Fancy colour diamonds

White or colourless diamonds are the most well known kind but there are also vividly coloured diamonds called fancy or fancy colour diamonds. They're incredibly rare (only one in every 10 000 diamonds has natural colour) and as a result can be very valuable.

Because they are so rare, fancy diamonds are judged almost exclusively on the intensity and distribution of their colour. The criteria that are considered important when purchasing white or colourless diamonds, such as the clarity [link] and cut [link] proportions, are less important with a fancy diamond. But this is not to say that the 4 Cs of Diamonds [link] doesn't apply at all to fancy diamonds.

Fancy diamonds: COLOUR

When purchasing a fancy colour diamond, colour intensity – the deepness or richness of the colour – is the most important consideration. The more intense the diamond's colour, the rarer and more valuable the stone will be.
Fancy diamonds are graded according to the Coloured Diamond Grading System, an international grading system used by most recognised laboratories for colours that are not in the normal colour range of diamonds. Laboratories uses a list of 27 colour hues that span the full spectrum of colours, and the tone and saturation of these hues are then described in order of increasing intensity:
      Faint
       Very Light
       Light
       Fancy Light
       Fancy
       Fancy Intense
       Fancy Vivid
       Fancy Deep
       Fancy Dark
Real fancy diamonds possess natural colour. Beware imitations created by exposing stones to artificial colouring techniques such as dyeing or irradiation.

Fancy diamonds: CARAT

After colour, carat weight impacts the cost of fancy diamonds the most. During the mining process, large coloured stones are discovered far less frequently than smaller ones, which make large diamonds far more valuable. Unsurprisingly, diamond prices for fancy colour diamonds rise exponentially with carat weight.

Fancy diamonds: CLARITY

Due to the nature of fancy colour diamonds, clarity is less important than in colourless stones. This is because inclusions [link] tend to be masked by the diamond's colour.

Fancy diamonds: CUT

Fancy diamonds are cut primarily to emphasise their colour – whereas colourless diamonds are cut to maximise their sparkle or brilliance. This is not to say that fancy diamonds aren't brilliant too. Fancy colour diamonds do exhibit fire, but it is their colour that the gemcutter will consider when cutting the gem.

Fancy diamonds: SHAPE

While cut describes a diamond's light performance, dimensions and finish; shape refers to the overall outline of the diamond when viewed from the top (e.g. round, princess or marquise). It's important to note that many fancy color diamonds are cut into non-traditional shapes to enhance their natural color. Due to the rarity of fancy diamonds, potential buyers may struggle to find a specific shape in a specific colour at any given time.

Fancy diamonds: SETTING

To best offset your beautiful fancy diamond, jewellers recommend choosing a setting material that will enhance the natural colour of your diamond. For instance, fancy yellow diamonds are often set in yellow gold, while pink diamonds look best set in rose gold.

Fancy diamonds: CERTIFICATION

SA CUT DIAMONDS fancy diamonds are independently analysed and graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), one of the most respected laboratories in the diamond industry. Each stone is accompanied by a coloured diamond identification and origin report which lists the diamond's specifications (including its colour grade) as well as ensuring its natural origin.

Consult a SA CUT DIAMONDS expert [link] to find out more about available fancy diamonds.