YELLOW DIAMOND
This article is a warm invitation to enthusiasts, investors, collectors, and fanatics of yellow diamonds all over the world. All questions about the yellow gemstone can be found in this article. As warm as the sun, the yellow diamonds are unique for their vibrant hues, stunning brilliance, and radiating appeal. Also known as the canary diamond, this yellow stone is celebrated for its historical contributions to the fashion realm, investment domain, and world of antique collections.
In this analysis, we will delve deep into the science behind the yellow diamond. Moreover, we will discuss all of the types, the culture and tradition significance, the comparison between yellow and colorless diamonds, investment, and many more. After reading this compilation of information, an individual will obtain pure knowledge, interesting facts, and tips that cannot be found in any other journal all over the internet.
Now, let us start diving deeper into the world of yellow or canary diamonds.
What is a Yellow Diamond?
A natural yellow diamond is a rare diamond that was formed in extreme temperature and pressure deep beneath the Earth’s mantle. The natural colorless diamond and natural yellow diamond is very similar, the only different factor is their structural form, and the presence of nitrogen in yellow diamonds. A structurally perfect diamond has a pure transparent color while a natural yellow diamond has a structural defect caused by nitrogen molecules which absorbs blue light, thus allowing the yellow color to be more visible.
Yellow diamonds or some might call it canary diamonds belong to the more common side of natural diamonds compared to any colored diamonds in the world. However, only 1 out of 10,000 carats mined is a canary, making it much rarer than colorless natural diamonds.
Explore all types of yellow diamonds
Yellow diamonds offer a wide set of yellow colors depending on their intensity or depth in color. These sets are classified into different categories, namely; faint, very light, light, fancy light yellow, fancy yellow, fancy dark yellow, fancy deep yellow, fancy intense yellow, and fancy vivid yellow according to the yellow intensity.
Excluding the categories faint, very light yellow, and light yellow, we will explore deeper into each of these 6 fancy yellow categories and understand their differences from each other.
Fancy Light Yellow Diamond
Compared to these 6 fancy color yellow diamonds, the fancy light yellow is the least intense among them. They don’t look as tinted as the others and they appear to as just a color yellow. Whilst their appearance, they are perfect to be paired with engagement rings due to their low-cost price compared to any fancy yellow color diamonds on this list.
Fancy Yellow Diamond
While they appear a bit darker than the fancy light yellow diamond, they are still on the lighter side of the fancy yellow spectrum, and would still cost less than the darker ones. However, due to its rarity compared to colorless diamonds, the prices of fancy yellow diamonds are still more expensive than colorless diamonds.
Fancy Dark Yellow Diamond
Now that we are on the darker scale, every carat in the fancy dark yellow diamond will surely cost more compared to the lighter ones. This scale is reserved for those who can afford it and usually sells in auctions and private people.
Fancy Deep Yellow Diamond
Remarkable for their rich, saturated color and rarity, this grade of yellow is often sought for their unique and striking appearance. The price of this is much higher compared to the fancy dark yellow diamond. It is also known for its full yellow tone, however, it has still some undertone color of orange, green, and brownish-yellow colors.
Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond
This rating is often sought out by investors, collectors, and enthusiasts. Known as the second deepest color of yellow diamonds. This shade of yellow is quite expensive, costing about $6,500 up to $8,000 per carat, it surely brings a different meaning to its name “Fancy”.
Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond
The most intense yellow diamond in the existence of the Earth. Also known as “Canary Diamond”, it deeply resembles the plumage of a canary bird for its bright yellow color. While the rarest pure yellow diamonds are fancy vivid in ratings, there are still fancy vivid yellow diamonds that have some shades of brown, orange, and brownish-yellow, these shades of colors will affect the price of a purely yellow diamond.
Cultural Significance: Yellow Diamonds in Traditional and Modern Jewelry
Historically, yellow diamonds are known for their brilliance and strength and are often connected to power, beauty, and eternal love. The significance of yellow diamonds in culture, tradition, and modern jewelry can be directly correlated to our bright sun, as they have similar brightness, shine, and importance. Therefore, it is often made as jewelry for important people such as kings, leaders, and high authority persons in tribes and empires.
Used as an ancient symbol for the god’s might, the yellow diamond’s significance in the culture can be associated with all tribes and kingdoms. Because of the vibrant color of the yellow diamond, it made its rise to royalties and the wealthy, signifying prosperity and status.
