Like the other variants of diamonds, the popularity of black diamonds is rapidly increasing, and why not? Brief research shows that:
- Two black precious gemstones can never be identical to each other which is due to their inclusions. Black diamond also called “fancy black” got its natural black color by nature. Many minerals mix and entrapped in diamond give it a distinctive black tone. As no two diamonds have the same inclusions, therefore every black diamond you’ll find will be unique.
- A majority of the world’s geologists indicate they arrive with the meteors (rumors!). In reality, they are naturally occurring and primarily mined in countries like Brazil and Central Africa. Today, these jewels are mined in other places as well.
- Naturally, their color is not so black as they look but is dark grey under close observation. So, they are given their black color in the labs which is why it is also called treated black.
- Due to the same reason, they are more affordable than other diamonds.
Apart from these cool facts, below are some other important pieces of information you should know.
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Are black diamonds real?
Black diamonds are found in nature, so yeah, they are real diamonds and it does not matter that they are treated for their current black appearance later on. They are like other colorless diamonds in terms of carbonate content and are treated with heat & pressure to give them their black color. So, they are just modified in the factories but the raw diamond is naturally mined.
Raw black stones are completely murky with a high black sheen that gives these stones a metallic impression as shown below.
And because these diamonds are so hard, their cutting and polishing is a difficult task, to be frank. They also must be set with great care.
Is a black diamond expensive?
Not much in comparison to the other diamonds. As black diamonds are treated in a lab for natural mining, their price range gets on a lower side than a colorless diamond. Its cost is based on its size and origin. The fancy black diamonds and Carbonados are both extremely rare. You’ll be surprised to know that merely one in every 10,000 natural diamonds are colored ones and only a tiny proportion of these are black stones.
Therefore, owing to their dearth, natural black diamonds, and Carbonados are some of the most valuable and most costly sorts. Heat-treated black diamonds are generally vulnerable so they are more affordable than natural black diamonds. Independent of their ancestry, their 4C’s i.e. color, clarity, cut, and carat is credible for their final price of these black stones in the market.
Do black diamonds come in other colors?
Yes, black diamonds can range from pale gray to pure black shade banking on the extent of inclusion or the mineral content in it. Heat-treated black stones and laboratory treated ones come with a more constant intense black impression. If you’re interested in other hues of these diamonds, you can ask for the yellow, pink, blue, purple, red, orange, green, and more shades but remember, each of these has the same level of popularity and rarity. Another option you can consider is rough black diamonds.
A rough black precious stone gets its color from the inclusions that is, the minerals contained within the carbon structure of the diamond. When these jewels are cut and scrubbed after mining, they form rose-cut diamonds, rough diamonds, salt and pepper diamonds, or galaxy diamonds and are dearest to the modern-day brides searching for a pastoral ring. Although they can be brown, green, or white, some rough diamonds are also black.
Black diamonds in an engagement ring
For an engagement ring, it is the black diamond that makes a bold statement for the wearer. If you like black precious stones, you can go for an engagement ring with the diamond as the center stone like the one in The Hillary. Or, what about the black diamonds in the form of accent stones as in The Sihaya? No matter how and what you admire, depending upon your engagement ring’s design, a black stone can take a sleek and sophisticated look to elevate your presence. You can further set it in platinum, yellow gold, and rose gold metal base like in The Mandi for a classic yet elegant look. Therefore, if you want an alternative ring with a striking stone, black diamonds are an excellent choice over others.
Before you pay for your black diamond engagement ring, be careful to do your research to ensure that you know where your chosen diamond is from and how it got its color i.e. naturally or after treatment, especially when it comes to black diamonds which can be confusing at times. For this, you can discuss with a gem jeweler you can trust and who can source stones for you, along with educating you about the entire process.
FAQs
Why are black diamonds so cheap?
A black precious stone is cheaper than the other colored stones as they mostly lab-grown. It’s because the naturally found stones are not that black so they are treated to get that pure black color. Also, due to its less popularity, the cost remains on the lower side.
Do diamond testers work on black diamonds?
As a black stone is opaque, a diamond tester, which measures light reflecting from the inside of the stone, ought to give inaccurate results. Due to this, a diamond tester will display your black diamond as a moissanite stone.
How to clean a black diamond?
First of all, you should never use ultrasonic cleaners with a black precious stone. Rather, you can use a 1/4th part Ammonia solution (plain water and Ammonia) for its cleaning. You can also use pressurized hot water for removing the dirt from the surface of the diamond.
What is Carbonado?
It is the toughest form of natural diamond and is an impure form of polycrystalline diamond encompassing diamond, graphite, and amorphous carbon.
