colored diamonds

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

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

**COLORED DIAMOND**

To appreciate a fancy color diamond, one must not reason in the same way as for a white diamond. Indeed, unlike colorless diamonds, the more intense the color of a fancy color diamond, the more valuable it will be. Moreover, the clarity of a fancy color diamond is not taken into account in its valuation. While white diamonds are graded from D to Z by the GIA, fancy color diamonds have their own classification, related to their color. The 4Cs (color, cut, carat, clarity) nevertheless still apply to fancy color diamonds.

**Understanding Colored Diamonds**

To understand what makes a diamond rare, one must look at its composition. A white diamond is composed solely of carbon atoms. Therefore, if even a tiny "impurity" enters its composition during formation, its color will be altered.

Diamonds form deep within the earth, under high pressure and high temperature. The formation of colored diamonds is extremely rare and comes from the gases found in these soils. The diamond's color therefore comes from chemical impurities and crystallographic defects. Chemistry then becomes alchemy, and boron colors the stone blue, nitrogen yellow, hydrogen red, pink or purple, and retroactive uranium salts give the stone a sublime green hue.

The rarest diamond is red, infamously known as the "blood diamond," of which there are only about ten examples weighing over 1 carat. Yellow, on the other hand, is the most common. To date, more than 300 colors of colored diamonds have been cataloged, and within each of these colors, there is an infinite range of shades and nuances.

The classification of colored diamonds

To grade coloured diamonds, four characteristics must be observed and evaluated. First, the stone's hue, which is the body colour (yellow, blue, green, pink, etc.). Then, its tone is assessed, meaning the stone's tendency to be lighter or darker. Next, the stone's intensity is considered, whether it is pure or if there are colour nuances or more opaque areas. Finally, the distribution is observed, which is the uniformity of the colour's spread across the piece's body.

Furthermore, to classify the stones, the GIA has developed a grading system specific to coloured diamonds. In fact, there are 9 grades of hue for colours (ranging from least to most sought-after): Faint — Very light — Light — Fancy light –Fancy — Fancy intense — Fancy vivid — Fancy dark –Fancy deep.

COLORED DIAMONDS BY BAÜMER VENDÔME

Lorenz Bäumer is a fervent admirer of colored diamonds. Convinced of their preciousness and highly sensitive to their reflections, the jeweler has created incredible settings for these colored diamonds. At Bäumer Vendôme, colored diamonds are true treasures of nature with natural colors, not artificially modified by irradiation. Each colored diamond is lovingly selected by Lorenz Bäumer based on his personal preference.

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OUR COLOURED DIAMOND PIECES

Origin of fancy color diamonds

While all diamond mines can extract a few colored diamonds from time to time, there are obviously more privileged areas to extract these precious diamonds. Nevertheless, today it is still almost impossible to determine the exact areas of provenance of colored diamonds, which are found in secretly protected areas.

South Africa and the mining town of Kimberley are famous for their diamonds and extract many of the colored diamonds found on the market. Botswana is also one of the largest diamond producers. But these geographic areas are far from the only colored diamond mining areas.

One mine stands out: the Argyle mine in Australia. From this place emerge the most beautiful pink, purple, violet and red diamonds. It is from this mine that the largest purple diamond was extracted, 2.83 carats once cut. Australia is the region that produces a wide range of diamonds in all shades of pink, as well as colors like 'champagne' and 'cognac'. The Argyle mine has succeeded in creating a market for its delicious colored diamonds. The marketing hit immediately took hold. In addition, the New York diamond dealer Le Vian has baptized “Chocolate Diamonds”, dark brown stones which he sets in extremely attractive jewellery. Before this mine brought brown and yellow diamonds to the gem market, they were used in industry. However, this mine has been closed since November 30, 2020 following the depletion of its soil. For daffodil or canary diamonds, with the most intense yellow, it is in the mines of Zimi in Sierra Leone that you have to go.

How to invest in colored diamonds?

Colored diamonds are undeniably rare and have long been undervalued. However, their price has been increasing 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 white diamonds. In Place Vendôme, their use remains marginalized. Lorenz Bäumer is one of the only jewelers in the Place to believe so much in these diamonds. Indeed, according to him, colored diamonds are not only sublime but also an extremely reliable long-term investment.

Gemstones are investments in their own right, and colored diamonds could hold some very pleasant surprises in the future. So, it's time to take the plunge!

Diamonds and Investments

For an investment purchase, here are a few recommendations to optimize your investment:

First, it is advisable to choose "intense" or "vivid" hues. While these diamonds are already very expensive, their rarity is real because their prices are well-founded on tangible elements, such as the percentage of colored diamond extraction compared to white diamonds, and they will necessarily appreciate in value over time. High-quality stones will also be easier to resell.

For an investment, "light Fancy" colors should be avoided. Indeed, "light fancy yellow" is a rather dull diamond color and can be akin to a poor white diamond color. Another color to avoid: "light fancy pink." This type of colored diamond is too expensive for a barely perceptible pink color.

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

Also, pay attention to the color description on certificates because you may sometimes read: "Brown Pink" or "Grayish Yellow." This means that two color nuances can be observed in the same stone. While these stones are absolutely magnificent for jewelry making, as a composite stone allows for unique reflections, it is nevertheless not recommended to acquire them as an investment, because these diamonds are less expensive than when the color is unique and will resell less well: the bolder the colors, the easier it is to anticipate a potential resale.

