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Fancy Color Diamond

Dazzling brilliance. Captivating color. The planet’s most valued gems are fancy color diamonds.

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Radiant Cut

The radiant cutting style helps intensify a fancy colored diamond’s color.

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Beyond Z

Diamonds with more yellow than GIA’s Z grade are considered fancy color.

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Color is Value

Subtle color differences impact the value of a fancy colored diamond.

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Octahedral Form

Beautifully formed octahedrons might become collectors' treasures.

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Crystal Faces

Diamond crystal faces show cutters how to get the best weight retention.

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Uneven Color

The color in rough diamond might not be evenly distributed in the rough.

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Tools

Research

Figure 1. Selection of Fancy Vivid yellow HPHT-grown diamonds, ranging from 1.03 ct to 2.32 ct. Photo by Johnny Leung.
Fancy Vivid Yellow HPHT-Grown Diamonds

A report on a submission of 26 yellow HPHT-grown diamonds from the Hong Kong laboratory.

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An omphacite inclusion surrounded by fractures in an orangy yellow diamond takes the shape of a hummingbird in flight. Photomicrograph by Mei Yan Lai; vertical field of view 0.99 mm.
“Hummingbird” in Orangy Yellow Diamond

An omphacite inclusion surrounded by fractures in an orangy yellow diamond takes the shape of a hummingbird.

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Figure 1. The 2.33 ct Winston Red diamond, displaying a vibrant Fancy red color. The old mine brilliant-cut stone measures approximately 8 mm in diameter. Photo by Robert Weldon; courtesy of Ronald Winston.
A Study of the Winston Red: The Smithsonian’s New Fancy Red Diamond

Presents the first scientific and historical study conducted on the 2.33 ct Winston Red, the fifth-largest known Fancy red diamond in existence.

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Figure 1. Harvey Lieberman at the diamond cutting bench where he has worked for the past 35 years—the same bench his father used before him. Photo by Pedro Padua.
Master Diamond Cutter Harvey Lieberman

A look at Harvey Liberman’s career as a renowned diamond cutter in New York’s Diamond District.

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Figure 1. Round brilliant 0.51 ct HPHT-grown diamond with Fancy Deep bluish green color.
Irradiated HPHT-Grown Diamonds with Blue-Green Color Zonation

The Carlsbad laboratory reports on two HPHT-grown diamonds with interesting sector-dependent color zonation.

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The strong linear brown zoning (arrow) of the 2.21 ct Fancy Dark yellow-brown diamond was best viewed under diffused light, also revealing the stone’s patchy bodycolor. Photomicrograph by Britni LeCroy and Jeffrey Hernandez; field of view 7.19 mm.
Brown Zoning in Diamond

Strong linear brown zoning is observed in a Fancy Dark yellow-brown diamond.

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Figure 1. Yusuke Katsurada’s Montana sapphire seminar. Photo by Tomoko Narui.
International Jewelry Tokyo 2024

A look at Japan’s largest jewelry trade show, International Jewelry Tokyo, held in January 2024.

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Figure 4. The “Eden Rose,” a 10.20 ct Fancy Intense pink diamond, surpassed its presale estimate, selling for $13.3 million. Courtesy of Christie’s Images Ltd. 2024.
Spring 2024 Auction Highlights

Several lots sold during the spring auction season far exceeded their presale estimates.

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Figure 1. The five CVD-grown diamond samples set in variously designed metal rings: ~5.00 ct orange heart brilliant (A), ~5.58 ct greenish blue pear brilliant (B), ~2.30 ct greenish blue cushion modified brilliant (C), ~1.65 ct yellowish orange square emerald cut (D), and ~3.08 ct grayish green emerald cut (E). Photo by Jian Xin (Jae) Liao.
Large Treated-Color CVD Laboratory-Grown Diamond Rings

Testing of five CVD laboratory-grown diamonds submitted to the New York laboratory reveals post-growth treatment to achieve fancy colors.

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Figure 1. A 0.16 ct Fancy Vivid orange pear (left) and 0.23 ct Fancy Intense orange pear (right). Photos by Towfiq Ahmed.
Natural Orange Diamond with Unusual Absorption Features

Two diamonds analyzed in the New York laboratory lead to a newly identified cause of orange color.

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