THE BEAUTY OF LIGHT COLOUR DIAMONDS
A light colour diamond is extremely rare and valuable.
There are a few things in life that come close to the beauty of a light colour diamond. But, unlike anything else a light colour diamond is extremely rare and valuable. Take a pink colour diamond for example; scientists have established the origins and causes of each diamond colour, but the formation of a pink diamond still remains uncertain. According to their research, a pink colour diamond is formed due to the stress and strain the stone experiences below the Earth’s mantle. The unique conditions cause a pink diamond’s lattice to be distorted. Find out more fascinating facts about light colour diamonds, such as the beautiful blue and pink diamonds we find in nature:
THE COLOUR OF A DIAMOND IS INFLUENCED BY EXTERNAL ELEMENTS
The colour of a diamond is caused by external factors.
The colour of a diamond is caused by external factors during the formation process; different elements and unique conditions have an impact on the colour of a diamond. For example, the yellow colour of a diamond is caused by the presence of nitrogen in the formation process where boron is responsible for the blue colour in a diamond. High pressure and heat can also have an effect on the diamond and its colour.
WHERE DO PINK DIAMONDS COME FROM?
Pink diamonds are available in different shades.
Did you know most of the world’s pink diamond production comes from Australia’s Argyle mine? The well-established mine is known for producing a variety of remarkable pink diamonds, all with different colour shades – from dark to light. It’s been speculated that all these extraordinary pink diamonds of different shades didn’t start of a pink. Instead, the unique diamond colour is caused by the stress and strain the stone undergoes during the formation process. The distortion causes the pink colour zones to occur inside the diamond.
HOW ARE BLUE DIAMOND FORMED?
Blue diamonds are only mined in certain parts of the world.
Like all the other extraordinary fancy colour diamonds, a light blue diamond is formed by nature. Even though the cutting and polishing process might have an effect on the colour of a diamond, a blue diamond is found with a unique colour tone; boron, as well as nitrogen, is the cause of a blue diamond’s colour. Blue diamonds can only be found in certain parts of the world. One of these mines it the Cullinan mine in South Africa, where most extraordinary diamonds are found. Blue diamond is also discovered in Australia as well as India at the Golconda mine.
THE BEAUTY OF A COLOUR DIAMOND
Each diamond has a unique characteristic and a different depth of colour.
When it comes to the grading of a colour diamond the process is known to be a bit more complex. The reason? Each diamond has a unique characteristic and a different depth of colour. The grading chart goes as follow: faint, very light, fancy light, fancy, fancy intense, fancy vivid and fancy deep. These qualities are cross-referenced by a unique colour such as a blue or a pink colour. The saturation of the colour plays another important role, considering it determines whether the diamond is ‘fancy’ or not.
FACTORS THAT PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN A COLOUR DIAMOND
For a light colour diamond to reach its full potential the 4Cs need to be kept in mind.
For more than 70 years a diamond has been graded according to the 4Cs; cut, clarity, carat weight and colour. Each of these unique characteristics plays an important role in the value and quality of a diamond. A large diamond with fire, brilliance or scintillation is more valuable than a diamond without these qualities. The same applies to the colour of a diamond. What would a colour diamond be without the sparkle? Therefore, for a light colour diamond, such as a pink diamond to portray its full potential all of the 4Cs need to be kept in mind. In the end, there’s nothing more remarkable than a light colour diamond with the perfect cut and polish.
It’s incredible to know that diamonds are not only white in colour but available in a variety of colours such as the blue and pink diamond. Come, and view the beauty of these natural fancy colour diamonds at the one-of-a-kind Cape Town Diamond Museum.
Fascinating by colour diamonds? Find out what your colour diamond says about you here.