Now, in our modern society, yellow diamonds are known for their wide versatility in fashion and jewelry. Designers love to make fashionable jewelry made from yellow diamond, from classic design to the latest trends, the value of this gem truly transcends time.
Quality and grading of yellow diamonds
Quality checking and grading of yellow diamonds and any colored diamonds is different compared to the grading criteria used in crystal clear diamonds. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is the main institute when it comes to governing the quality and grading of diamonds. From the lack of color of clear diamonds to the depth and intensity of color of yellow diamonds, the GIA’s basis completely shifts when it comes to colored diamonds.
The institute’s main focus when it comes to quality and grading is based on the diamond’s color. The color of a diamond has three aspects, these are; hue, tone, and saturation.
Hue
It is referred to as the usual color that can be seen on a diamond. However, the yellow diamond can have different secondary hues, like; green-yellow, brown-yellow, or orange-yellow. Therefore, it is more valued when obtaining the purest yellow diamond compared to a diamond with secondary hues.
Tone
The tone of a diamond refers to its darkness or lightness. In the case of yellow diamonds, it is preferable to have a medium tone. This is to allow the color to appear more vividly compared to dark or light ones.
Saturation
The strength or intensity of a hue. Yellow diamonds have a scale that varies from muted or soft to vivid or bright. The higher the saturation, the more desirable because it represents more pure color.
Yellow Diamond Cuts and Shapes
A perfect yellow diamond always has its perfect cut and shape, not only for the overall appearance but also have a crucial part in the enhancement of the gem’s brilliance. Some people often have a personal preference when it comes to the shape and cuts of their diamond, while this is nondebatable, certain cuts and shapes of a yellow diamond tremendously increase and maximize the stone’s beauty.
There are several popular cuts and shapes for a yellow diamond. Each cut and shape offer an enhancement that highlights the beauty of a yellow diamond. Some of the most popular cuts and shapes are radiant cut, cushion cut, oval cut, and pear shape.
Radiant Cut
The radiant cut specializes in enhancing the color and intensity of a diamond due to its mixed cut which is composed of both step and brilliant cuts. A radiant-cut yellow diamond is popular in fashion and everyday use. The trimmed corners of a radiant cut make the stone more durable and make it a viable option for daily use.
Cushion Cut
It is a viable option due to its soft, romantic, and lovely appearance. The cushion cut for yellow diamonds is preferred by intimate people who put them into special jewelry like engagement rings, wedding rings, and everlasting gifts.
Oval Cut
Another practical cut for a yellow diamond is an oval cut due to its rounded and longer shape, it offers a yellow diamond to appear larger and more amplified size. Its shape is an excellent choice for making a finger appear longer, making it a perfect cut for exceptional rings.
Pear Shape
The pear shape is also a perfect shape for the yellow diamond. Since it has a teardrop-like shape that has both rounded and pointed edges, it allows the diamond to appear shinier and brighter because of its distinctive appearance.
Comparing Yellow Diamonds to Colorless Diamonds
Colorless diamonds are traditionally known for their timeless, pure, and icy brilliance. On the other hand, yellow diamonds offer a pulsating color appeal that stands out among any other jewelry. The versatility of the two diamonds can be limitless, and they could also fit in many different accessories such as rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants, and even bracelets.
The two diamonds are graded differently based on color and 4cs (cut. carat weight, color, and clarity). Yellow diamonds are graded for the intensity of the hue of color by using terms such as fancy light, fancy, fancy vivid, fancy dark, etc. The color hue of a yellow diamond, together with its tone and saturation are the most analytical factors that need to be considered when evaluating a yellow diamond. Conversely, the colorless diamond’s critical aspects are its 4cs (cut, carat, color, and clarity).
Each stone has its place in symbolism whether for traditional purity or sunny positivity symbolism. Always remember that a yellow diamond is much more desirable when it shines as yellow as the sun, while a colorless diamond is wanted when it has no blemishes, inclusions, or structural defects that can affect its shine. The difference between the two gemstones comes down to the personal preference of an individual.
Crafting Distinctive Jewelry Designs with yellow diamonds
Crafting distinctive jewelry designs with yellow diamonds gives opportunity to the designer to be more aesthetically creative, artistic, and innovative when it comes to crafting with the yellow diamond. There are several approaches when it comes to crafting the yellow diamond, either for uniqueness, symbolism, or personalization. The yellow diamond is known for its versatility in the realm of diamonds.
