At one time, yellow diamonds used to be considered inferior to other diamonds. It is only recently that yellow diamonds have started to increase in popularity. Yellow diamonds have become one of the must-have celebrity jewelry items in the last few years. Yellow diamond engagement rings have become very popular in recent years. What’s all the fuss about yellow diamonds? They are gorgeous, most of all. Here’s a little bit more about them, just FYI:
Yellow diamonds get their coloring from the impurities that become trapped inside when the diamonds are created. Diamonds are made up of carbon, but sometimes a few of the carbon atoms are replaced by nitrogen atoms. This doesn’t significantly alter the structure of the diamond, but it does change the color and clarity. The more nitrogen atoms that are present in the atom, the deeper the yellow color will be. Lighter color canary yellow diamonds are much more common than deep yellow diamonds.
Perhaps the most famous yellow diamond is the Tiffany diamond. The diamond was found in the Kimberley mine in South Africa in 1878. The diamond weighed in at 287.42 carats. The diamond was purchased by New York jeweler Charles Tiffany. He had the diamond cut down to a 128.54-carat cushion shape. To maximize the diamond’s brilliance, it has 90 facets, which is 30 more than a traditional round diamond. The diamond has only been worn by two women in its lifetime. Mrs. Sheldon Whitehouse wore the diamond at the 1957 Tiffany Ball in Newport, Rhode Island, and was also worn in 1961 by Audrey Hepburn in publicity photos for the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The diamond was recently on loan to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History from Tiffany & Co. It was on display until September 2007 before being returned to Tiffany & Co. The Tiffany diamond may be the most famous yellow diamond, but it is not the largest. The largest yellow diamond in the world is the Kimberly Octahedron. It was discovered in South Africa in 1972 and weighs in at 616 carats.
Yellow diamonds are rare and are not usually found in mines. It is estimated that less than 1% of all diamonds that are mined have yellow coloring. This means that most yellow diamonds are created in a lab, which makes them much more affordable than natural yellow diamonds. You can pay up to $10,000 for a .25 carat natural yellow diamond. Not only are the synthetic yellow diamonds more affordable, but they look just as beautiful as natural yellow diamonds. Many jewelry designers have also started incorporating yellow zircon into their collections. Cubic zirconia rings with yellow stones are every bit as beautiful as their natural yellow diamond cousins but are much more affordable for the average jewelry lover. If you are giving yellow diamonds as a gift, jewelry gift boxes that match the color of the diamonds (or cubic zirconia!) will make a wonderful presentation for your very special gift.
If you are looking for a unique piece of jewelry, consider a yellow diamond. With new advances in the creation of synthetic yellow diamonds, you can buy fancy yellow diamonds that look just as good as the real thing at an affordable price. They are so versatile; you can wear them with your Pandora bracelets, your diamond stud earrings, and with pretty much any of the other jewelry you might have in your collection. You will be the talk of the town with your beautiful yellow diamonds, for sure!
Happy Shopping!
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