken for the more valuable Fancy Intense orange. The levels of tone are divided as follows – Very light, Light, Medium light, Medium, Medium dark, Dark, Very dark.

Speak to our diamond experts for post and pre sale valuation services.

Intensity

The intensity color grading of a diamond is based on a combination of saturation and tone, and represents the color’s strength and vibrance. The intensity of a diamond’s hue greatly affects it’s cost and demand. The more intense the color, the rarer the diamond.

The color grading of the GIA, is divided into 9 color intensities: Faint, Very Light, Light, Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid, Fancy Dark, and Fancy Deep. Light diamonds tend to have a bright, pastel hue while Fancy Dark will have a deeper, richer color.

How do fluorescence and color distribution affect the value of orange diamonds?

Fluorescence is a natural phenomenon that is present in up to one-third of diamonds, and which causes them to glow when exposed to ultraviolet light. Typically, this appears as a blue glow, but can also occur in yellow, orange, and green. In orange diamonds, the glow typically appears as a medium to strong yellow, lending a golden luminosity to the stone and making it look more pastel.

Color distribution is also an important color parameter in determining the value of orange diamonds, and refers to how evenly the color extends is spread across the stone. Color distribution is defined as either even or uneven. Uneven color distributions can negatively affect a diamond’s appearance and value.

Natural loose orange diamond prices By Carat, Clarity & Cut

While color is the primary factor influencing the pricing of diamond, the other 3 C’s – Carat, Clarity and Cut – are also important considerations.

Carat – The carat parameter refers to the diamond’s weight. 1 carat is defined as about 0.2 grams, or 100 points. In general, pricing by carats is higher for heavier diamonds compared to a lighter diamond with the same values of clarity or shade.

Clarity – indicates a stone’s structural perfection. While flaws are not usually visible to the human eye, the clarity scales set by gemological institutes such as the GIA, specify the diamonds’ level of internal clarity when magnified 10,000 times.

The clarity rating is represented in a scale that includes 9 grades divided into 6 groups:

FL	Flawless: No inclusions or blemishes are visible even at 10x magnification.
IF	Internally Flawless: No inclusions, only blemishes visible at 10x magnification.
VVS1 VVS2	Very, Very Slightly Included: Inclusions slightly visible at 10x magnification.
VS1 VS2	Very Slightly Included: Minor inclusions clearly visible under 10x magnification.
SI1 SI2	Slightly Included: Minor and major inclusions visible at 10x magnification.
I1 I2 I3	Included: Inclusions are obvious at 10x magnification and visibly affect transparency and brilliance.

Natural Fancy orange diamonds generally tend to have clarities that fall within the VS1 to I1 range. While lower value orange diamonds may fall below this range, the vibrance of the color can often hide even major flaws that would be otherwise visible to the naked eye. Thus, it’s important to ensure you get a professional, personalized valuation before investing in a colored diamond.

Cut – refers to the way the diamond is polished to best flatter its natural qualities, maximize its color, augment its sparkle and make it look larger than it’s actual carat weight.

Round cuts – which are popular with white diamonds due to their tendency to reflect white light and enhance sparkle – tend to lower the perceived intensity of the color and make the saturation appear fainter. Thus, orange diamonds, like other colored diamonds, are generally cut into pear, radiant, cushion, or other unconventional shapes, which reflects less white light and work to enhance the intensity of the color.

Natural orange diamonds vs. treated orange diamonds

The exceptional rarity and high price of these wonderful gems has led to a huge and unsatisfied demand for natural orange diamonds, which the market cannot meet. As a result, a niche of treated orange diamonds has emerged. Prepared in laboratory conditions, these diamonds attempt to imitate natural stones and provide a cheaper, artificial solution.

Treated orange diamonds are in fact white diamonds sent to the lab to undergo a chemical process or HPHT (High Pressure High Temperature) process in order to create pressure so great that the color of the diamond’s shell artificially changes to orange while its interior remains white.

If you insist on getting a rare and natural orange diamond, make sure it has a certificate of authenticity issued by a recognized gemological institute (such as the GIA) or get one issued immediately upon receipt to confirm that the diamond’s declared values match test results.

The post Orange Diamonds Wiki: Everything you need to know before choosing the perfect Orange Diamond ring appeared first on Asteria Magazine.

source https://www.asteriadiamonds.com/blog/2018/12/18/orange-diamonds-wiki-everything-you-need-to-know-before-choosing-the-perfect-orange-diamond-ring/