Diamonds are an excellent addition to any jewelry box. They come in different types: colorless and colored diamond. Colorless diamonds are rare, beautiful, and quite expensive; therefore, many people enjoy fancy colored diamonds as an alternative. A popular type of fancy colored diamonds people are going for is champagne diamonds.
A champagne diamond is a beautiful stone known for its unique color and tint. They are an ideal gift for a proposal, or Valentine’s day would be a champagne diamond-encrusted pendant or a ring. If you are interested in champagne diamonds, this article tackles everything you need to know about the beautiful stones.
This article is meant for research and educational purposes only. Clean Origin does not carry champagne diamonds, but we do offer a variety of colored diamonds.
What is a Champagne Diamond?
Pure diamonds are crystalline stones with an alluring and reflective nature considered by many people as the epitome of beauty. This is true to a point. Until you get to see several colored diamonds, champagne diamonds may sway you towards preferring colored gems.
Champagne diamonds are fancy color diamonds that resemble champagne in color. Also known as cognac diamonds or, to some gemologists, chocolate diamonds, their color is due to nitrogen impurity in their crystal lattices. The color intensity increases as the nitrogen content increases. Cognac diamonds’ natural tint increases their value.
Brown diamonds are very hard, like white diamonds. They have a score of 10 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. Consequently, they are durable, resilient stones and applicable in several industries.
Where Do Fancy Color Diamonds Come From?
Brown diamonds contain nitrogen, which came to form the beautiful stone through compression and heat for billions of years. You may find these stones in various parts of the world. Due to their innate nature, they have a better value than natural diamonds tinted artificially.
Three popular countries where champagne diamonds include Australia, Siberia, and Africa, with the largest mine being the Argyle Diamond Mine located in Western Australia. Other fancy colored diamonds, such as pink diamonds and rose gold diamonds, are also mined here.
Champagne Diamonds vs. Chocolate Diamonds
The champagne diamonds vs. chocolate diamonds are a popular comparison among people new to the diamond business. Both are terms for brown diamonds. However, chocolate diamond is a brand name given to fancy brown diamonds of the jewelry company Le Vian with most gemologists and industry experts using the word “chocolate diamond” only when referring to Le Vian Products.
Chocolate diamonds have a higher price than regular champagne diamonds due to the branding, even though they are the same type of fancy color diamonds.
Rarity and Champagne Diamonds Cost
Champagne diamonds are rare and expensive. However, they are less rare when you compare them to other colorless and colored diamonds. Since they are less rare, they are also less costly than others. For example, yellow canary diamonds are more expensive than cognac diamonds even though they are both colored.
Other factors that affect the price of the precious stone are its carat weight, color intensity, and clarity (check out our diamond clarity chart here). The higher the value for these factors, the higher the price. Also, the Argyle mine from which a large percentage of the stone comes from. Since demand is directly related to supply, there is an increase in the price of the gems.
Currently, champagne diamonds are also increasing in price due to the increase in popularity. However, most are still available in different stores at competitive prices.
Check this Before You Get a Champagne Diamond
Every champagne diamond is unique, with each displaying a different level of beauty and aesthetics. When getting one, you should know about the following factors: Color, Cut, Clarity, Carat Weight, and Shape. Also, before getting one, ensure that the diamond comes with a gemological certificate from GIA or AGS. Here are the things to check out when getting a champagne diamond.
Color
Champagne diamonds come in various colors due to color intensity and shade differences. The two color-related factors are responsible for the aesthetic value and price of the stone. Brown diamonds range in color from light to dark brown and are often graded by gemologists using three main factors.
• Hue: Used to denote the visible color of the diamond stone
• Tone: Used to denote darkness of the visible color of the diamond stone
• Saturation: Used to denote the intensity of the visible color of the diamond stone
Based on the three factors and individual preferences, you can prejudge the price tag of the diamond stone. For example, a champagne stone with a high hue and tone is rarer and more expensive.
Three grading systems are used for champagne diamonds: Argyle mine, GIA, and AGS. Each one has its own peculiarity; however, we recommend using the GIA grading system. Nevertheless, it is essential to know about the three grading systems.
Argyle Diamond Mine Grading Scale
The Argyle diamond mine has its own grading system based on color intensity. Also, unlike the GIA and AGS, they use the word champagne.
