Colored diamonds (called Fancy Color Diamonds in English) are naturally colored diamonds that exist in all colors of the spectrum of light.

Long considered an anomaly, this "exception" of color in a diamond makes it extremely rare.

In order to appreciate a colored diamond, it is not necessary to reason in the same way as for a white diamond. Indeed, unlike the colorless diamond, the more intense the color of the colored diamond, the more it will be of value. In addition, the purity of the colored diamond is not taken into account in its estimate. While white diamonds are graded from D to Z by the GIA, colored diamonds have their own classification, linked to their color. The 4Cs (color, cut, carat, clarity) still apply to colored diamonds.

To understand what makes a diamond rare, you have to look at its composition. Indeed, a white diamond is composed only of carbon atoms. It is therefore sufficient that a tiny "impurity" enters its composition during formation, for its color to be altered. It is in the depths of the earth, under high pressure and high temperature that diamonds are formed. The formation of colored diamonds is extremely rare and comes from the gases found in these soils. The color of the diamond therefore comes from chemical impurities and crystallographic defects. Chemistry then becomes alchemy and boron thus colors the stone in blue, nitrogen in yellow, hydrogen in red, pink or purple and the retroactive salts of uranium give a sublime green tint to the stone.

The rarer diamond is the red, infamous as the "blood diamond", of which there are only about ten examples over 1 carat. Yellow is the most common. To date, over 300 colors of colored diamonds have been listed, and within each of these colors there is an endless range of tints and shades.

CLASSIFICATION OF COLORED DIAMONDS

To classify colored diamonds, four characteristics must be observed and evaluated. First of all the color of the stone, which is the color of the body (yellow, blue, green, pink…). Then we evaluate its tone, that is to say the tendency of the stone to be more or less dark. Then comes into consideration the intensity of the stone, if it is pure or if there are shades of color, or more opaque areas. Finally, it is a question of observing the distribution, that is to say the uniformity of the distribution of the color on the body of the piece.

In addition, in order to classify stones, the GIA has developed a specific grading system for colored diamonds. In fact, there are 9 degrees of tint for colors (ranging from least to most sought after): Pale (Faint) — Very light (Very light) — Light (Light) — Slightly fancy (Fancy light) – Fancy (Fancy) — Fancy intense — Fancy vivid — Fancy dark — Fancy deep.

The colored diamond is undeniably rare and has long been undervalued. However, we have observed an increase in its price in recent years, especially for green, yellow, blue, red, yellow and pink diamonds. Chocolate, cognac, champagne or black diamonds, on the other hand, are often less expensive than the white diamond. Place Vendôme, its use remains marginalized. Lorenz Bäumer is one of the only local jewelers to believe so much in these diamonds. Indeed, according to him, the colored diamond is not only sublime, but also constitutes an extremely reliable long-term investment. Gems are investments in their own right, and colored diamonds could well hold some very nice surprises in the future. So it's time to take the leap!

For an investment purchase, here are some recommendations to optimize the investment:

– First of all, it is advisable to choose the “intense” or “vivid” shades. If these diamonds are already very expensive, their rarity is real because the prices are well based on tangible elements, such as the percentage of extraction of colored diamonds compared to white diamonds, and they will necessarily increase in value over time. High quality stones will also be easier to resell.

– For an investment, “light Fancy” colors should be avoided. Indeed, the "light fancy yellow" is a fairly bland diamond color and can be similar to a bad color of white diamond. Another color to avoid: “light fancy pink”. This type of colored diamond is too expensive for a barely noticeable pink color.

– To guarantee an investment in a colored diamond, it is imperative to buy a GIA certified diamond because the treatments (heating, irradiation) are numerous.

– Also pay attention to the title of the color on the certificates because it can sometimes read: “Brown Pink” or “Grayish Yellow”. This means that two shades of color can be observed in the same stone. If these stones are absolutely magnificent for the manufacture of a jewel, because a composite stone allows to have unique reflections, it is nevertheless not recommended to acquire them within the framework of an investment, because these diamonds are less expensive than when the color is unique and will resell less well: the more the colors are frank, the easier it is to apprehend a possible resale.

These diamonds in fact shake up certain codes of French fine jewelry, while nevertheless respecting the historical and heritage know-how of jewelry, which great jewelers such as Lorenz Bäumer master to perfection.

THE IMPORTANCE OF COLOR IN A DIAMOND

Because it is the precious stone par excellence, the diamond has a color which, in the majority of cases, is not natural. If the diamond took several billion years to develop underground, each year there are between 24 and 36 tons of diamonds extracted in the countries of the world and resold by multiple diamond dealers. This market then represents several million dollars, in particular that of “fancy diamonds” (diamonds of color). Diamond has a specific structure: it is composed of crystals of pure carbon (and sometimes nitrogen). However, this colored stone is full of charm and fantasy. This color has different shades. Once again, the intensity and the distribution of the color of the diamond are essential elements to take into account when choosing your fancy diamond because they establish the so coveted rarity of these stones.

Colored diamonds (also known as "fancy diamonds") are true marvels in jewelry that can be found in different categories of jewelry. For an engagement ring or a piece of jewelry, the presence of colored diamonds brings fantasy and originality to a piece of jewelry.

