Back to gem encyclopedia

Fancy Color Diamond

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

See gem as
Polished
Rough

Tools

Research

Fancy Vivid Yellow HPHT-Grown Diamonds

Suet Man Yau and Terry “Ping Yu” Poon, June 5, 2025

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

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

“Hummingbird” in Orangy Yellow Diamond

Matthew F. Hardman and Mei Yan Lai, June 5, 2025

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

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

Gabriela A. Farfan, Ulrika F.S. D’Haenens-Johansson, Stephanie Persaud, Eloïse Gaillou, Russell C. Feather II, W. Henry Towbin, and Daniel C. Jones, June 5, 2025

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

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

Al Gilbertson, November 1, 2024

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

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

Taryn Linzmeyer and Sally Eaton-Magaña, November 1, 2024

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

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

Jeffrey Hernandez, November 1, 2024

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

Figure 1. Yusuke Katsurada’s Montana sapphire seminar. Photo by Tomoko Narui.

International Jewelry Tokyo 2024

Kazuko Saruwatari, August 2, 2024

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

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

Erica Zaidman, August 2, 2024

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

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

Stephanie Persaud and Erica Watts, August 2, 2024

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

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

A’Dhi Lall, Sally Ruan, and Paul Johnson, May 3, 2024

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

This Month's

Featured Gems

Peridot

Found in lava, meteorites, and deep in the earth’s mantle, yellow-green peridot is the extreme gem.

Fancy Color Diamond

Dazzling brilliance. Captivating color. These are the planet’s most valued gems.

Diamond

Diamonds are among nature’s most precious and beautiful creations.

Emerald

Emerald is the bluish green to green variety of beryl, a mineral species that includes aquamarine.

Citrine

Citrine is the transparent, pale yellow to brownish orange variety of quartz.

View the Gem Encyclopedia

Fancy Color Diamond

Research

Reviewed

Topics

Topics

Gemstones

Gemstones

Featured Gems

Peridot

Fancy Color Diamond

Diamond

Emerald

Citrine

Fancy Color Diamond

Research

Reviewed

Topics

Topics

Gemstones

Gemstones

Featured Gems

Peridot

Fancy Color Diamond

Diamond

Emerald

Citrine

You Might Also Like

Join Us atConverge

DiscoverA New Era in Retail Training

Explore GIA Laboratory Promotional Offers

Shop theGIA Store

Join Us at
Converge

Discover
A New Era in
Retail Training

Shop the
GIA Store