BLACK DIAMONDS

What are black diamonds?

Black diamonds are made from the same stuff as every other type of diamond, carbon. So why are they a different colour?

It’s important to note that, In this article, we are talking about natural black diamonds.  Lab-grown and heat-treated black diamonds have different characteristics.

In a way, black diamonds are really white diamonds, however they have so many black inclusions that they appear to be totally black. An inclusion might be considered nature’s ‘birthmark’ and are often perceived as being a flaw in the diamond that will decrease its value. This natural feature gives the diamond an intense, silky black look that is perfect for a modern engagement ring. Otherwise, they have all the same physical characteristics as any other type of diamond.

For instance, they are still very hard. This means they are perfect for jewellery that will be worn every day, like in an engagement ring.  They won’t show signs of wear over the years and it would take something drastic to cause them to chip. In fact, ‘Carbonado’ (aka black diamond) is the toughest form of natural diamond.

The black inclusions inside a diamond are normally graphite, which was trapped inside the carbon while it formed into a diamond crystal.  There are many types of inclusions, however, and its very rare for a diamond to have no inclusions at all.

The normal rules of choosing a diamond, cut, colour, and carat still apply to black diamonds, however clarity isn’t so much of a concern.  As previously mentioned, a black diamond has so many black inclusions it becomes the overriding characteristic of the stone, defining its colour and giving it a very striking and distinct look.

Its only relatively recently that black diamonds have been frequently used in jewellery. In the past, along with other unique diamond colours, they have bene used industrially. For this reason research, into the cause of the colour of black diamonds is also relatively recent, according to the GIA, whose laboratories across the world are a trusted source of gemmology research,

Black diamond mining

Black diamonds are mined in the same way as regular diamonds and they are often found alongside other diamonds.  ‘Carbonado’ black diamonds are primarily found in alluvial deposits in Brazil and the Central African Republic.

Black diamonds can also be mined from both open and closed pit mining operations.

Black diamond prices

Luckily for a fan of black diamonds, they cost less than any other colour of diamond. This is for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, they don’t sparkle in the same way as other diamonds do.  They do reflect light; you can see it reflecting off the outside facets in the picture above. However, because of the multiple inclusions inside of the stone, light doesn’t travel through the stone and cannot reflect off the facets at the back to create sparkle.

Secondly, there is less demand for black diamonds. It has increased in recent years, as people seek alternative engagement rings, and black diamonds have been used in more jewellery designs.  As a result, black diamonds are more expensive than they were just 10 years ago, but significantly less than white diamonds and far, far less than any other type of coloured diamond.

It is hard to compare prices like for like, as black diamonds are not judged in terms of their colour and clarity like white diamonds are.