Here are some tips on utilizing yellow diamonds when crafting distinctive jewelry designs out of them.
Cuts and shapes
The yellow diamond stones combined with various cuts and shapes can create a more depth, radiant, and appealing look. A large yellow diamond can be used as a centerpiece on jewelry when cut in a radiant cut, it will allow the color to appear more enticing and vibrant, and it can be paired with several pear-shaped or marquise cuts to give it a more elegant and dynamic look.
Color contrast
Contrasting the vibrant yellow diamond with other color tones such as red and orange, can create a fierier look which is perfect for a powerful and strong personality. Also, it can boost the color by adding different gems without colors such as the colorless diamond. When it is set up with white gold or platinum, it can highlight the vibrant color yellow and create a more striking contrast.
Thematic
Yellow diamonds are known for their sunny appearance which beautifully represents a beautiful sunny day. It can also be used for themes such as garden flower events, a joyous celebration, and even for ancient thematic looks. Jewelry that has the yellow diamond as its centerpiece will also emphasize the joy, traits, and mood of its wearer. A yellow diamond jewelry centerpiece will surely bring a more vibrant and livelier thematic event.
Personalization
A personalized engraving or specific cut to a yellow diamond can make any client feel unique and more personal, and create a deeper connection to the jewelry. It creates a valued approach and tells a personal deeper story between a client and the stone. It can also be crafted as a personal expression towards memorable persons in events like birthdays, weddings, and even gifts. The versatility of personalization is limitless.
What to Look For in a Yellow Diamond Jewelry?
The intensity of a yellow diamond is a crucial factor to look for when eyeing a yellow diamond jewelry. A yellow diamond’s intensity can determine its monetary value just by knowing what intensity it has on the scale. The intensity scale was created to measure the intensity of a diamond, whether faded or intense, it has a grading scale that goes from faint to fancy intense, and vivid.
Eyeing for a piece of yellow diamond jewelry is no easy task, thankfully, we created a list of what to look for in yellow diamond jewelry before buying one. Here’s what to look out for:
Hue and Color intensity
The most important aspect of a yellow diamond is its color. High-intensity yellow diamonds have more value and are mostly sought after compared to lighter ones. Also, the purer the hue, the more desirable it will be.
Clarity
Even though the intensity color of a yellow diamond is important, the clarity of a diamond shouldn’t be ignored. These diamonds hide inclusions better when compared to colorless diamonds. Due to their natural yellow shine, inclusions are often hidden from the naked eye. Always choose a diamond that has been graded well to ensure that there are no visible inclusions from the naked eye.
Choice of stones in a jewelry
Yellow diamonds need to have a clear or plain partner to enhance their dazzle when put in a piece of jewelry. Some best choices that enhance the color yellow of a diamond are; platinum, white gold, and colorless diamonds. Making the right choice when pairing yellow diamonds with other stones or metals goes down to the user’s personal preference.
Certification
Lastly, a client needs to look for a certification before purchasing any kind of diamond – especially yellow diamonds. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) provides an unbiased assessment of a diamond’s characteristics. It assesses all of the important aspects of a diamond including color grade, cut, carat weight, and clarity. Having a legitimate certification for a diamond is always the best advice anyone could get.
Investment Insights: Why Yellow Diamonds Are Gaining Value in the Market
Investors nowadays are eyeing the steady growth of the natural yellow diamonds in the market. The yellow diamond is emerging to become one of the most sought-after investments due to its scarcity, demand, and influence by cultural trends. These several factors allow the yellow diamond to trail itself to be one of the best investments an individual could ever possess.
The reason why the natural yellow diamond is steadily climbing its way through the market is that people nowadays wish to have a diversified portfolio to increase their returns in a certain period. Therefore, the price of the gem is steadily increasing due to the rising demand and its scarce supply. Here are some of the reasons why yellow diamonds are gaining value in today’s market.
Market trends
These days, investing in any kind of investment such as real estate, stocks, bonds, and gold is becoming more mainstream unlike before. People in today’s market often search for new ways to invest their hard-earned money in assets that have high demand but low supply. The yellow diamond, known for its scarcity, is a viable option when it comes to investment. Due to its limited supply, the growth of the yellow diamond in the market trend is gradually increasing – making it the best option for today’s market trend.
