Natural diamond is made from pure carbon that has been crystallized by high pressures and temperatures in the Earth's upper mantle. Most diamond crystals have impurities within them. These impurities cause colors to appear in diamonds. As it turns out, yellow, usually caused by the presence of nitrogen, is one of the most frequently seen and beautiful of diamond colors.
GIA Diamond Reports
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) inspects, grades and issues reports for diamonds and gemstones. There are several options when it comes to the kinds of reports GIA issues for yellow diamonds, and one is not necessarily better or worse than another. It is, however, important to have some sort of GIA diamond report for a yellow diamond, especially if the stone is more than one carat in weight.
If a yellow diamond you are considering does not have a GIA report, ask the vendor if he/she will submit the diamond for a report. Diamond grading reports take less than a few weeks to complete and cost no more than a few hundred dollars.
Most high-saturate colored diamonds that are for sale to the public from legitimate vendors will have GIA reports. Sellers get more money for intensely colored stones; having an unbiased, third-party report helps to "prove" a natural colored diamond's legitimacy and worth to a potential buyer. Beware of reports or certificates coming from unknown labs or a seller's own organization.
The Many Colors of Yellow Diamonds
There are an infinite number of yellow hues in diamonds. Choose a color that is most pleasing to you. Whether is is light lemonade, golden like honey, or vibrant like a sunflower, there is no right or wrong when it comes to color. There are, however, great differences in value because some yellows are much more rare in nature. For example, if you like lemonade, your piggy bank is in luck. If you prefer school bus yellow, then, be prepared to pay more for it.
Using the GIA grading system to evaluate yellow diamonds, distinct "light yellow" in diamonds may be noticeable enough at about color "U-V." Diamonds graded and "W-X" and "Y-Z" are unmistakably "light yellow" and make excellent choices for diamond ring jewelry.
Also, these end-of-the-alphabet yellows represent a tremendous value. An "unlucky" "Y-Z" light yellow diamond, one that a cutter hoped would come back from the lab with a coveted "Fancy" grade, may cost thousands less than the next most saturate yellow grade, "Fancy Light Yellow."
Fancies – The Most Color and The Most Pricey
Yellow diamonds that are deeper in hue than "Y-Z" grade are called "Fancies." GIA notes six different grades of fancy diamonds; these represent the most saturate of all colored diamonds. Because vibrant colors are so very rare in nature, fancy colored diamond prices escalate dramatically from the non-fancy diamonds. Basically, the most pure and intense the color is in a gem, the bigger its price tag will be.
There are no hard and fast rules about which of the fancy yellows cost most; however, for many, The Holy Grail of yellows is "Fancy Vivid Yellow."
Diamond Cutting Style Affects Color
Unlike colorless or near colorless diamonds which are cut to eliminate the appearance of any hue, colored diamonds are faceted to increase the appearance of color. Hence, because it works best for hue retention, colored diamonds are often shaped and cut as rectangular or square radiants.
So, for example, if you desire a round yellow diamond, you will pay a premium for this shape because round brilliant faceting makes it is difficult to retain color. Also, this is true for an emerald cut or square step-cut shaped diamonds.
Yellow Diamond Ring Choices - Which Metal, Which Design?
Just as there is a wide range in color and quality of diamonds, the same is true for diamond ring settings. If you are investing in a yellow diamond, it makes sense to invest in a quality setting as well. You want the mounting to hold up for as long as you own the diamond and you want your investment diamond to be protected from unnecessary damage or loss.
The style ring and color metal you choose should be based entirely on personal preference. There is no right or wrong. Some prefer the contrast of white metal or platinum against the yellow diamond to make the diamond "pop." Others like the warmth and golden glow of all yellow gold. Many rings work several metals together in a setting.
Where to Shop
It is great to see colored diamonds in person. See as many as you can, in as many different lighting conditions as you can. Use a jeweler's loupe to carefully inspect each stone. However, understand that your choices may be limited because most brick and mortar stores don't usually have much colored-diamond inventory in-house.
By contrast, you will find that some of the most experienced and knowledgeable colored diamond vendors do their business with the public online. And, accomplished online sellers have direct access to diamond cutters and very large diamond inventories. If they don't have what you want, they can find what you want fairly easily.
Wherever you decide to shop, be sure to have frank discussions about what you are looking for. Ask to see stones you are considering in many lighting conditions, or request lots of photos of the actual stone you are considering. Be sure to see a GIA grading report before a purchase is made.
Claire Eddins - Writer/editor, award-winning photographer Claire Eddins collects gems, horses, and obsesses over home, art, and design.
