Green Diamonds

In the world of gemstones, there is one undisputed gem which towers over the rest: the diamond. The dominance of diamonds in the world of gemstones and fine jewellery is undisputed. One that is built on a long legacy of adoption, global recognition and broad cultural appeal diamonds have been and remain to this day the best in the gemstone business. Today diamonds, in the face of fierce competition from other top gemstones that feature distinct colours, have risen to the challenge with the fancy-coloured diamond range. Where diamonds in several popular hues, ranging from blue, pink, and yellow have entered the market for top gemstones and as fine jewellery options. A newer addition to the fancy-coloured diamond range is the green diamond. Let’s find out what it is, and why it is being sought after today.

What are Green Diamonds

Green diamonds are natural carbon-based gemstones, which are virtually identical to the popular colourless variants that dominate the market today. Which is to say green diamonds, like all other fancy diamonds today have a physical structure that is built of carbon atoms: which are set in a tightly knit tetrahedral network, where each carbon atom finds itself equidistant from its neighbours. The tight unity among diamonds creates a very stable network contributing to their immense hardness and durability.

In fancy diamonds: that is diamonds which feature a certain hue, like blue, red, pink or yellow, green is another distinct entry in this range. (Color in diamonds should not be confused with the D-Z GIA diamond colour chart: which measures the colour clarity of the stone, as it pertains to the level of warmth or yellow tone that is present in the stone). So when it comes to the world of diamonds and their relationship to colour and value, there is a trade-off.

Diamonds which feature no colour (D- F) range, are highly valued. But those which fall closer to the (Q- Z range are priced lower). Things start to shift when you go beyond that spectrum, where the gemstone in question produces a distinct but specific colour like yellow. In which case you are now dealing with a fancy-coloured diamond. With green diamonds, we are dealing with a different kind of fancy coloured diamond, as green is not a tone that falls on the diamond colour chart spectrum- a factor which contributes to its higher value.

What Gives Green Diamonds its Colour

Green diamonds are natural carbon gemstones that get their colour naturally from nature. However, unlike in the world of non-carbon-based gemstones like sapphires, rubies and emeralds, the actual source and character of their colour remain a mystery.

Gemological investigations have revealed that the colour of green diamonds is the result of exposure to radioactivity over long periods. And here we are talking about millions of years, since natural diamonds that are sourced from deep within the Earth, form throughout billions of years! You heard that rights it takes thousands of millions of years for a natural diamond to reach its hardened, jewellery-ready state. Factors that contribute to their high value and appeal.

With green diamonds, the element of beauty and rarity is now mixed with an element of uncertainty. The contribution is made by radioactive materials like uranium and other substances, which are powerful enough to penetrate the structure of the stone and cause chemical changes that alter the visual character of the stone. 

The science behind this phenomenon is still being studied, but according to experts in the field, the powerful radiations produced by radioactive materials, affect the carbon atoms, usually along the surface area of the stone, disrupting their order, and causing changes to its outer structure allowing certain light wavelengths to be absorbed, producing the distinct green hue.

For those concerned about owing a green diamond (if you are lucky) enough to get hold of one, the radioactive character of the stone is no longer a factor. The effects lie solely in the visual character of the stone, which is interesting in that the colour in the green diamond is not always uniform, nor are they identical in character. This takes us to the next point, which is how green diamonds differ from one another. 

There is more than One Type of Green Diamond

Green diamonds as noted are natural diamonds, which derive their colour due to radioactive effects. However, in practice, these effects are not uniform. Certain diamonds have greater or varying levels of exposure and in turn the type of green they showcase. Certain top diamond companies and fine jewellery experts have even gone as far as categorizing green diamonds by the vividity of the gemstone’s colour. 

The terminology is not particularly important, what the reader needs to consider is that the value and beauty of a green diamond correlate with the vividity and dispersion of its colour. Green diamonds feature green tones in isolation and at lower levels of intensity, being valued lower. Whereas green carbon gemstones feature-rich hues, like vivid emerald or peacock green, that are spread throughout the gemstone and are more greatly valued.

Interestingly, during the cutting and polishing stages of the green diamond a certain level of the gemstone’s colour is likely to fade off, this is due to the colour of the stone being concentrated on its rough surface. A key indicator of green diamond quality is the ability of the stone to maintain its colour even after the cutting and polishing stage. A larger carat stone, naturally, would be the better candidate. Going further, the type of green that is found in the green diamond can also vary. As green diamonds feature a richer green, that is brighter and more uniform, and hence more valuable.

The Popularity of Fancy Colored Diamonds

Whilst the dominance of diamonds has been challenged by a plethora of rare gemstones ranging from sapphires, and rubies to much rarer gemstone types that can challenge the dominance of diamonds at the level of extreme rarities, such as alexandrite. Then there is the additional factor, that many of these gemstone competitors are coloured stones. Diamonds historically and for the part even today are recognized for their colourless character. The quintessential colourless gemstone diamonds are virtually unbeatable when it comes to clear, cut, gemstones that come without a natural hue. Hence certain gemstone types, like the top gemstones in the world, have established a niche position via their distinct hues, apart from diamonds.

Given the challenges for diamonds posed by other top and exotic gemstones: in terms of variety, different colours, color dynamics, availability, rarity and market recognition. For in recent years coloured gemstones, like the various sapphire types which come in more colours than just blue, along with other sapphire types have started to erode the leadership of diamonds. Question is, can the dominant gemstone respond?

Green diamonds and more generally the fancy coloured diamonds range have entered the fray as a top-of-the-line alternative to the world of coloured precious stones which are not carbon-based. Diamond is the hardest gemstone in the world, one of the hardest materials in the world, and the most popular gemstone option, now when combined with the presence of a distinct colour, makes it an unbeatable option. 

Coloured green diamonds, thus have been given a special place in the world of luxury and nobility. Among the most recognized and colourful carbon gemstones in the world is the Dresden green diamond. The magnificent 41-carat diamond, which goes back almost 300 years is among the largest of its kind, with its distinct colour being given a special name: Dresden green. A natural diamond which had developed its colour owing to its long exposure to radioactive salts during its time beneath the Earth’s surface.

Green Diamond Engagement Rings

When the actor Ben Affleck proposed to the singer Jennifer Lopez a massive 8.5-carat green gemstone, not many would have initially guessed that it was a diamond. But as the news started coming in, that’s exactly what it was. A rich green diamond was picked for the engagement ring. If there was any doubt that green diamonds have entered the market for top jewellery, it is no longer. Green diamonds, like other fancy coloured diamonds, like pink diamonds and Argyle diamonds, are special stones, known for their immense rarity and value. And engagement ring buyers will pay a premium price to get hold of one. What do you think: Do you think a green diamond engagement ring is a good idea? What about a white diamond ring, with green sapphire accent stones?