Education/Diamonds & Stones
Lab Grown Coloured Diamonds
The short answer
What are lab grown coloured diamonds, and how is colour graded?
A coloured diamond is graded differently from a white diamond because colour is not something to minimise. It is the defining characteristic of the stone. Coloured diamonds are described by their hue and colour intensity, allowing you to understand exactly what you are seeing before you choose your stone.
Why are coloured diamonds different?
Colour is the point
With a white diamond, the aim is to assess how close the stone is to colourless. With a coloured diamond, colour becomes the defining feature.
Diamonds can develop colour through elements within their structure or changes in the way their crystal is formed. Boron can contribute to blue colour, while nitrogen can contribute to yellow. Pink diamonds are associated with changes in the diamond crystal structure.
In mined diamonds, naturally occurring coloured diamonds are rare. Lab grown diamonds allow coloured diamonds to be created in a controlled environment, making a broader range of colours and intensities available to choose from.
The Amarii colour palette
A starting point. Each colour is available across a range of intensities and shapes.
Pink
Romantic and quietly rare. Pink can range from a soft blush to a more saturated rose, with the appearance changing as colour intensity increases.
How is colour graded in a coloured diamond?
Hue and intensity
Two key terms describe the colour of a coloured diamond: hue and intensity. Hue describes the colour itself, while intensity describes how strongly that colour appears.
The recognised intensity scale includes:
Faint → Very Light → Light → Fancy Light → Fancy → Fancy Intense → Fancy Vivid
The strength and saturation of colour can have a significant influence on the appearance and value of a coloured diamond.
When choosing a coloured diamond, the right intensity depends on the colour you prefer and the design you are creating. At Amarii, we can help you compare different hues and intensities so you can choose the stone that suits your piece.
Every coloured diamond we offer is independently graded, so its colour characteristics are documented rather than simply described.
What makes a coloured diamond right for you?
There is no single intensity that suits every design. A softer colour can create a subtle effect, while a more intense colour can become the defining feature of a ring or piece of jewellery.
The shape of the diamond can influence how its colour appears, so we consider colour, intensity, shape and the overall design together when selecting a stone.
This is where Amarii Curated comes in. We look beyond a single grade and consider the individual diamond as a whole.
Frequently asked questions about coloured diamonds
What makes a diamond a coloured diamond?
A coloured diamond has a noticeable body colour that is intentionally described and graded. Unlike a white diamond, where colourlessness is generally preferred, colour is the defining characteristic of a coloured diamond.
How is a coloured diamond graded?
Coloured diamonds are described using their colour characteristics, including hue and intensity. The intensity scale ranges from Faint through to Fancy Vivid.
Are lab grown coloured diamonds real diamonds?
Yes. Lab grown coloured diamonds are real diamonds. They have the same fundamental chemical composition and crystal structure as other lab grown diamonds.
Are coloured diamonds available in different intensities?
Yes. Coloured diamonds can be available across a range of intensities. The appearance of the colour can vary significantly between stones, even when they share the same basic hue.
Are pink diamonds rare?
Naturally occurring pink diamonds are rare. Lab grown technology makes pink coloured diamonds available in a wider range of sizes and intensities.
Where to explore next
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Colour is only one part of choosing a diamond. Our guide to The 4 Cs explains how colour works alongside cut, clarity and carat for white diamonds.
If you want to understand how your diamond's characteristics are independently documented, explore our guide to Diamond Certification.
Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds, with the same chemistry, hardness and fire as mined. How they are made, how they are graded and why we choose them.
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