Economic Factors
Mining diamonds in general, is extremely hard, what more for a fancy color yellow diamond, considering the cost of mining and its scarcity. Several economic factors affect the value of a yellow diamond, some of the driving factors are natural scarcity, closure of mines, increasing production costs, global economic trends, and depletion of resources. Each economic factor drives the price of a yellow diamond in the market, a steady increase in demand together with the scarcity of the gem will surely boost the value of a yellow diamond in the years to come.
Investment Characteristics
Just like any other tangible assets like gold, silver, and real estate, yellow diamonds can act as a store value. A store value in investment terminology is an asset or commodity that can be saved and exchanged in the future without depreciation in its value. Also, it is a good way to diversify an investor’s portfolio. Having a yellow diamond as an investment will bring diversity to one’s asset, a diamond doesn’t directly correlate with other investments such as stocks, bonds, and even real estate.
Scarcity and demand
We all know that diamonds are rare and very hard to find, on the other hand, natural yellow color diamonds are far scarcer than a typical diamond. Due to its scarcity, the supply of a yellow diamond is depleting over time. Not to mention that almost all of the surface-level area yellow diamonds are already dug up. Miners need to dig more Earth when finding a pure yellow diamond. That is why the demand is steadily rising which makes the value of these specific gems skyrocket. The principle of supply and demand makes the value of this gemstone escalate historically and in many more years to come.
Celebrity Style Spotlight: Yellow Diamonds Making Waves on the Red Carpet
The yellow diamond has been a staple piece of jewelry that most celebrities are proud of. Combined with the glamourous high-profile engagements, public exhibits, and even red-carpet appearances, the beauty of this stone is making waves at special events and galas. The growing fascination with these yellow diamonds among celebrities has played a crucial role in the rising desirability of it among the public. It greatly influences trends and demands, and for people to have them just like their idols have.
Many artists and celebrities such as Kelly Clarkson, Paris Hilton, Nicky Minaj, Julia Roberts, and several others, have a deep fascination with these rare yellow diamonds. Some other celebrities such as Kim Kardashian have been seen wearing beautiful yellow diamond necklaces, rings, and bracelets. Recently, she was seen wearing a total weight of 80-carat yellow diamond necklace. Another famous celebrity who famously wore the yellow diamond jewelry is J-Lo, in 2008 she was gifted by her ex-husband Marc Anthony an impressive yellow diamond ring weighing 30 carats.
The fascination with these yellow diamond by celebrities has greatly impacted its influence among the people. Engagements, red-carpet appearances, social media influence, and personal style choices are the events that showcased the beauty of these yellow diamonds.
Yellow diamond certification
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) is known widely for its quality assessments towards checking the legitimacy of yellow diamonds. Before purchasing any piece of jewelry, especially yellow diamonds, always refer to the certificate if it is GIA-approved. A GIA certificate ensures the quality, authenticity, and value of any diamond in the market, having a diamond with a GIA-approved certificate will bring confidence, assurance, and trust between a client and vendor.
Our diamonds are known for their GIA certifications and they are all natural. We ensure quality, authenticity, and confidence in purchase, and determine the right value to build trust with our clients. Valuing our client’s approval and trust is what differentiates us from any other jewelry business in the market. Keeping high standards in the diamonds industry and choosing GIA certification as our partner in this business, allows us to create everlasting relationships with our clients, and that is our most precious treasure that we are proud of.
Verifying Authenticity: A Guide to Checking Yellow Diamond Validity
Making sure of a yellow diamond’s authenticity is a crucial step for any first-time buyers, collectors, investors, or inheritors who wish to examine the legitimacy of their yellow gems. Given the existence of synthetic diamonds and other treatments to make a diamond enhance its color, verifying the authenticity is essential to approach the authenticity of a diamond with such diligence.
Here are some of the key aspects when it comes to verifying the
Diamond Certification
The most reputable institute for checking the diamond’s certification is the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). This is the most straightforward aspect of how to check a diamond’s authenticity. The GIA offers specialized assessments, state-of-the-art types of machinery and equipment, and professional personnel who keep their certificates top of the line and worthy of trust.
Appraisal
A skilled certified gemologist is the best appraiser of a yellow diamond. One key aspect is finding a reliable appraiser to check a yellow diamond. This gemologist conducts a thorough examination by using apparatus such as a microscope, UV light, and other special tools in their arsenal. They can easily differentiate synthetic or natural yellow diamonds with the use of their experience, resilience, and dedication.
