Maybe I am the one one noticing this, however there’s been an inflow of cool-girl bridal themes on my For You web page not too long ago. With increasingly more Gen Z weddings taking heart stage because the years go on, micro-weddings, anthurium bouquets, and third (or fourth!) seems are gaining reputation amongst my shut circle of mates of their mid-20s. Most of us can agree on the small aesthetic particulars of our future weddings primarily based on our Pinterest boards, however once I began ring buying earlier this 12 months, there was no debate that lit up our group chat fairly like the choice that I used to be solely non-white diamond engagement rings.
Earlier than you throw your arms as much as protest my unconventional and, to some, downright ugly selection, simply know I am not alone. This 12 months, there have been a couple of high-profile colored-diamond engagement rings that the web has collectively misplaced its thoughts over. Gabbriette Bechtel’s jet-black ring surrounded by brilliant-cut white diamonds was a fan favourite amongst alt Twitter, and Twilight star Christian Serratos’s jaw-dropping 11.66-carat pink, pear-shaped engagement ring from Good Earth made its approach to the Instagram Tales of practically each potential bride I do know.
Lorraine Brantner, a licensed gemologist and James Allen gross sales supervisor, confirmed that there is been a large surge in purchasers looking for out coloured diamonds in lieu of white diamonds for engagement rings. Lab-grown stones are particularly seeing a spike in curiosity, Brantner defined, alluding to the truth that the man-made choices are coming at a way more inexpensive worth level than earth-mined stones. James Allen additionally launched a brand new Radiant Reflections assortment of colored-gemstone high quality jewellery for many who love the look however don’t get engaged.
For some manufacturers, coloured diamonds have develop into their major mode of enterprise. Take Aaryah, for instance. The Instagram-viral, cool woman–beloved NYC jewellery spot makes a speciality of coloured earth-mined diamonds. Whereas founder and third-generation jeweler Megan Kothari does, the truth is, promote colorless diamonds, you would not realize it from glancing at her model’s web page. Since beginning in 2021, Aaryah has been one of many greatest driving forces behind fiancés favoring distinctive bands, fascinating cuts, and chicer hues in a world stuffed with engagement rings that, frankly, look all the identical at occasions.
“Whereas I did not begin out with the intention to concentrate on non-white diamonds, I used to be at all times drawn to their distinctive tones given to them by Mom Nature. No two really feel the identical,” Kothari mentioned. “My second assortment ever in 2022 featured yellow diamonds in a contemporary, surprising means at a time when few others had been doing so. After the success of that assortment, I knew others like me had been fascinated by these hotter hues.”
The decision appears to be in: An increasing number of celebrities are choosing untraditional rings to mark their love and dedication to their companions. It is solely now that the remainder of the world is catching on.
What’s a coloured diamond?
Coloured diamonds are any stones that, just like the identify suggests, aren’t white. Yellow diamonds, pink diamonds, and champagne diamonds are all included within the dialog together with brown diamonds, black diamonds, and salt-and-pepper diamonds. Coloured diamonds are graded otherwise than white diamonds, which exist on the standard D–Z scale, with D being a wonderfully colorless, bright-white diamond. Most will exist in some variation on the flowery colored-diamond scale, which ranges from faint to fancy vivid. Something from a light-weight butter yellow to a deep, vibrant pink is feasible throughout the scope of each lab-created and earth-mined diamonds.
“Fancy coloured diamonds are evaluated for his or her hue (the colour), saturation (depth of the colour), and tone (depth of the colour),” Brantner defined. “Consider a fancy-color diamond falling inside a three-dimensional field of prospects in comparison with a diamond on the D–Z scale that exhibits a tint of colour in a linear development.”
Brantner says that yellow and pink are sometimes probably the most sought-after fancy-colored diamonds for engagement rings, and 2024 purchases are signaling that yellow diamonds are dominating each the pure and lab-made diamond area.
(Picture credit score: Courtesy of Aaryah)
How are coloured diamonds made?
