Welcome back to the Diamonds Hatton Garden blog where we bring you the latest insights from our Hatton Garden Jewellers. As specialists in loose diamonds, our team are often asked by our clients about the different colours of fancy coloured diamonds and what to choose. In today’s blog we look at a diamond colour that has become quite popular in the last five year: Champagne coloured diamonds.
Champagne diamonds can be a brilliant choice if you are looking for one-of-a-kind coloured diamonds. With brown and yellow hues and tones, champagne diamonds can be an excellent choice for a unique engagement ring. Indeed, both our ready-to-wear and bespoke engagement rings in our Hatton Garden can serve as the perfect way to mount a champagne coloured diamond and, in particular, our rose gold engagement rings would work well.
For those looking to buy coloured diamonds, as with all diamonds, there are certain aspects to consider to ensure value for money and a unique diamond that celebrates your love and commitment. Quality and colour are the two main aspects to consider and impact how the diamond looks the most.
What is a champagne coloured diamond?
A champagne coloured diamond is a shade of colored diamond that is a beautiful combination of brown and yellow tint. Ranging from darker brown hues to soft yellows, they are given their name as they can look like the colour of champagne. Like with all natural diamonds, champagne coloured diamonds were formed over millions of years deep within the earth. These diamonds gain their colour from traces of elements in the earth’s structure and contain small amounts of nitrogen that became trapped during the diamond’s formation. The higher the nitrogen content, the deeper the intensity of the brown colour. An eye-catching and unique choice for engagement rings and diamond jewellery, the unique colours offer plenty of personality.
Where do champagne diamonds come from?
Champagne diamonds are formed and mined in various parts of the world, including Australia, Siberia and Africa. The largest champagne diamond mine is the Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia, where other colored diamonds are mined as well, including pink diamonds.
Are champagne diamonds rare?
Are champagne diamonds rarer than white diamonds or coloured diamonds? Generally speaking, champagne colored diamonds are not as rare as white diamonds or other fancy coloued diamonds. The rarity of a diamond, be it its colour, size or other characteristics, influence the price and the rarer the diamond the higher the price. What makes champagne diamonds particularly appealing is that their price is often lower than comparable white diamonds or fancy coloured diamonds and thus suited to those on a tighter budget. However as champagne colored diamonds continue to increase in popularity, their prices are likely to increase. As with all coloured diamonds, one of the main factors in the price of champagne coloured diamonds is the colour – in general, the deeper the colour, the higher the price.
How to choose a champagne coloured diamond
When looking at coloured diamonds for sale, or any coloured diamond for sale, the main aspects to consider are the colour, cut, clarity, carat and shape..
Colour
As with all fancy diamonds, the intensity and shade of colour indicate how beautiful and expensive a stone is. Champagne diamonds range in colour from light to dark brown and often carry secondary hues like orange or yellow. While colour preference is based on the individual wearer, the richer the hue, the rarer and more expensive the stone is.
Cut
A diamond’s Cut impacts how much brilliance and fire the stone gives off. In other words, it affects how sparkly the diamond is. The better the cut, the more beauty and, typically, the higher the price. With champagne colored stones, there aren’t standardised cut options like there are with colourless diamonds. For example, you can opt for an “ideal” cut with a white diamond, but not with a champagne one. Ultimately, it’s up to the diamond cutter to maximise the individual diamond for its unique combination of colour, clarity and brilliance. With these diamonds, it’s important to consider how the cut impacts the colour intensity. If the cut makes the diamond appear richer in hue, then it’s a more desirable cut. On the flip side, a poorly cut champagne diamond may appear uneven in its colouring or may present no brilliance or sparkle—ultimately leaving the stone dull and lifeless.
Clarity
A diamond’s clarity denotes how clear it is of blemishes and inclusions. The fewer the flaws, the more beautiful and valuable the stone is. When evaluating clarity, we recommend looking for an eye-clean diamond. In other words, to the naked eye, blemishes and inclusions should not be noticeable.
Carat
A diamond’s Carat refers to its weight. A 1 Carat diamond is equal to 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams. For perspective, a 1 carat diamond weighs roughly the same as a quarter of a raisin. When choosing a champagne diamond, we recommend spending more of your budget in the areas of Colour and Cut. These qualities impact the beauty of champagne diamonds more than any other feature. A heavier or larger looking stone isn’t necessarily more beautiful. For example, it’s better to purchase an exquisite champagne diamond that may be smaller in size than a lifeless larger stone with no fire or brilliance.
Shape
Diamonds can be cut in a variety of shapes. Which shape you prefer is completely up to personal preference. Most importantly, choose a shape that matches the style and personality of the wearer. Champagne diamonds can be found in anything from emerald and oval shapes to round and cushion cuts.
Supplying retail and high-end jewellery stores across the UK and internationally, Diamonds Hatton Garden can assist you in finding your perfect champagne coloured diamond. Contact our family run team via harel@diamondshg.co.uk or call +44 7951 060238 to arrange your appointment today.