Guide to Coloured Diamonds

A Guide to Coloured Diamonds

Coloured diamonds are among the rarest and most mesmerising creations found in nature. For centuries, they’ve symbolised strength, rarity, and refined beauty, treasured by collectors and admired by those drawn to their individuality.

With the growing appreciation for coloured diamond jewellery, we wanted to share a closer look into what makes these remarkable gemstones so special and how to choose the right one for you.

What Are Coloured Diamonds?

Unlike traditional white diamonds, which are prized for their brilliance and purity, coloured diamonds are defined by their visible hue. Their colour comes from unique elements or structural irregularities within the diamond’s crystal lattice, nature’s own artistic touch.

Often called “fancy colour diamonds,” these gems are graded by the strength and depth of their colour, with the most vivid and intense hues being the rarest and most valuable. Each one is completely unique, no two coloured diamonds ever look the same.

Understanding Colour in Diamonds

When evaluating fancy coloured diamonds, the usual “4 Cs” (cut, colour, clarity, and carat) take a back seat to one defining factor: the colour itself.

A diamond’s colour is classified by three key characteristics:

Hue – the primary colour you see when you look at the diamond.
Saturation – how vibrant or intense that colour appears.
Tone – how light or dark the overall colour looks.

Gemologists use a grading system to describe the strength of colour, ranging from Faint, Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Dark, Fancy Deep, Fancy Intense, to Fancy Vivid.

The Intense and Vivid grades are the most coveted - and command the highest value. The way a diamond is cut also plays a crucial role, as the cut can either enhance or soften how the colour is displayed.

Types of Coloured Diamonds

While coloured diamonds occur in an array of tones, a few standout varieties have captured hearts around the world:

Yellow Diamonds

Also known as Canary Diamonds, yellow diamonds are among the most popular fancy colours. Celebrities like Adele and Paris Hilton have made them an iconic choice for engagement rings and statement pieces.
Yellow symbolises joy, optimism, and intellect - a vibrant reflection of confidence and warmth.

Pink Diamonds

Pink diamonds are some of the rarest and most sought-after gemstones. Their beauty often carries subtle secondary hues of red, purple, or blue.

These stones have their own grading language — with categories such as Purplish Pink (PP), Pink (P), Pink Rose (PR), Pink Champagne (PC), and Blue Violet (BL).

Since the closure of Western Australia’s Argyle Mine in 2020 - the world’s primary source of natural pink diamonds - their rarity (and value) has only continued to rise.

Blue Diamonds

Blue diamonds radiate calm and depth, ranging from soft sky tones to deep ocean blues. Their colour often carries hints of grey, green, or violet.

Extremely rare, these gems are found in only a handful of mines worldwide, including the Cullinan Mine in South Africa and the Argyle Mine in Australia. The richer the blue, the more precious the stone.

Red Diamonds

The rarest of them all - red diamonds sit at the pinnacle of rarity and value. True red diamonds contain no secondary hues, only a pure, fiery red tone.

Because of their scarcity, they often reach seven-figure prices per carat. Each one is a once in a lifetime gemstone - a symbol of passion, strength, and individuality.

Choosing Your Coloured Diamond

Selecting a coloured diamond is deeply personal, it’s about finding the hue and intensity that resonate with your own story and style.

At LRK Jewellers, we offer a curated selection of coloured diamonds, available in engagement rings, dress rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

For a truly one of a kind design, we invite you to book a private design consultation. Leon will guide you through the process of selecting your perfect diamond and crafting a piece that captures your individuality - something to be worn, loved, and passed down.