The Argyle Mine grading scale for these fancy color diamonds include:
• Light Champagne: C1-C2
• Medium Champagne: C3-C4
• Dark Champagne: C5-C6
• Cognac: C7
GIA Grading Scale
This is our recommended grading scale as it is the industry standard and the most common one used by gemologists. Unlike the Argyle mine grading scale, there is no mention of champagne. The scale ranges from D-Z, and champagne diamonds mostly fall from N-Z.
Following color grades from the GIA:
• N-V: Very Light Yellow or Light Yellow
• W-Z: Light Yellow
AGS Grading Scale
American Gem Society grading scale is another popular grading scale used by many gemologists due to its ease of reading. The grading scale ranges from 0 to 10, with 0 being colorless. Therefore, a diamond with an AGS rating of 3 will have less color than a diamond with 7.
Cut
The diamond cut is another definition of a diamond’s aesthetic value. For example, it shows the stone’s brilliance, fire, and spark. In short, the better the cut, the more the diamond’s aesthetic value and price.
Cutting a champagned diamond is unlike colorless diamonds. Even though the light reflection in champagne stones has lesser visibility, the light must be reflective. Unlike a colorless diamond, there are no standard cutting options. Choosing the right cut depends on the diamond cutter, who bases their cutting technique on the diamond’s color, clarity, and brilliance. However, most diamond cutter understands the following before cutting a champagne stone.
– Brilliance plays a more negligible role in champagne stone cutting as there is less white light reflection visibility
– Cut to impact the color intensity
– A desirable cut would be the one that makes the diamond richer in hue
Knowing the correct cut will ensure that you don’t get a poorly cut champagne diamond, i.e., a dull and lifeless stone that is not useful.
Clarity
Another factor you should look at is clarity. A diamond stone should be free of blemishes and inclusion, or in more realistic terms, the blemishes and inclusions should not be noticeable to the eye. This will make the stone more beautiful, valuable, and suitable for different designs.
To grade the clarity of a diamond, gemologists use the following scale:
– Internally Flawless (IF)
– Very Very Small Inclusions (VVS1 and VVS2)
– Very Small Inclusions (VS1 & VS2)
– Small Inclusions (SI1 & SI2)
– Inclusions (I1 & I2)
You will not find champagne diamonds in the lower part of the scale often. However, most have a clarity grade of SI1-I2. Brown diamonds found in the first part of the scale are expensive, while those at the end have reasonable prices. Although finding an internally flawless champagne diamond is challenging, you should go for one with no glaring blemishes. This is very important in those that use the stone for engagement rings and pendants.
Carat Weight
The carat is the term used to denote the weight of a diamond stone. A carat is equal to 0.2 grams or roughly the same as a quarter of a raisin. To some people, the weight of the diamond is essential. However, we recommend working based on your budget while considering the color and cut quality as they affect the diamond beauty more than the carat. Nevertheless, it is good to look at the carat if you want a substantial stone.
Shape
The shape depends on personal preference and is up to you. However, since we preach aesthetics, you should ensure that the shape complements your wear style and personality. For example, shapes are essential in producing the different engagement ring styles.
Working with Brown Diamonds
Cognac diamonds are now popularly used in different settings, especially in jewelry. Currently, here are some common uses for champagne diamonds:
Rings
Champagne diamond engagement rings are now trendy, with celebrities like Jenifer Lopez rocking the fancy diamonds. Ensure that you get the perfect natural champagne diamonds for the perfect engagement rings. You can use the above factors to select the right one. After, find the right setting which complements your partner’s sense of style and personality.
Pendants
Having a champagne diamond stone dangling from your neck can also be a flex. While colorless diamonds are more popular due to their contrast on people’s skin, for certain skin types, the hue of the champagne diamond stone can also do a good job, if not better. Also, you have to choose a suitable stone and design a setting that fits the stone.
Conclusion
Selecting the right champagne diamond should only come after understanding everything about the stone. Getting the right champagne diamond can be challenging as it is difficult to grade the stone’s quality. The world of colored diamonds is exciting, as people embrace every shade and hue, including black diamonds.We hope you feel better equipped to make decisions regarding purchasing a champagne diamond. If you have any questions while shopping for man made diamonds, please reach out for a virtual appointment with our diamond experts.
