Carbon is the key to all life on Earth (yes, you were supposed to hear that in David Attenborough’s voice). This irreplaceable element has exceptional qualities that make it perfect for constructing compounds, and thus, for creating life. The great pattern maker of our planet, carbon can appear in many forms, from the soft graphite that sits within pencils to the odorless gas that leaves our lungs when we exhale. Under the right conditions, carbon can also appear as one of the most prized treasures on Earth: diamond. Over millions and millions of years, extreme heat and pressure force carbon deposits deep within the earth’s crust to create crystals, and these colorless crystals eventually form our favorite white gemstone. But, since carbon is known to cooperate with other elements, sometimes the creative process of diamond creation gets a little more…colorful. Literally.
The introduction of other elements, like nitrogen, sulfur, or boron, or materials, like graphite, adds color to the crystal-making process, producing a gorgeous, awe-inspiring fancy color diamond that is equally dazzling and durable as its colorless counterparts. Still, while carbon is common, some of the elements that produce these colorful rare gems are anything but. This means that fancy colored diamonds are generally rare, possessing an extraordinary and spectacular beauty and that any jewelry that features these little treasures is truly unique. If you’re a rare bird, the rare beauty of fancy colored diamonds is practically made for you. Channel your chromatic charisma with charming color diamond jewelry in shades ranging from champagne to black to yellow. Move over whites and grays—2022 is all about rocking 50 shades of slay!
Champagne diamond jewelry
Champagne diamonds undergo a similar process of compression under extreme conditions that white diamonds do, but while white diamonds emerge from pure carbon deposits, champagne diamonds result from the addition of nitrogen to the carbon. The yellow-brown tones of champagne diamonds make these fancy color diamonds ideal for adding an element of warmth to a piece. When paired with rose gold, for example, champagne diamonds catch the light in the same way an expensive glass of scotch does, inviting feelings of familiarity and sophistication. Roberto Demeglio makes frequent use of these bourbon beauties in the brand’s stretch bracelet designs, producing that very “elevated familiarity” effect in designs that traditional white diamonds would leave feeling cold or detached. This seamless champagne diamond and 18k rose gold pairing sets up a gorgeous contrast against stark white ceramic in the designer’s White Ceramic Stretch Bracelet with 7 Champagne Diamond Sections, for example. Featuring Roberto Demeglio’s signature stretch technology, this champagne diamond bracelet highlights both comfort and contrast as the key elements of the piece, setting it up to be a tantalizing everyday essential. We feel a toast coming on. Don’t you?
Yellow diamond jewelry
Yellow diamonds are born of the same nitrogen-carbon interaction that creates champagne diamonds, although they are much rarer. Sometimes known as a “canary diamond”, yellow diamonds stand out as one of the brightest colored diamonds available. Appearing in shades and saturations ranging from fancy light yellow to fancy vivid yellow, yellow diamonds appear as the embodiment of happiness, like joy itself captured in a crystalline structure. These fancy color diamonds are not only physical manifestations of cheer and optimism, however. They’ve appeared in iconic jewelry pieces like the Tiffany Yellow Diamond Necklace and Priscilla Presley’s engagement ring because their unique beauty is utterly staggering, especially considering just how rare intense yellow diamonds are. The dramatic effect of yellow diamond jewelry is exaggerated even further by contrasting white diamond accents, as is the case in Norman Silverman’s Fancy Yellow Diamond and White Diamond Pendant. Set in both 18k white gold and 18k yellow gold, this diamond necklace features a .60 ct radiant-cut yellow diamond in the center, lovingly embraced by 18 tiny round-cut pavé diamonds. Keep a little sunshine in your pocket…or around your neck, actually, with this awe-inspiring yellow diamond necklace.
Black diamond jewelry
Black diamonds, on the other hand, undergo the exact same carbon-based production process as white diamonds. However, at a crucial stage of crystal development, another carbon-based material known as graphite creates black and gray inclusions in the diamond. The softest carbon product thus creates the hardest one in this poetic interaction. The resulting black diamond is unique among its peers due to lacking the traditional “fire” that characterizes lighter diamonds; due to the darkness of the graphite inclusions and their crystal structure, white light is absorbed instead of reflected by those moody beauties. The result? A diamond that is as mysterious as it is magnificent. The one-of-a-kind shine of black diamonds contrasts beautifully when these fancy color diamonds are combined with reflective surfaces like polished metals and even other white diamonds. The sheer perfection of this combination is expressed by pieces like the Deutsch Signature Black Diamond Center with Pave Border Huggie Earrings, made in-house by Jewelry by Deutsch. In these huggie earrings, a 14k white gold setting reflects the dazzling light captured by pavé-set white diamond accents. All this light then hits the shadowy black diamond center, which glints seductively, shining with a hint of dangerous beauty. Perfect for a dangerous woman.
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