Diamonds. Just the name says luxury and beauty. These days though, colorless diamonds are not the only exotic gems that people are after. Fancy colored diamonds are all the rage with top celebrities and even the Royal Family owning these unusual and unique finds. Green diamonds are part of this group of exceptionally rare and expensive jewels. In this article, we will be providing you with an easy guide to understanding green diamonds and even adding one or more to your collection.
How do they get green?
While you can create a green diamond in a lab, true green diamonds are 100% formed in nature. Here is what scientists have discovered thus far about this fascinating process.
Electrons actually get trapped inside of rocks that have been exposed to radiation as the diamonds are developing. Don’t be scared, green diamonds are safe and will not make you glow-in-the-dark. While other diamonds can also turn green like more common brown diamonds the green diamond is considered one of the rarer colors within the fancy colored family.
Value
As you probably guessed rare usually means expensive. Some green diamonds have been sold at auctions for an incredible $1.2 million a carat! Of course, not all green diamonds are priced this way and it is important to understand how they cost and value is defined.
You can find excellent fancy colored diamond buying guides online that are referred materials by the GIA. For the sake of keeping things quick, here is a short version of what to begin looking for when shopping for a green diamond.
Intensity
A green diamond is graded by a list of intensity and color levels. The scale used by the GIA is:
- Faint Green
- Very Light Green
- Light Green
- Fancy Light Green
- Fancy Green
- Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid, and Fancy Deep
Color also has a significant effect on cost. Consider for example that 2 green diamonds both equalling 1 carat each can have a significantly different cost based on color. A fancy can range between $60,000 to $100,000, while a fancy intense would start around $125,000.
Choosing Your Green Diamond
The more vivid the color the higher the price point. Still, you can find beautiful and more affordable green diamond options at highly-reputed companies such as Astteria. Always choose an expert who is certified and can show you your diamonds specs from an industry-standard such as the GIA to verify its authenticity.
When it comes to choosing the best diamond, cut is very important. Although fancy colored diamonds may come in different shapes, for green diamonds the radiant cut is excellent. Many people make the mistake of thinking bigger is better, but actually the color, clarity, and cut are what truly make a diamond precious.
Famous Diamonds
The most famous green diamond is definitely the over 40 carat Dresden Green. This exquisite green giant was originally cut from a piece of over 100 carats. Dresden was the capital of Saxony in Germany and was on display there for two hundred years.
The Gruosi Green diamond whose name is not official also came from a stone that was 100 carats. To create an almost flawless green diamond with a cushion-cut, ¾ of the stone was chipped away. Fawaz Gruosi is the current owner of this incredible piece.
Bonus Tip: You can mix and match small green diamonds with other fancy colored diamonds for a beautiful and unique jewelry piece.
Recap
When purchasing a green diamond it is important to verify its authenticity and only procure from a reliable and trusted jeweler. Always ask to see a GIA or other industry-accepted certification to review the specs of your diamond. Cut, color, clarity, and carat all affect the price and quality of your piece.
