| Natural colored diamonds are some of the rarest | | | | enhancements that you should be aware of? |
| and most beautiful diamonds that you can imagine. | | | | Irradiation of diamonds and high pressure - high |
| Mined at a number of varieties across the world, | | | | temperature (HPHT) treatments are some of the |
| including South Africa and Australia, colored | | | | more common processes that diamonds may be |
| diamonds are prized by collectors and are sold for | | | | subjected to, to improve color and enhance |
| 10's of thousands of dollars per carat. | | | | perceived value. |
| Colored diamonds are increasing in popularity and | | | | By subjecting brown diamonds to HPHT |
| as such, more and more purchasers are looking | | | | treatments, the color of the diamond can be |
| to invest in colored diamonds. However, there are | | | | changed to a more desirable color of yellow or |
| a number of points to bear in mind when | | | | green. Lighter brown diamonds or grey-tinted |
| investigating and purchasing diamonds of color. | | | | diamonds can be turned almost colorless, |
| First and foremost, a buyer needs to know | | | | immediately improving their perceived value |
| whether the color in the diamond is natural, or | | | | according to the diamond D-Z color scale. HPHT |
| enhanced. This is not to be confused with | | | | treatments are traditionally permanent, meaning |
| whether the diamond is a natural diamond or a | | | | that the diamond color will not return to its |
| synthetic diamond, but where the color in the | | | | original, natural color. |
| diamond actually comes from. What do we mean | | | | Irradiation of diamonds in a natural setting (such |
| by this? | | | | as the earth's crust or mantle) leads to very rare |
| A diamond with a naturally occurring color, say | | | | green diamonds. Similarly, by irradiating a diamond |
| yellow or blue, is a result of chemical impurities in | | | | in a laboratory, one can produce a green or |
| the diamond (nitrogen for yellow, boron for blue) | | | | blue-green diamond and, upon further treatment, |
| that were incorporated as the diamond grew in | | | | even orange or pink stones. Many black diamonds |
| the earth's mantle. The colour is intrinsic in the | | | | are also the result of laboratory irradiation. |
| diamond, it is the colour it always was. | | | | It is very easy to identify whether a diamond is |
| Because naturally colored diamonds are so rare, | | | | natural or synthetic (laboratory-grown) but it is |
| so expensive and now, so popular, a variety of | | | | more difficult to identify whether the color in a |
| laboratory techniques have been developed to | | | | diamond is natural or laboratory-induced. |
| alter, induce and enhance the natural color of a | | | | Certification laboratories such as the GIA possess |
| diamond. These laboratory techniques can | | | | the necessary equipment to investigate the color |
| artificially increase the value of a diamond and, | | | | in diamonds and any questionable diamonds should |
| despite diamond dealers being legislated by | | | | be submitted to the GIA for investigation and |
| government authorities to report any laboratory | | | | proper certification. |
| treatments to clients, this does not always | | | | If you are in the market for colored diamonds, be |
| happen. An unscrupulous dealer could sell a | | | | aware of the laboratory treatments and make |
| laboratory treated yellow diamond as a natural | | | | sure that your retailer knows the origin of the |
| yellow diamond and receive a higher purchase | | | | colour, the origin of the diamonds and can provide |
| price from the unsuspecting client. | | | | you with the necessary certification for the |
| So, what are the laboratory treatments and the | | | | stones you are buying. |