Natural Inclusions
Anyone can observe for natural inclusions and blemishes by using a loupe. By learning how to read the certification issued by the GIA and using a keen eye, anyone can identify whether a yellow diamond is authentic and consistent with the details written in the certificate. Some minor inclusions in a diamond are a sign of where it came from, they usually display uneven color distribution and color zones, and it is a great hint as to whether a diamond is a natural or synthetic one. Observing natural inclusions is one of the key aspects to verify the authenticity of a yellow diamond.
Lab Grown vs. Mined Yellow Diamonds
Yellow diamonds, as beautiful as the sunshine and known for their luminescent glow, can only be acquired through mining up until 1945. In the years onwards, people have invented types of machinery that can duplicate a natural diamond’s appearance, they are often called lab-grown diamonds. While they share similar properties, they have factors that differentiate them from each other, factors like physical and chemical properties, price, value over time, and availability.
Factor
Origins
Physical and Chemical Properties
Price
Value Over Time
Availability
Lab-Grown Yellow Diamonds
Created in a laboratory by scientist and chemist using High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)
Identical to mined diamonds in terms of chemical composition, optically the same, and in hardness.
Less expensive due to the more efficient production process.
Depreciate more over time compared to mined diamonds due to the perception of rarity and traditional market preferences.
More readily available in consistent quality and color due to controlled production.
Factor
Naturally formed deep beneath the Earth’s mantle under extreme heat and pressure over billions of years ago.
Identical to lab-grown diamonds in physical and chemical properties; differences lie in origin, not in these properties.
More expensive due to the rarity and mining costs.
Tend to retain or increase in value over time, due to perceived rarity and established market demand. Better investment.
Rarity varies, with high-quality yellow diamonds being less common and more difficult to mine, affecting availability.
Quick Facts about yellow diamonds
Here are some quick facts about yellow diamonds:
- Rarity: Though diamonds are pretty rare, yellow diamonds are much more scarce compared to colorless diamonds. The supply of yellow diamonds in the market is very limited, only 1 out of 10,000 carats mined in the world is a yellow diamond.
- Source Locations: South Africa, Australia, and Russia are the countries where the yellow diamond is typically mined. However, yellow diamonds can be found worldwide, they can be typically found in the ground and not in mines.
- Color source: Natural yellow diamond’s color comes from the element nitrogen. Nitrogen molecules in a diamond absorb the blue light making it shine yellow, like the sunshine.
- Investment: Always good to invest in a yellow diamond especially when it has intense yellow or close to pure yellow color. Remember to look for certification to ensure its legitimacy before purchasing.
- Historical Significance: The Tiffany Yellow Diamond mined in the Kimberly mine in South Africa was found originally at 287.42 carats. Later, it was cut into a cushion cut with the carat weight of approximately 130 carats and has 82 distinct facets.
- Symbolism: Deeply tied to the sun it was also associated with joy, love, peace, and prosperity. A perfect gift for someone special that brings heat, joy, and passion to the heart.
- Cut and shape preference: Cushion, radiant, and pearl are the best cuts and shapes for yellow diamonds. These cuts allow the yellow color to stand out and maximize its color.
FAQs
What are yellow diamonds?
Yellow diamonds are precious and beautiful rocks that have a significant impact on the culture, society, and lifestyle of mankind. They come in a variety of grades such as yellow-green, and yellow-orange, and go deeper to fancy deep/dark yellow grades.
Are yellow diamonds real?
They are 100% real and can be proven by institutes such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA)
How are yellow diamonds made?
Like any other diamonds, the yellow diamonds are made by extreme heat and pressure beneath the Earth’s mantle. The only difference is that nitrogen molecules are present in yellow diamonds, these molecules absorb blue light which makes the diamond shine in yellow.
Where are yellow diamonds mined?
Typically, they are mined in Russia, South Africa, and Australia.
Are yellow diamonds rare?
Any colored diamond is considered rare gemstones on Earth. Even so, yellow diamonds are rarer than the colorless diamond.
Final Verdict
The journey of the formation of the yellow diamond, from deep beneath the Earth’s mantle and laboratories, to its final presentation in pieces of jewelry, represents both the wonders of nature and human ingenuity. Each yellow diamond represents the glow that was passed onto us from generation to generation, encapsulating the rich history and fame.
As the market for the yellow diamond continues to grow, the beauty of each stone remains untarnished, giving its value and appeal a timeless beauty. For any individual who seeks beauty and elegance, the yellow diamond is truly one of the most special gifts anyone could ever give.
