Diamonds are naturally available in a wide range of colors. Most people are familiar with colorless diamonds and the GIA color grading system that is used to classify a diamond’s body color … you already know D, E, F, etc. This color grading system is only used to classify the most common yellow color of the diamond body; however, whenever a diamond is found in another color such as pink, blue, green, etc. then this diamond is called a “fancy diamond”.

Fancy natural diamonds can be very expensive and many times more expensive than a similarly sized colorless diamond. A very good example of a fancy diamond is the infamous 45.52-carat deep blue diamond, the Hope Diamond, which is on display at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC.

An enhanced color diamond is a 100% natural diamond that has had the color changed. Best of all, Color Enhanced Diamonds come in a wide selection of colors at very affordable prices!

A little history-

For many, many years it has been known that the color of a diamond can be “enhanced” by putting a little colored substance on the surface of a diamond and, as if by magic … a diamond that had a noticeable yellowish color would change to a more attractive almost colorless diamond. Unfortunately, this type of color enhanced diamond could revert to its original body color if this colored substance were inadvertently removed.

In more recent years, color enhanced diamond technology has become extremely high. Now it is possible to completely change the color of a diamond! These processes are considered permanent because they remain stable when exposed to the normal conditions of daily life. The color will not fade if exposed to sunlight or washed with harsh chemicals.

How to do it

The desired result of any of these treatments is to have a more marketable diamond. A less marketable diamond would be a diamond that has a low body color or sometimes lower clarity. Color enhanced diamond treatment companies know that if they start with a certain type of diamond and process it for a certain time, they should end up with a certain color, but it doesn’t always work that way. This is a science that requires some art in its processes … the only process that gives consistent results is the coating process.

The three processes are as follows:

Process n. 1- HPHT Enhanced Color Diamonds High pressure / high temperature treatment (HPHT) can enhance the color of certain types of brown diamonds and therefore increase their value. General Electric has developed a process that is practically a mechanical simulation of the creation of a diamond in nature. The enhanced color diamond will be heated to a very high temperature under a very high stabilized pressure. Faults in the crystal structure are rearranged resulting in a discoloration of the diamond.

Because HPHT conditions are very similar to the original diamond formation, only a well-equipped laboratory will be able to positively identify this type of enhanced color diamond. HPHT was first used to convert yellowish diamonds into more marketable fancy colored enhanced diamonds, but now it is also used to transform some unpopular brown diamonds into more desirable colorless enhanced diamonds.

Process # 2- Irradiated Color Enhanced Diamonds- OK … don’t get too excited because you saw the word irradiated! This is a 100% safe process that is very similar to that used to preserve food by exposing it to a stream of gamma rays. The color enhanced diamond process is done in a number of different ways, but the results are all the same. It starts with a 100% natural low-color diamond (P, Q, R, etc.) that has already been cut and polished, then exposed to a stream of fast electrons. During this part of the process, the diamond will turn a very dark color because some of the atoms in the diamond’s crystal structure have been dislocated and this, in turn, has affected the way light passes through the diamond. The diamond then goes through a controlled heating process (annealing), this allows some of those atoms to be relocated (partially repaired) to obtain the desired color.

Process n. 3- Color Enhanced Coated Diamonds- Polished diamond coating refers to a fine man-made coating that alters the color of the diamond. The coating can be the desired color or it can cause a color interference effect. Unfortunately, this process is sometimes done to mislead the buyer. It’s a relatively easy process to perform, it’s been around for many years (although coating materials are much better now), and it doesn’t require a lot of expensive high-tech equipment. I have recently seen some pink coated diamonds on the market, they are very attractive … and of course you would have to buy them knowing that they have been coated and follow your jeweler’s guidelines on owning and caring for these enhanced colors. diamonds.

The coating can be applied to the entire surface of a diamond, just to the bottom of the diamond or to a narrow area near the girdle. A well-applied coating can change color by one or more degrees of color. Some coatings can be removed by boiling them in acid, with strong cleaning solutions, or even with household chemicals. Sometimes larger spots or areas of purple or blue ink are painted on the diamond to help counteract a yellowing. The diamond setting will generally cover the points, so they are difficult to see on a set stone.

So is an enhanced color diamond right for you?

Maybe … fancy natural colored diamonds may be beautiful, but they are expensive! Color enhanced diamonds are affordable and allow many people to have a brightly colored diamond. Ask your local jeweler if they have fancy diamonds … natural or color-enhanced diamonds. It is always interesting and fun to look at something different!

Under normal use, HPHT color enhanced and irradiated diamonds will have no color fading problem. The only consideration will be when you need to perform some type of service on the piece of jewelry. If this type of color enhanced diamond is exposed to excessive amounts of heat, it could affect the color. The jeweler will need to know that the diamond is an enhanced color diamond before doing any work and then the jeweler can decide the best course of action. Color enhanced diamonds are now also used as small accent diamonds around a larger colorless diamond. There are many interesting pieces of jewelry available with small diamonds highlighted in blue, yellow, black or green.

Now that you know about enhanced color diamonds and someone is trying to sell you what they call a fancy natural colored diamond, but at a super cheap price … you will know that something does not sound right on the deal. A report from a respected grading laboratory must accompany all fancy-colored natural diamonds that are marketed as natural. If you deal with a reputable company and have been reassured about what you are buying, you will lessen the chance of something bad happening to you. As with any situation that involves the expensive purchase of something that not many people are knowledgeable about, education should be an essential part of your plan. This is even more important if you plan to buy an enhanced color diamond.