These diamonds, in fact, challenge certain codes of French high jewelry, while nevertheless respecting the historical and heritage craftsmanship of jewelry, which great jewelers such as Lorenz Bäumer master perfectly.

The importance of color in a diamond

Because it is the precious stone par excellence, diamonds, in the majority of cases, do not have a natural color. While it took several billion years for diamonds to form underground, every year between 24 and 36 tons of diamonds are extracted worldwide and resold by numerous diamantaires.

This market represents several million dollars, especially for "fancy diamonds" (colored diamonds). Diamonds have a specific structure: they are composed of pure carbon crystals (and sometimes nitrogen). However, this colored stone is full of charm and fantasy. This color comes in different shades. Once again, the intensity and distribution of the diamond's color are essential elements to consider when choosing your fancy diamond, as they form the much-sought-after rarity of these stones.

Colored diamonds (also known as "fancy diamonds") are true wonders in jewelry that can be found in different categories of jewelry. For an engagement ring or any 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.

Colored diamonds are primarily cut to emphasize their color and intensity, which is why clarity is a less decisive criterion. The cut is an important element because it influences how the diamond reacts to light.

The cutting technique applied to colored diamonds is different from that used for colorless diamonds. Indeed, colorless diamonds are cut to maximize their brilliance, a technique that cannot be applied to colored diamonds as it could alter the natural color of a colored diamond, which is the main characteristic of this type of diamond.

Regarding the diamond's shape, there are various shapes, usually viewed from above. As colored diamonds are more unique than colorless diamonds, it is common to see them in much less traditional shapes. Indeed, as with the cut, their shape is primarily chosen to bring out and accentuate their natural color.

Finally, the last element you should pay attention to is the choice of your setting. To have the perfect version of your dream piece of jewelry, you will need perfect harmonization between the diamond's cut, shape, and 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 paired with platinum or white gold, which will further highlight their colors, but they can also be accompanied by rose gold to enhance the coherence in the harmonization of your elements.

Yellow diamonds are also often set in platinum or white gold because these metals help to reinforce the intensity of their yellow color. To make this choice, Maison Bäumer is at your disposal and would be delighted to assist you in selecting your elements to obtain the bespoke jewelry of your dreams. We also invite you to consult our online jewelry collections to learn more.

CRITERIA FOR A BEAUTIFUL COLORED DIAMOND

Just like the basic 4Cs system, fancy color diamonds have strict selection criteria. Because Maison Bäumer is committed to offering you superior quality diamonds, we strive to find the most beautiful fancy color diamonds to create unique and exceptional pieces.

THE COLOUR

When purchasing a fancy colored diamond, the intensity, depth, and richness of the color are important characteristics. Indeed, the deeper and more intense the color of your diamond, the rarer and more precious it will be. This criterion is all the more important because the color grade directly influences the stone's appearance. Maison Bäumer sincerely wishes to offer its clients exceptionally high-quality stones to enhance their jewelry in the best possible way.

The diamond's structure is very interesting. It is formed by the presence of different atoms. The most common of all atoms (besides carbon) remains nitrogen, which gives yellow color nuances to diamonds that would otherwise be colorless and sometimes difficult to detect with the naked eye. Often, for solitaire and engagement ring categories, colorless diamonds with the fewest possible inclusions and yellow nuances difficult to observe with the naked eye are preferred.

The color hue can vary. Coming directly from nature in different countries around the world, the most common diamonds are colorless diamonds (and are the most used in our collections). These diamonds come with a GIA certificate that attests to the authenticity of the stone. Regularly, you will see the term "vivid diamond," which refers to the diamond's intensity: a diamond graded "vivid diamond" is an intense diamond with strong colors. If a diamond is formed by carbon crystals, nitrogen helps 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, no matter what jewelry they are set on, they cost more than colorless diamonds (this can amount to tens of thousands of dollars). These diamonds come from diamond dealers in different countries around the world and take many years to be found. Never forget that a diamond must have its GIA certificate (considered the "identity card" of your diamond) recognized worldwide.

The Carat

The carat weight of a fancy colored diamond is a major factor as it will determine its price. Extremely rare and precious, fancy colored diamonds initially have a high price that varies according to their carat weight. Indeed, it is obvious that the heavier the diamond, the higher the price. Larger stones are extremely rare because they are only extracted in limited quantities from mines, while smaller stones are easier to find but just as beautiful.
In other words, the prices of fancy colored diamonds vary proportionally to their carat weight.

Purity

Regarding fancy colored diamonds, keep in mind that their clarity is less important than for colorless diamonds, as their inclusions tend to be masked by the stone's color. However, if clarity is a major factor in your decision, Maison Bäumer will assist you in making the right choice.

Choosing the color according to the diamond shape

To obtain the perfect jewel for you, it is essential that your setting and your fancy colored diamond are in harmony. To achieve a harmonious combination, you must consider the size and shape of your diamond as well as the setting.

Red, orange, pink, or blue, no matter the color of the diamonds, they must be consistent with the cut, shape, and also the carat weight of your diamond. Coming straight from the earth, from the four corners of the world, these diamonds are extremely rare and expensive. The GIA certificate provided by diamond dealers is essential to attest to their authenticity and summarizes various information such as the diamond's structure, its color, its extraction year, its fluorescence, and also its color nuances.