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Fancy colored Diamonds have become one of the recent high fashion trends in jewelry buying. Colored diamonds can be obtained in almost any color, ranging from the lightest yellows to the brightest blues, even into the brilliant reds. Some of the diamonds, mainly the yellow colored diamonds can occur naturally. Naturally occurring colored diamonds in anything but a shade of yellow or light brown are exceedingly rare. Naturally colored diamonds are very expensive. To achieve their brilliant colors, most of the colored diamonds are enhanced by radiation, and then annealed to stabilize the color. (For more information on gemstone enhancements, see our Enhancements page). The process of irradiation is accomplished using a low energy electron beam accelerator. The irradiation creates color centers, or damage sites, in the diamond where impurities such as aluminum oxide are present. The color is then stabilized by annealing (baking) the diamond at high temperature. Below are some examples of fancy colored diamonds.
There
is not a good process of knowing exactly what color a diamond may become
when irradiated, but the best candidates typically have some yellow or
brown naturally occurring in the diamond. Colored diamonds are typically
more expensive than white diamonds because of the irradiation process,
and the fact that nicer diamonds are generally picked to make the
stones. The final color of the diamond is determined by the atomic
makeup of the diamond, the amount and density of impurities, among other
factors. The process of irradiation and
annealing do not compromise the hardness or the stability of the
diamond. No special care or handling of colored diamonds is necessary,
and should be treated and handled like any other diamond. Buyer beware.
There are very very few naturally occurring colored diamonds in the
shades other than yellow or brown. Only a certified gemologist with
complex laboratory equipment can determine if a diamond has been
irradiated or not, and you should always get a certificate of
authenticity for a colored diamond that is sold as non-irradiated. Black Diamonds are naturally
occurring and one of the more common colored diamonds. Chameleon Diamonds are another
type of colored diamond. These exquisite diamonds can actually change
color in response to their environment. These diamonds are very rare and
very expensive, and are typically only sold at auctions. Whatever the
color of the diamond in natural or fluorescent lighting, the diamond
will become more yellow when left in the dark for a time. |
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