Colored Diamond Information March 11, 2009
Posted by Jill Renee in : Buying Diamonds, Diamonds , add a commentWhat is a colored diamond?
When Ben Affleck proposed to Jennifer Lopez, the act generated the expected amount of media attention. However the majority of that coverage wasn’t focused on the total number of the couple’s prior marriages, or that “Bennifer” name smashup the couple had been adorned with. No, the focus of the majority of mass speculation was the color of Jennifer’s diamond.
They Come In Pink?
Ms Lopez’s engagement ring was topped with a tremendously large 6-carat pink diamond. The word that people seemed to cling to was pink. The realization that diamonds come in colors started to spread, contradicting everything taught about diamond color: the closer to clear, the more valuable the diamond. Was Jennifer’s “pink diamond” actually a diamond?
Are They Still Diamonds?
In a word, yes. While the common color grading scale used for diamonds runs from D (completely clear) to Z (obviously yellow) there is an entire subset of diamonds which fall beyond the Z rating into the umbrella grade of “Fancy.” Fancy diamonds still hold all of the other characteristics of a traditional white diamonds – the hardness, the technical measure of clarity, the cut, and carat are all the same.
A Scale All Their Own
Colored diamonds that fall outside of the white grading scale, still have to have a subjective color grade assigned to them. However, the grading scale for colored diamonds is considerably easier for the layman to understand. Colored diamonds with the faintest hints of color are given a grade of Faint. Lightly colored diamonds are either Very Light, or Light. The bolder colored diamonds, your truly fancy gems, are graded along a scale ranging from Fancy Light to Fancy Dark, with Intense, Vivid, and Deep breaking up the middle.
A Stone of Many Colors
As you might have guessed, pink isn’t the only color for diamonds. The infamous, and rumored to be cursed, Hope Diamond is a 45.52 carat dark grayish blue diamond. Canary diamonds are a brilliant yellow. Both brown and black diamonds are both real and growing in popularity lately. Other colors include orange, red, green, and purple. According to the Gemological Institute of America and the International Gemological Institute, there are 27 official hues which span the color spectrum, and there are diamonds to fill each of those hues.
Not to Get Too Technical
How those diamonds gain those hues is a bit of a technical process. Essentially, when the diamonds are forming from pure carbon, the molecules arrange themselves into a cage called a crystal matrix. As the diamonds are crushed under the earth’s pressure, that matrix closes in on itself. Occasionally, during that process, atoms from other elements such as boron, nitrogen, or hydrogen, will be trapped inside of those diamonds as their respective matrices close. The end result is the colored diamond. As one would rightly assume, when multiple gases are trapped in the diamond, you get diamonds of blended colors, like pink champagne diamonds.
Still Really Rare
While color is certainly one reason why people prize fancy diamonds, it’s certainly not the only one. Fancy diamonds are exceptionally rare. Colored diamonds, with a Fancy or deeper color grade, account for a mere 1.8% of the entire world’s diamonds. When that percentage is broken down by color, those percentages get even smaller. Canary diamonds, diamonds which are known for their brilliantly yellow hue, account for less than 0.1% of the world’s diamonds. Factor in the other common diamond factors – the size of the stone, the inherent shape, and the sense of clarity, and colored diamonds of significant size and quality get even rarer still.
Why Choose a Colored Diamond?
Colored diamonds aren’t for everyone or even for every type of jewelry. However, they do have some very strong selling points. The rarity of colored diamonds makes them special. The variety of colors means that colored diamonds can be used to convey not only the emotions associated with a traditional diamond, but also to cater to the specific tastes of the recipient. It’s those strengths that allow colored diamonds to fill jewelry niches that traditional white diamonds could not. In the end, a colored diamond provides a new and unique spin on a familiar and classic idea.
Understanding Carat Weight March 10, 2009
Posted by Jill Renee in : Buying Diamonds , add a commentOne of the first questions asked about a diamond is “How many carats is it?” And it’s a perfectly appropriate question. Of the four graded aspects of a diamond, carat weight is the easiest to translate into understandable terms. To put it simply, bigger equals bigger.
Carat isn’t a measure of size, though. Carat, or more correctly, carat weight, is a measure of mass, similar to the gram. In fact, five carats is exactly one gram.
As one would expect, when a diamond’s carat weight goes up, so does the size and the price. However, the price doesn’t rise on an even grade. The purchase of two half carat diamonds would be less expensive than a single one carat diamond, despite the overall mass being the same. This price difference is typically based on the rarity of larger stones and extends logically. You wouldn’t expect a twenty carat diamond to be priced the same as twenty one carat diamonds of similar cut, color, and clarity, would you?
The upside to smaller diamonds being less expensive is often capitalized on by the three stone engagement ring, in which a large center stone is flanked by two smaller diamonds. This tactic not only allows a diamond ring to be sold with a high carat count at a low cost, but plays upon the way the human eye compares based on size.
Danforth Diamond Creates the Obama Bracelet March 3, 2009
Posted by Jill Renee in : Press Releases , add a commentDanforth Diamond Creates the Obama Bracelet to Celebrate Barack Obama’s Historic Presidency
“Yes We Can” Bracelet Is a Cuff Style Available in Gold or Silver
Danforth Diamond has expanded their collection of fine jewelry with the addition of the Obama bracelet. With the words “Yes We Can” etched into the bracelet, it commemorates the 2009 inauguration of the 44th president, Barack Obama, and honors this historic moment.
Danforth Diamond’s “Yes We Can” Obama 2009 Bracelet is a stylish cuff and comes in 14K yellow gold, 14K white gold, or sterling silver. It is offered in women’s size (7-inches) or men’s size (8-inches). Understated and elegant, this bracelet is a discreet way to mark this historic moment and show your support.
Made in the USA, the “yes we can” bracelet carries the Harmony Recycled Precious Metals designation meaning it is made from 100% recycled precious metals. This environmentally friendly process of refining precious metals offers the same quality and durability as newly mined metals. This alternative to mining reinforces Danforth Diamond’s commitment to green, eco-friendly jewelry
“I developed this bracelet with our design team to commemorate this historic event that reflects the strength of American spirit and shows that anything is possible,” said Jill Renee, president of Danforth Diamond. “Many people never thought they would live to see an African-American president. Obama’s election and inauguration are a celebration of the American dream.”
About Danforth Diamond
Danforth Diamond is a leading online jeweler specializing in diamond engagement rings and wedding bands. Their jewelry collection features silver and gold bracelets, necklaces and earrings with options to fit every style and budget. Visit Danforth Diamond online to learn more at: www.danforthdiamond.com.
