Linneys Guide to the Rarest Diamond Colours

April 01, 2021

We are all familiar with brilliant white diamonds flashing sparks across a room. The cold white beauty is spectacular and hard to match. However, there is a range of diamond colours available for use in exquisite pieces of jewellery, just waiting for you to discover them.

Many of the most famous diamonds in the world are coloured diamonds. Throughout history, the rarest and most exquisite diamonds were bound up by royalty and the rich and famous in their fortunes.

For white diamonds, the colour grading scale goes from D to Z. For naturally coloured diamonds, the gemological classification ranges from Fancy Vivid and Deep through to Fancy Intense and Fancy onto Fancy Light. Read on to learn more about some of the rarest diamond colours.

Along with their unique stunning beauty, coloured diamonds (also known as Fancy Coloured Diamonds) are rare, with only a small number of diamond mines globally producing diamonds of different colours.

While there are 12 certified diamond colours, there are 9 different intensity levels, 90 secondary hues, over 230 colour combinations, and multiple options of size, clarity, and cut. This means the different types of coloured diamonds available are almost endless.

Even when considering this, coloured gems represent less than 0.1% of all diamonds produced each year. A few colours are found so rarely that they remain highly sought-after assets, hunted by collectors and diamond enthusiasts alike.

You may be surprised to learn that Yellow diamonds and Pink diamonds have the highest market demand, even though there is a price difference between the two. Due to the larger number of Yellow diamonds discovered each year, they tend to be less expensive per carat than Pink stones.

Rarest Colours in the World

While most magical and hugely expensive diamonds are purchased from major auction houses, you can still source beautifully coloured diamonds from select respected jewellers in Perth. So, what are the rarest coloured diamonds?

Red Diamonds

Red Diamonds are by far the rarest Fancy Coloured Diamond. They are rarely found and sourced from few locations around the world. These glorious gems seem to shimmer and glow, and it is thought that only 30 true gem-quality red diamonds are known to exist.

Blue Diamonds

There is much debate around whether Pink Argyle Diamonds or Blue Diamonds are the second rarest coloured diamond, but there appear to be more Pink Diamonds available. It’s believed that for every 25 million carats of diamonds produced from the Argyle mine, only one blue diamond is discovered. Over 30 years of mining at the Argyle mine has produced only 42 Argyle blue-violet diamonds.

Pink Diamonds

These delicate and beautiful gems hold the second highest market demand. Pink Argyle Diamonds are known for their feminine and passionate colours and their remarkable investment potential. Linneys are proud to be a trusted Argyle Pink Diamond Select Atelier since the earliest days of the Argyle mine. Our long relationship with Argyle Pink Diamonds has given us significant experience in creating unique jewellery featuring these special gems.

Pink Diamonds are an essential addition to any jewellery collection, from stunning pink diamond engagement rings to statement pendants featuring these incredible gems.

Orange Diamonds

Orange diamonds (also known as Pumpkin or Fire Diamonds) are scarce and very beautiful. These somewhat under-appreciated stones add vibrancy and joy to any setting. Orange is not a commonly used colour in jewellery, so an orange diamond makes a statement.

Black diamonds

Natural Black diamonds are a little different from most other diamonds - they are entirely opaque. These stones are precious, beautiful, and mysterious and are more affordable than most other natural fancy-coloured diamonds. There has been a growing demand for nonconventional black diamond engagement rings in recent years, and the popularity of these incredible gems has increased.

From stunning black diamond pendants to eye-catching black diamond earrings, these gems add charisma and mystery to any outfit.

Commitment to Quality Ethical Diamonds

Linneys are committed to selecting only premium quality diamonds from guaranteed sources. The Kimberley Process is a United Nations-mandated forum focusing on stemming the flow of conflict diamonds into the international market.

When you purchase a diamond from Linneys, you buy a quality, hand-selected stone from a conflict-free source.

Why choose Linneys for your coloured diamonds in Perth?

Our award-winning jewellers’ experience, skill, and expertise are tantamount to the high quality of Linneys jewellery. Our diamonds are individually selected by our certified diamond specialists, and only the finest coloured gems pass our rigorous quality control.

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