| Diamonds are found naturally in over 300 different | | | | Because their deep color comes from inclusions, rather |
| hues in colors ranging from red, orange, yellow, blue, | | | | than impurities, which would produce highly localised |
| pink, green, brown, white and of course, black. In fact | | | | color distortions, just about all black diamonds are |
| diamonds are found in the greatest number of hues of | | | | opaque. However semi-transparent and translucent |
| any gemstone. All natural fancy colored ones are | | | | gemstones do form and when found, they are |
| incredibly rare compared to the normally colorless, or | | | | considered very valuable indeed. |
| white gemstone. And this makes them substantially | | | | Natural blacks have been discovered and mined in |
| more expensive. | | | | Australia, parts of Africa and in Venezuela and Brazil. |
| Like all the colored fancies, a natural black diamond | | | | Surprisingly, though, they are thought to be well over 3 |
| has the same crystalline structure and chemical | | | | billion years old! This is odd because it means black |
| properties as a white one. It is made from crystalline | | | | diamonds are significantly older than white ones, which |
| carbon and is the hardest natural substance known to | | | | are only about 1 billion years old! How this happened is |
| mankind. This means that it cannot be cut or scratched | | | | unclear. But meteor impacts are now thought to have |
| except by a harder diamond. However, the inclusions | | | | played a role in the formation of natural blacks, which |
| and impurities contained within the structure of a black | | | | were subsequently brought to the surface of the Earth |
| diamond make it more likely to fracture and splinter | | | | during volcanic eruptions! |
| during the cutting process than its white counterpart, | | | | Because of their rarity, most black diamonds used in |
| although blacks tend to be harder once cut. | | | | contemporary jewelry have been enhanced. The |
| The color of natural blacks comes from countless | | | | enhancement process, which mimics the natural |
| microscopic particles of smoky carbon graphite, | | | | formation of the gemstone, exposes genuine, mined |
| hematite and magnetite which were trapped within the | | | | specimens to intense heat and radiation. This intensifies |
| crystal lattice of the gemstone structure during its | | | | and darkens their natural hues and produces elegant |
| formation. Because they are integral to the lattice | | | | black diamonds! |
| structure, these particles are known as inclusions, not | | | | With their elegant appearance, rarity and air of |
| impurities. High concentrations of the inclusions cloud | | | | mystery, black diamond pieces make a sensational |
| the forming diamond. They absorb light and give the | | | | addition to any jewelry wardrobe, especially if you are |
| gemstone its rich black metallic look and intense | | | | looking for a diamond ring which is a little bit different! |
| brilliance. | | | | |