You may be tempted to buy a yellow diamond because they are more exciting than white diamonds. However, you may be scared of buying a colored diamond because they are more complex. To help you, we have compiled some information to help you start looking.
The first thing to note about yellow diamonds is that they are graded differently than regular diamonds. Gemologists have to be specially trained to grade them properly. All of the fancy colored diamonds at Clean Origin are graded by the International Gemological Institute (IGI). These diamonds have a different color than the usual D-to-Z range and require a different grading system that takes into account the vibrancy of color as a positive factor.
Origin of Yellow Diamonds
Yellow diamonds’ color is from nitrogen in their composition. The nitrogen molecules absorb blue light, making the stone yellow. Depending on the amount of nitrogen, a yellow diamond could be light or dark.
There are different chemicals that create different colors in diamonds. For example, yellow diamonds are cause by a certain chemical combination. These Canary Diamonds are very rare because of the natural process necessary to create a deep, intense yellow color.
Color Matters for Yellow Diamonds
Some people do not prefer light yellow diamonds while others really enjoy them. Deep yellow or bright white diamonds are more popular, so they are graded using a different scale than light yellow diamonds. It is important to remember that light yellow diamonds look best when they are cut in a non-round shape.
If you’re looking for a yellow diamond, you’ll have more luck finding one that’s cut into a shape other than round. Round-cut yellow diamonds don’t show off the stone’s gorgeous color as well as yellow diamonds of other cuts, such as pear, marquise, and heart shapes. Keep in mind that the color of a yellow diamond can appear darker when it’s set in jewelry, so it’s a good idea to compare the diamond in its setting with one that’s not set to make sure you’re happy with the color.
Fancy-colored diamonds that are depending on shade and size were quite rare before lab-grown diamonds became available. They are often lauded for their distinctive beauty and are a wonderfully unique choice for jewelry.
Yellow Diamond Grading – The Intensity Levels
Fancy Vivid Yellow diamonds are the most saturated with yellow and carry no traces of whiteness.
The GIA color grading scale for yellow diamonds is:
- Faint
- Very Light
- Light
- Fancy Light
- Fancy
- Fancy Intense
- Fancy Vivid, Fancy Deep or Fancy Dark
The color of yellow diamonds is difficult to assess. Most importantly, each Fancy color grade is a range in itself. For example, it is possible to find a Fancy Yellow that barely made it over the border from Fancy Light territory. It is also possible to find a Fancy Yellow that missed the cutoff into the Fancy Intense grade.
Types of Yellow Diamonds
Cape diamonds are less expensive yellow diamonds that fall into the D-to-Z color grading. True yellow diamonds, which are darker than the usual D-to-Z range, are more expensive the more vivid they are.
Yellow Diamonds Fall Into One of These Six Categories:
Fancy Light Yellow Diamond
A yellow diamond that is less intense in color will be the lightest yellow color out of all the fancy yellow diamonds. Even though these diamonds do not look like colorless diamonds that have been lightly tinted, they will still look very yellow on purpose. These types of diamonds make for great engagement rings and are more affordable than other yellow diamonds, while still being very yellow.
Fancy Yellow Diamond
Fancy yellow diamonds that are a step darker than fancy light yellow diamonds are valued higher per carat because they have a stronger color.
Fancy Dark Yellow Diamond
Fancy yellow diamonds cost more per carat than other colors, but you’re more likely to find smaller carats. Fancy dark yellow, fancy deep yellow, fancy intense yellow, and fancy vivid yellow diamonds are the rarest.
Fancy color diamonds were previously only available to those who could pay more than others. Now that they can be grown in labs, they are more affordable, but still more expensive than some other options. In general, these diamonds cost more per carat and are more difficult to obtain.
Fancy Deep Yellow Diamond
Fancy color diamonds in the deep yellow category are a full yellow tone, with some undertone possibilities such as brownish-yellow, orange, and greenish. Fancy colored diamonds of all hues can have tones to them, and the GIA includes such factors in its color scale grading.
Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond
A yellow diamond of significant carat weight can be very expensive, with prices ranging from $6,500 to $8,000 per carat according to a GIA study. Note that these prices are for mined diamonds, which are more expensive than lab-grown diamonds.
If you are looking for a brilliant yellow diamond, your best bet is to look for a fancy intense yellow diamond. These diamonds are mined, and thus are more expensive than lab-grown options, but they are atomically identical.
Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond
A fancy vivid yellow diamond is a type of canary diamond that is very intense in color. These types of diamonds are rare and expensive. They can have greenish, brown, orange, or brownish yellow tints, which decrease the value of the diamond.
If you want to reduce costs, it is important to consider the preferred tones in your diamond, as well as your general maximum cost, so you can decide which color rating you want to shop within. With Clean Origin jewelry, you can shop for a wider range of these fancy color diamond categories by choosing lab-grown diamonds.
Are Yellow Diamonds Rare or Expensive?
A yellow diamond with vivid, intense coloring can be very rare and expensive, while a lighter yellow diamond will usually be less expensive. Depending on the shade, a light yellow diamond may even look like a white diamond to someone who is not an expert.
