Q1: How to Grade fancy color diamonds?

Yellow or brown color diamonds having color more intense than "Z", as well as diamonds exhibiting color other than yellow or brown are considered fancy colored diamonds. These diamonds are graded using separate systems which indicate the characteristics of the color, and not just its presence. These color grading systems are more similar to those used for other colored gemstones, such as ruby, sapphire, or emerald, than they are to the system used for white diamonds

How to grade Colored diamond

Diamond colors more saturated than this scale are known as "fancy color" diamonds. Any light shade of diamond other than Light Yellow or Light Brown automatically falls out of the scale. For instance, a pale blue diamond won't get a "K", "N", or "S" color grade, it will get a Faint Blue, very Light Blue or Light Blue grade.

Laboratories use a list of 27 color hues that span the full spectrum for colored gems and diamonds (Red, Orangish-Red, Reddish-Orange, orange, Yellowish-Orange, Yellow-Orange, Orange-Yellow, Orangish-Yellow, Yellow, Greenish-Yellow, Green-Yellow, Yellow-Green, Yellowish-Green, Green, Bluish-Green, Blue-Green, Green-Blue, Greenish-Blue, Blue, Violetish-Blue, Bluish-Violet, Violet, Purple, Reddish-Purple, Red-Purple, Purple-Red, Purplish-Red). A modifying color combination can also be added (e.g., Olive or Brown-Olive) for stones without the purest hues. Additionally, for diamonds the following colors are used: White (which are milky), Black (which are opaque), Gray, Pink, Brown.

The saturation of these hues is then described with one of nine descriptors: Faint, Very Light, Light, Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Dark, Fancy Intense, Fancy Deep, Fancy Vivid.

The terms "Champagne", "Cognac" and "Coffee" refer to different types of brown diamonds. In the diamond processing/dealing industry, the word "Brown" is considered a killer as far as diamond value goes. Even though champagne is a light yellow color, champagne diamonds are Light Brown. Cognac is usually used to describe a diamond that is Orangish-Brown because cognac is a deep golden-orange color. Coffee is usually used to describe a diamond that is a Deep Brown or Vivid Brown color. Some grading agencies may also describe brown stones as Fancy Yellowish-Brown, Fancy Light Brown, Fancy Intense Brown, etc.

Q2: What is the Value of colored diamonds?

Diamonds that enter the Gemological Institute of America's scale are valued according to their clarity and color. For example, a "D" or "E" rated diamond (both grades are considered colorless) is much more valuable than an "R" or "Y" rated diamond (light yellow or brown). This is due to two effects: high-color diamonds are rarer, limiting supply; and the bright white appearance of high-color diamonds is more desired by consumers, increasing demand. Poor color is usually not enough to eliminate the use of diamond as a gemstone: if other gemological characteristics of a stone are good, a low-color diamond can remain more valuable as a gem diamond than an industrial-use diamond, and can see use in diamond jewellery. Furthermore, it is much more cost effective to purchase a near-colorless grade diamond (e.g. "G" rated) instead of a colorless grade diamond (e.g. "D" rated), as they are nearly indistinguishable to the naked untrained eye, especially when mounted on a ring setting.

When in the market shopping for diamonds, you will have the option to either choose a natural diamond that is cut and designed to best suit your needs or a lab-made diamond that possesses the same properties but is man-made.

Which one do you choose? It is a decision that is entirely yours. The joy of owning a diamond is unparalleled. Whether it is a natural diamond or a man-made one is a decision you take keeping in mind the purpose of your purchase, your personal preference and of course, your budget.

Let’s learn a little more about man-made diamonds.

Man-made diamonds or lab-grown diamonds or just synthetic diamonds have the same physical and chemical properties of a natural diamond. An untrained eye might not even note the difference. Instead of growing inside the earth, these are made in a laboratory.

They are produced being subjected to the same heat and pressure as a natural diamond in the earth’s crust. Make no mistake; synthetic diamonds are not fake but real diamonds.

Lab-grown diamonds are made in two ways - High Pressure-High Temperature or Chemical Vapour Deposition. Either way, the process involves similar conditions of heat and pressure that leads to mined diamonds.

When it comes to looks, synthetic diamonds are identical to its mined counterparts. Both could be colourless or almost colourless. Man-made diamonds, like natural diamonds, come in all the standard shapes like oval, round, pear, princess etc. The sparkle and brilliance are the same too.

When it comes to chemical composition, carbon remains the key element in man-made and mined diamonds. The only difference is the former contains small amounts of nitrogen while the latter do not. This is one way gemologists can make out a lab-grown diamond from a natural one. Other features that are signature of man-made diamonds include laser inscriptions and a unique fluorescence.

Quality-wise, lab-grown diamonds score over natural ones being Type IIa, the purest form. Most of the natural diamonds come with impurities and are categorised Type Ia.

Man made diamonds are becoming increasingly popular because while they look exactly like a mined diamond, they are environmentally-friendly. They are not mined unlike natural diamonds and hence, the impact on the environment is not adverse. Furthermore, they are created in laboratories and hence, are absolutely conflict-free. What also adds to the popularity of man-made diamonds is that they are priced up to 40% lower than natural diamonds.

At Classy Cut, you are offered the best of both variants. We give you a wide range of exquisite natural as well as man-made diamonds to choose from. Which one will you pick?