Gift Ideas Blog

Consumer demand for colored diamonds has steadily increased since they were first seen on the A list Red Carpet. And although they range in color from palest pinks to chocolate browns, yellow, green, orange, blue, purple and lilac, and a whole host of hues in between, it is the black diamond which is perhaps the most enigmatic.

Diamonds were created in the Earth’s crust, when intense pressures and temperatures over millions of years forced prehistoric carbon to form a regular crystalline lattice. Their natural color is white, or colorless, but the natural inclusions of trace elements, such as nitrogen give a very small percentage a natural hue. These are natural colored diamonds, or fancies.

Black diamonds result when the carbon was not properly pressurized during the formation of the diamond. Instead, a minute speck of carbon remained and as the diamond rough continued to form, the new growth of diamond took on the black color of the carbon speck. Technically, therefore, black diamonds are low grade diamonds formed from natural flaws. However, low grade does not mean cheap and their value continues to rise with demand!

Black diamond jewelry is a magnificent and audacious way to make a statement. It coordinates beautifully with everyone’s Little Black Dress and works strikingly well with monochrome looks, which are always fashionable. Yet, despite being black, they still have the dazzle of genuine diamonds. And this is perhaps the secret to their demand.

Black is a sophisticated color and is often worn in the evenings. In the past, women have had to wear colorless diamonds, or simple pieces of precious white metals to coordinate with it. Jet and marcasite jewelry, whilst being black, can overpower and draw the eye away from the dress. Black diamonds with their fire and brilliance on the other hand, meet both the need to co-ordinate with and also to enhance the dress. They are a naturally elegant choice. No wonder then that they have become so popular. And not only with women! With their bold looks and brilliance the black diamonds offset masculine jewelry perfectly. Indeed these gemstones look wonderful on people of all ages and also on any skin tone.

Despite being black, they are still diamonds and should be treated with the same care that ordinary white diamonds require. And you should also exercise the same caution when buying them that you would when buying any diamond. That said, demand for black diamonds shows no signs of abating. So if you want to buy a statement piece of fine jewelry, but like something a little out of the ordinary, make sure you buy yours sooner rather than later or pay the price!