Shop for Fancy Color Diamonds

Choosing a diamond, especially if you plan to wear it every day, ultimately comes down to personal style and preference. Colorless diamonds are, shall we say, the classic option for diamond engagement rings, but there are lots of other colors to choose from. If you love a particular color, then go for it! You can also shop in the N-Z color range if you just want a subtle hint of color like a champagne diamond. But keep in mind that true fancy color diamonds can be expensive, as they are quite rare.

The diamond color grading range runs from D-Z. And anything beyond a Z is what we call a "fancy color" diamond. Fancy colors include almost every shade of the rainbow, like pink, blue, yellow, and green. These body colors are most often caused by trace elements found in the diamond's crystal makeup, like boron for blue, which all happens deep inside the Earth during diamond growth.

Yep! Fancy color diamonds are incredibly unique and rare. They make up only about 0.1% of the diamond market, and no two will ever be totally alike. Some colors are more rare than others, however. For instance, red and orange are extremely rare and sought after by museums and collectors, while yellow, pink, and brown are much more widely available.

While there are 12 different colors available for diamonds, there are a few more popular than others, including yellow, black, blue, and pink. Even brown diamonds — also known as chocolate diamonds — are quite popular. Yellow and brown are the most widely available, and pinks aren't too hard to come by.

Just like colorless diamonds, fancy color diamonds are graded using the 4Cs, however the priority of those 4Cs — cut, color, clarity, and carat weight — are quite different for fancy colors. You've probably guessed it, but color is the most important grade for fancy color diamonds. They are graded in order of increasing color strength, from Faint, Very Light, Light, Fancy Light and Fancy to Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid, Fancy Dark and Fancy Deep.

Fancy color diamonds can be set in a wide variety of styles, depending on your personal taste. They can be set in most of the same settings as colorless diamonds, however because they are cut with different proportions and shapes to show off their color best, settings might need to be customized to fit them appropriately. If you're purchasing a colored diamond, it's best to work with a trusted jeweler you can customize with, like Frank Darling.