A Guide To Loose Yellow Coloured Diamonds

Yellow diamonds are diamonds that have an obvious yellow body-colour when viewed in the “face-up” position. The yellow colour is usually caused by small amounts of nitrogen contained within the diamond’s crystal structure.

Yellow is the second most common fancy colour in diamonds, with brown being the most common. Yellow diamonds are found at many diamond deposits throughout the world. They are not unique to a specific geographic area or a specific mine.

The colour scale for white stones starts with the letter ‘D’, and ends with the letters “X-Y-Z”. These are the beginnings of the fancy yellow colour, due to its yellow shade. After “X-Y-Z”, we have Fancy-Light, Fancy, Fancy-Intense, Fancy-Dark, Fancy-Deep and Fancy-Vivid Yellow.

The most desirable colour for a yellow diamond is pure yellow. However, most yellow diamonds have at least traces of a secondary colour. Greenish yellow and orangey yellow are common modifications of the yellow colour in diamonds.

Although pure yellow is the most sought after, many people like the complexity of modified colours and are happy to get them at a lower price than a similar-size diamond with a pure yellow colour. Greenish yellow is the more common secondary colour; however, orangey yellow is the more desirable and more costly.

Questions & Answers

Yellow Diamonds – How Rare Are They?

HOW RARE ARE THEY?

While they are not nearly as rare as some of the other naturally coloured diamonds, they’re certainly not what you would call abundant, particularly in pure colour, stronger saturation and larger sizes. There is typically good availability, but as many are cut for colour & weight retention, finding examples that display great cutting and light performance can be challenging.

ARE THEY EXPENSIVE?

Really depends heavily on the intensity of colour & saturation here. Light fancy yellow diamonds are typically on par with white diamonds, but as you get stronger in colour the price per carat increases accordingly.

ARE THERE ALTERNATE GEMSTONES YOU CAN RECOMMEND?

There are a few alternate gemstones we would suggest that can display very similar colours at a more affordable price. For an engagement ring we would recommend Yellow Sapphire & Golden Beryl, as their hardness will be more suitable for everyday wear. For dress jewellery you should also consider Citrine, as well as Helidor (part of the Beryl family).

A Guide To Loose Yellow Coloured Diamonds

Questions & Answers

Yellow Diamonds – How Rare Are They?

HOW RARE ARE THEY?

ARE THEY EXPENSIVE?

ARE THERE ALTERNATE GEMSTONES YOU CAN RECOMMEND?

~ Dream ~ ~ Discover ~ ~ Create ~

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