Fancy color diamonds typically cost different amounts depending on the diamonds’ fancy color rating, as well as other factors like clarity, shape, etc. The GIA rates each yellow diamond on a scale from relatively colorless to having brownish undertones or even orange, etc.
Yellow Diamond Prices
Yellow Diamonds can cost a range of prices, from $2,500 to $20,000 or more per Carat. The price depends on a number of factors, such as quality. For a decent quality yellow diamond, the price starts at $3,000 per Carat.
Factors that influence the price of yellow diamonds include:
- Yellow color grade: “Faint” or “Very Light” yellow diamonds are much cheaper, while Fancy Intense and Fancy Vivid diamonds are much more expensive.
- Supporting colors: the highest priced yellow diamonds are those with a pure yellow color (like Canary Diamonds) or diamonds with an orange or green overtone. On the other end, brownish yellow diamonds are often (though not always) cheaper.
- Cut & Clarity: like colorless diamonds, the 4 C’s play heavily into the price of yellow diamonds.
- Carat: yellow diamonds at high carat weights are much more rare than smaller diamonds, and thus command a higher relative price.
If you have good but not great grades, you can expect to spend $2,000 to $5,000 on a one-carat yellow diamond. Here’s an example from Leibish & Co.: a 1.03-carat radiant-shaped diamond with VVS1 clarity and fancy color for $4,725. This diamond has very good clarity, but its color is lower on the scale, with no brown overtones.
How Is the Value of a Yellow Diamond Determined?
The ‘undertone’ of a fancy color diamond is the hue that can be seen beneath the surface color and it can be a very important factor in determining the value of the diamond. A true yellow diamond will be valued more highly than a diamond with a light yellow undertone, for example. However, some people prefer yellow diamonds with orange or brownish undertones because they believe it makes the surface color more interesting.
Fancy Vivid graded yellow diamonds, also known as canary diamonds, are usually the most expensive and sought-after of the yellow diamond grades. Depending on size, the intensity of coloring, and grade of diamond, yellow diamonds can be a expensive rarity or a cost-effective gift.
The value of these diamonds is based on personal preference. Most people will not be able to grade them, so they are more of a fun way to personalize a ring than an announcement of a ring budget.
Lab-Grown Yellow Diamonds
Some of the colors diamonds are available in are not their natural colors. For example, yellow diamonds are irradiated to make them a different color. Alternatively, some diamonds are naturally occurring or made in a lab.
Yellow diamonds are created through high levels of nitrogen in the jewel, which often gives them a natural warmth. They can come with orange, brown, or even green tints in them, adding to their eye-catching qualities. They are considered natural fancy colored diamonds. True yellow diamonds are quite rare, but some diamonds turn yellow with age or are enhanced by man to get the vibrant hue.
Lab-Grown vs. Mined Yellow Diamonds
Before lab-grown yellow diamonds were available, people had to wait for someone to find one in the ground. The time and cost of mining these diamonds, combined with the fact that only a limited number are available, made them very expensive.
Yellow diamonds are rare, so people want them, which leads to bad practices around getting them, like conflict and exploitation. But you can get lab-grown yellow diamonds at any color grade!
So lab-grown yellow diamonds are often intense, expensive stones made sustainably and on-demand for clients. Many people prefer them because they can be designed with less wait time at a lower price.
Lab-grown diamonds are indiscernible from mined diamonds to even professional gemologists. Also, higher-quality lab-grown diamonds are often priced lower because the technology to create them is more readily available, leading people to mistakenly believe that lab-grown diamonds are generally of better quality.
Yellow Diamond Engagement Ring Settings
When selecting a setting for your diamond, keep in mind the impact the setting will have on the diamond’s appearance. A yellow gold setting will make the diamond’s color appear deeper, while a white gold setting may make it appear lighter. To save on your budget, you may wish to look for a yellow diamond of one intensity grade lower and have it set in yellow gold to maximize the color.
- Style 1: Halo Setting
A halo setting can make your yellow diamond engagement ring look bigger, especially if there are two rows of surrounding stones.
- Style 2: Pavé Setting
The side stones in this ring are set in a way that makes them appear to be floating, and this makes the ring appear to sparkle more. The side stones can be the same color as the center stone or white diamonds.
- Style 3: Side Stones Setting
A side stone setting is a great way to accent and highlight a yellow diamond. The side stones can be round brilliants, triangle-shaped, or any design that matches your style.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Aren’t Yellow-Colored Diamonds a Bad Thing?
The valuing of colorless diamonds is based on how yellow they are; the less yellow, the more valuable. If a diamond goes beyond the classic color scale (D to Z), its value starts to increase again, depending on the depth and intensity of its color.
Are Yellow Diamonds More Expensive?
Lighter colored yellow diamonds are not as rare as deep yellow or Canary yellow diamonds and are typically cheaper.
Are Yellow Diamonds Rare?
There are three different types of yellow diamonds, each with their own level of rarity. The first type is light-colored yellow diamonds, which are somewhat common. The second type is intense yellow diamonds, which are quite rare. The third type is orange or green diamonds, which are the most rare.
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