Given the truth that coloured stones are a lot rarer, the situations essential to create them are as effectively. “For example, yellow diamonds get their colour from nitrogen, whereas pink diamonds develop their hue because of structural modifications because the diamond varieties deep within the earth,” Kothari mentioned. Bigger coloured diamonds are sometimes sourced from particular areas and mines, she defined, including that Australia is well-known for producing pink diamonds whereas South Africa and Canada are a number of the world’s prime producers of yellow diamonds.
For lab-created yellow diamonds, nitrogen atoms are launched throughout a diamond’s rising course of to offer them their signature canary hue.
(Picture credit score: Courtesy of Aaryah)
Are coloured diamonds uncommon?
Historically, coloured stones had been an earth-mined-only product. The expertise for lab-created diamonds has gotten higher over time, and slowly however certainly, extra delicate and realistic-looking lab diamonds are coming into {the marketplace}. It is nonetheless a problem, although, and I can attest to this firsthand. It took visiting six totally different manufacturers and attempting on not less than 35 rings to supply a diamond that aligned with my imaginative and prescient for a colored-diamond engagement ring.
“The colour diamonds we work with sometimes fall within the Okay–Z vary of the D–Z scale. That is the place we’re capable of finding these distinctive nude, buttery yellow, and even brown-toned diamonds,” Kothari defined, nodding to the even rarer subtly coloured diamonds her enterprise has seen great development in over the previous few years. Aaryah makes a speciality of hotter champagne, nude, and brown earth-mined diamonds, so in case you’re searching for one thing inside that palette, chances are high you may solely discover it on the model’s New York studio. Plus, in case you’re right into a pores and skin tone–esque diamond, the model’s new Nüd assortment will meet you proper the place you are at.
(Picture credit score: Courtesy of Aaryah)
(Picture credit score: Courtesy of Aaryah)
Are coloured diamonds costly?
Whereas coloured diamonds do exist, they are much rarer and, in consequence, come at a premium inside each earth-mined and lab-created sectors—some even costing 3 times the value for the same carat weight in comparison with their non-fancy-colored counterparts.
In the meanwhile, most subtle-colored diamonds are solely earth mined, that means you’l be paying the value for naturally created stones. For reference, most of Aaryah’s colored-diamond rings sit above the $15,000 worth vary, and carat weight and minimize consider considerably in how a lot an engagement ring prices, just like non-fancy-colored rings.
(Picture credit score: Courtesy of Aaryah)
Can anybody purchase a colored-diamond engagement ring?
After all. It’s fascinating to notice, although, that each Brantner and Kothari agreed that most individuals who search out a coloured diamond for his or her wedding ceremony jewellery have a really clear, unconventional imaginative and prescient. “Our purchasers are sometimes very in contact with their very own distinctive private model and are searching for one thing that can be an extension of that versus a cookie-cutter engagement ring model that is extra conventional,” Kothari defined. With each colored-diamond ring that she promotes on Instagram, the methods they’re set are additionally distinctive and extra elevated for a fashion-inclined fiancé. “Moreover, we have had purchasers specific an appreciation for the pure traits of mined diamonds, particularly with the rise of ‘super-perfect’ lab-grown diamonds,” Kothari added.
Store colored-diamond engagement rings:
James Allen
Lab-Grown 4.32 Carat Fancy Intense Yellow-VVS2 Emerald Lower Diamond
Good Earth
5.01 Ct. Fancy Vivid Pink Oval Lab Grown Diamond
James Allen
Lab-Grown 9.82 Carat Fancy Intense Yellow-VS2 Oval Lower Diamond
Mazarin
Yellow Cushion Solitaire
Worth obtainable upon request.
James Allen
Lab-Grown 5.18 Carat Fancy Intense Blue-VVS2 Oval Lower Diamond
James Allen
Lab-Grown 5.43 Carat Fancy Vivid Pink-VS1 Marquise Lower Diamond
Grown Brilliance
2 3/4 CTW Fancy Yellow Oval Lab Grown Diamond Aspect Stone Engagement Ring Platinum
Ben Bridge
Fancy Intense Yellow Diamond Engagement Ring 18k, 9/10 Ct. Heart