As with colorless diamonds, each of our colored diamonds is accompanied by its certificate of authenticity which gives it a precise identity. You will find important information such as its criteria, its origin, etc.

THE CRITERIA OF A BEAUTIFUL COLOR DIAMOND

As with the basic 4C system, colored diamonds have strict selection criteria. Because Maison Bäumer is committed to offering you superior quality diamonds, we are committed to finding the most beautiful colored diamonds to create unique and exceptional pieces.

The colour

When purchasing a colored diamond, the intensity, depth and richness of that color are important characteristics. Indeed, the deeper and more intense the color of your diamond, the more rare and precious it will be. This criterion is all the more important because the degree of color directly influences the appearance of the stone. Maison Bäumer sincerely wishes to offer its customers stones of exceptional quality in order to sublimate their jewel in the best possible way.

The structure of the diamond is very interesting. Indeed, it is formed by the presence of different atoms. The most common of all atoms (besides carbon) is nitrogen, which gives yellow shades to diamonds that would otherwise be colorless and sometimes difficult to find with the naked eye. Very often, for the categories of solitaires and engagement rings, colorless diamonds with the fewest possible inclusions and shades of yellow difficult to observe with the naked eye are preferred.

Color shade may vary. Coming straight from nature to different countries around the world, the most common diamonds are colorless diamonds (and are the ones most used in our collections). These diamonds are provided with a GIA certificate which attests to the authenticity of the stone. Regularly, you will be able to see the word "vivid diamond" which refers to the intensity of the diamond: a diamond noted "vivid diamond" is an intense diamond with strong colors. If a diamond is formed by crystals of carbon, the nitrogen makes it possible to create a fancy diamond. Conversely, a "light" diamond is a diamond with a much less intense and more discreet color. “Light diamonds” are widely used in jewelry.

Red, orange, pink or blue, colored diamonds are extremely rare and full of originality. Therefore, regardless of the jewelry on which they are set, they cost more than colorless diamonds (this is counted from several tens of thousands of dollars). These diamonds come from diamond dealers in different countries around the world and take many years to find. Never forget that a diamond necessarily has its GIA certificate (considered as the "identity document" of your diamond) recognized worldwide.

The carat

The carat weight of the colored diamond is a major element because it will determine the price of the latter. Extremely rare and valuable, colored diamonds initially command a high price that varies by carat weight. Indeed, it is obvious that the more the diamond has a consequent weight, the higher the price will be. The larger stones are extremely rare as they are only mined in limited quantities, while the smaller stones are less complicated to find but just as beautiful.
In other words, the prices of colored diamonds vary in proportion to their carat weight.

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Solitaire Engagement #3 set with a 1.28 carat diamond Clarity

About colored diamonds, keep in mind that the clarity of the latter is a less important element than for colorless diamonds because the inclusions of the latter tend to be masked by the color of the stone. However, if purity is a major factor in your decision, Maison Bäumer will support you in choosing the latter.

CHOOSE THE COLOR ACCORDING TO THE SHAPE OF THE DIAMOND

In order to obtain the perfect jewel for you, it is necessary that the association of your setting and your colored diamond is consistent. To achieve a harmonious pairing, you need to consider the size and shape of your diamond as well as the setting.

Red, orange, pink or blue, regardless of the color of the diamonds, they must be consistent with the size, shape and also the number of carats of your diamond. Coming straight from the earth, from all over the world, these diamonds are extremely rare and expensive. The GIA certificate provided by diamond dealers is essential to certify their authenticity and summarizes various information such as the structure of the diamond, its color, its year of extraction, its fluorescence but also its shades of color.

Colored diamonds are primarily cut in such a way as to accentuate their color and intensity. This is why purity is a less decisive criterion. The size is an important element because it plays on the behavior of the diamond in the light.

The cutting technique attributed to colored diamonds is different from diamonds. This is because colorless diamonds are cut in such a way as to maximize their brilliance, a technique that cannot be attributed to colored diamonds because it could alter the natural color of a colored diamond, the main characteristic of this type of diamond.

Regarding the shape of the diamond, there are different ones which are generally seen from above. The colored diamond being more original than colorless diamonds, it is common to see it in a much less traditional form than the others. Indeed, as for the size, their shape is especially chosen so as to bring out their color and accentuate their natural color.

Finally, the last element on which you will have to pay attention is the choice of your mount. Indeed, to be able to own the perfect version of the jewel of your dreams, you will need to have a perfect harmonization between the cut of the diamond, the shape of the diamond and the setting. For this, it is necessary to favor a metal that accentuates the natural color of your colored diamond. For example, pink diamonds can be accompanied by platinum or white gold which will make the colors of the latter stand out more, but they can also be accompanied by pink gold to accentuate the coherence in the harmonization of your elements. Yellow diamonds are also often set in platinum or white gold because they enhance the intensity of the yellow color of the latter. To make this choice, Maison Bäumer is at your disposal and would be delighted to assist you in choosing your elements in order to obtain the tailor-made jewel of your dreams. We also invite you to browse our jewelry collections online to learn more.