Does your partner love to make a fashion statement wherever they go? Make an even bigger splash by proposing with a fancy color diamond engagement ring! Intrigued? We’re ready to tell you all about the rainbow of diamonds!

Fancy Color Diamonds vs. Colorless Diamonds

Now, you might be wondering, “What is a fancy color diamond?” It’s simply a diamond that displays a color outside of the Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA) color scale , which has become the industry standard for grading diamonds. The scale features letters of the alphabet, starting with D and ending with Z. Therefore, gems given D through F rankings are colorless, while Z-rated stones have light yellow or brown tones.

Fancy color diamonds, however, can be found in a variety of shades – from pink, yellow, red and purple to orange, green, blue and black. When it comes to choosing a fancy color diamond, color is the most important characteristic. In fact, these fancy stones follow their own GIA color scale, and they’re graded based on how dark/light the gems might be and the intensity of their color.

Want to know where your diamond ranks? Take a peek at the categories:

● Faint: These stones display the lightest color and intensity.

● Very Light

● Light

● Fancy Light

● Fancy: Stones display a somewhat darker color and/or deeper intensity.

● Fancy Intense: These gems can have light yet intense shades. Think yellow or pink stones!

● Fancy Dark

● Fancy Deep

● Fancy Vivid: These stones display the darkest color and deepest intensity.

The untrained eye might not be able to catch these subtle color differences, but they ultimately impact a diamond’s quality and price. Here’s a good rule of thumb: A darker, vivid stone will have more value! But make sure to check a diamond’s certification before making your purchase.

*Pro Tip: It may be difficult to get your hands on red, pink, green and blue diamonds, as these are the rarest fancy color diamonds. Yellow and brown stones are more common, but that also means they’re less valuable.

Natural vs. Treated Fancy Color Diamonds

You’ll probably come across two types of fancy color diamonds: naturally colored and treated gems. Natural fancy color diamonds are exactly what you might think. They’re natural diamonds that are tinted with various colors. That means they were formed billions of years ago beneath the Earth’s surface and are primarily made of carbon. But they get their rainbow shades from different elements that are sometimes present in a diamond’s structure.

On the other hand, treated fancy color diamonds are typically brown diamonds that have received heat treatments to alter their color. How can you tell them apart? Pay attention to price, as treated diamonds are significantly cheaper than their natural counterparts!

Celebrities with Fancy Color Diamond Engagement Rings

Want a look like the celebs? Here’s some inspiration!

● When actor Ben Affleck first proposed to singer Jennifer Lopez in 2002, he did so with a rare 6.1-carat pink diamond. This time, he also chose a fancy color diamond – an 8.5-carat natural green diamond surrounded by a pair of trapezoid-shaped colorless diamonds.

● Pink diamonds were also a popular choice for actor Ryan Reynolds. In 2012, he popped the question to fellow actress Blake Lively with an impressive oval-shaped, light pink diamond and diamond-studded rose gold band.

● When singer Lady Gaga was linked with talent agent Christian Carino, she often sported her spectacular engagement ring, which reportedly featured a 6 or 7-carat pink center stone. The dazzling gem was thought to be a pink diamond or sapphire.

● For a different look, actress Scarlett Johansson stepped out with a light brown diamond and black band after comedian Colin Jost popped the question in 2019.

● Singer Kelly Clarkson may have broken away from her husband Brandon Blackstock. But when their love was still blooming, you’d catch glimpses of her gorgeous engagement ring, which reportedly featured a 5-carat yellow diamond and a surrounding diamond halo.

● Yellow diamonds must be popular among American Idol winners. Ironically, singer Carrie Underwood also accepted a 5 or 6-carat yellow diamond when former ice hockey player Mike Fisher proposed in 2009.

● And we can’t forget about rapper Cardi B’s engagement ring from fellow rapper Offset. The magnificent 8-carat, pear-shaped diamond is the focus of this ring, and it’s bordered by a double halo of colorless and pink diamonds.

Have a question? We can help!

Gage Diamonds is Chicago's premier jewelry showroom and online retailer of engagement rings, wedding bands, and fine jewelry. We offer a selection of dazzling handpicked diamonds, including certified natural diamonds.

We’re committed to helping you find the ring of your dreams. For inspiration, browse our website or set up an appointment with a member of our trusted staff at our in-person showroom.

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