When many people think of diamonds they think of a “white” (colorless to near colorless) diamonds.
For a good reason too, the unequalled brilliance and beauty of a “white” diamond has been treasured for thousands of years. And while diamonds are rare things of beauty - every now and then nature takes it a step further and produces something so extraordinary I am at a loss to describe it – a diamond with color.
Have you ever seen one of these wonders; a blue diamond, pink diamond, or rarest of the rare - a red diamond? How about a black diamond, or olive, or green, maybe an orange or purple diamond; what about a brilliant yellow diamond or a rich deep brown diamond, a bubbly champagne diamond, or the exotic warm color of cognac diamond. All of these amazing colors occur in varying degrees of purity and intensity – the combination individual color and brilliance is beyond description.
As Yvonne DiVita and I where discussing in a recent pod cast – awareness and demand for colored diamonds is on the increase. The marketing campaign by Rio Tinto’s Argyle Mine of Australia to raise awareness of the “Champagne” colored diamonds along with the increasing quality and availability of enhanced colored diamonds is expanding the way we look at diamonds.
Natural colored diamonds are extremely rare and very valuable – only one in ten thousand will have color. Color enhanced diamonds are both affordable and available in a spectrum of colors. A color enhanced diamond is a natural diamond that has been subjected to high energy electron particles in a process known as irradiation. The diamonds are also sometimes heated or annealed at high temperatures to further enhance the coloring.
These treatments are completely safe and the coloring is permanent.
In the remote and ruggedly beautiful East Kimberly region of Australia is the Argyle diamond mine - the world’s largest producer of champagne diamonds. The colors of champagne diamonds, from the light golden amber brown of fine champagne to the rich deep color of cognac, are natural and caused by trace elements and crystal distortions in the diamonds crystal itself.
It is little known fact - but diamonds occur naturally in a greater range of color than most other gems. If you love color, if you love the brilliance of a diamond, then a natural or enhanced colored diamond may be just the ticket – as a designer I’m sure excited!
Until next time – that is how I see the world of jewelry from Rochester, NY.
David West Nytch CGA
www.westandcompany.com
colored diamonds are beautiful with their rich colorful bling but i still prefer the elegance of clear diamonds. they just simply exude an extraordinary sophistication and unparalleled brilliance.
Posted by: liz goud | December 29, 2008 at 05:39 PM