Trivia question: What do Heidi Klum, Carrie Underwood, Paris Hilton, Kelly Clarkson, Rebecca Romijn, Adele, and Olivia Palermo all have in common?
Answer: No, it’s not that they’re all rich, famous, and beautiful. The correct answer is that they were all the proud recipients of yellow diamond engagement rings. Leibish&co. came to tell us everything about the beauty of yellow diamond engagement rings.
Had you asked the person in the street ten years ago about yellow diamonds they probably would’ve looked at you like you were mad. Five years ago, maybe one or two would’ve had something to say, but today, the cat is well and truly out of the bag. Or perhaps a more fitting idiom would be that the canary is well and truly out of the cage.
Yellow diamonds are commonly referred to as “canaries” – the reference does not require explanation. They form part of the world of colored diamonds, a world unknown to many people still today.
Natural Fancy Color Diamonds
Almost everyone knows that diamonds are white. (The correct designation is actually colorless as there is such a thing as white diamonds.) However, those in the know, have known for centuries what the rest of us didn’t – that there is such a thing as colored diamonds and that they are much rarer than colorless diamonds. In fact, for every 10,000 carats of colorless diamonds mined there is only one carat of colored diamonds.
Royalty, the nobility, and the very wealthy have been aware of, and coveted, fancy color diamonds for centuries. Over the last few years, Hollywood and the celebrity set have got in on the game and, as is the case with the evolution of so many trends, it filters its way down to the masses.
The exposure given to colored diamonds by celebs both on the red carpet and in their private lives as the recipients of colored diamond jewelry coupled with the ability to learn more about these wonders of nature from the comfort of your computer or smartphone has meant that the world is now aware of colored diamonds and demand has never been greater. This is all good and well, however there is just one small problem – supply has never been lower.
The colors of colored diamonds are as follows: red, blue, green, pink, gray, black, white, orange, purple, chameleon, champagne, violet, and yellow of course. Each color has its own rarity and no two stones are alike. And with nine different intensity levels and over 90 secondary hues, the world of colored diamonds is one that leaves rainbows looking monochromatic.
Whereas the 4 Cs used for evaluating diamonds – cut, clarity, color, and carat weight also apply to colored diamonds, the priority changes. Whereas clarity is often the most important factor in determining the value of a colorless diamond, color is the most important factor in determining the value of a colored diamond. The rarer and richer, or more saturated the color, the more valuable the stone.
With all the talk about the rarity factor, the demand-supply equation, and the fact that celebs are known for wearing only the best and most expensive, you may think that a colored diamond engagement ring may be financially out of reach. Fear not.
Yellow diamonds are in fact one of the more common colors of diamond. Together with pink, they are also one of the most popular colors of diamond. What you must keep in mind though is that the yellow diamonds that cost millions of dollars (yes, a single stone can sell for millions of dollars at auction) and make the news are the crème de la crème of the diamond world. There are numerous other fine examples of canaries that are affordable.
The trick to finding an affordable canary is to find a reputable dealer. Colored diamonds are a very specialized field, and as they become more popular there are more people looking to enter the space. Colored diamonds and colorless diamonds are very different beasts. Who you deal with when looking for a yellow diamond engagement ring is vital.
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