Mostly colorless diamonds are popular in engagement ring categories. However, along with white even black diamonds are gaining popularity. These black gemstones are mainly popular for their mysterious and pitch-black color.
Nowadays we refer to black diamonds as fancy black stones but in the past, these diamonds were of little regard. Black diamonds were not so popular, but as unconventional ways to customize jewelry grew, the demand for black diamonds grew.
One of the few famous irreplaceable diamonds is the 67.5-carat Black Orlov. Which was referred to as the Eye of Brahman. Here Brahman means a ‘priest/devotee’ this ravishing stone was found on an Idol in India in the 1800s.
Black diamonds were not commonly known by the world before the 20th century. It wasn’t until diamond designers found true potential inside the black diamond of having a magical flair, did it gain popularity.
Black diamonds soon became a popular stone in the diamond market. Nowadays, they come paired with colorless and small diamonds in a variety of settings.
Are you looking to buy black diamond wedding rings or a black engagement ring for her? Well, you can use this guide to find the best black stone which will suit your preference and come within your budget.
What Is A Black Diamond?
A diamond which carries numerous inclusions is called a black diamond. The black diamond has been known by many names around the world because of its dark pitch-black shade.
One of the famous names is carbonado, which is a word for opaque in the Portuguese language. The black diamond originated in Brazil and the African Republic, where they were born over 4000 million years ago.
According to the gemologist, an uncooked form of the mineral having graphite with diamond-rich polycrystalline, in amorphous form is called Carbonado.
You can also imagine carbon, graphite, and crystals of diamond growing altogether in the big lump of diamond soil. Different kinds of impurities in diamonds are responsible for the color shown in them.
For example, the impurity of Nitrogen is going to give a yellow color to a diamond, and the blue color of the diamond is due to the presence of boron in the stone.
In black diamonds they don’t exactly have impurities; rather these diamonds have a vast and minute mineral inclusion of graphite throughout their structure. These inclusions can be seen on their monochrome surface.
We generally see diamonds as shiny, and brilliant, the same goes for black diamonds that shine like normal brilliant diamonds thanks to their polished surfaces.
Whereas the noticeable adamantine sheen (luster exhibited) is responsible for the grace of this rare gem. For a long period, people have believed that a black diamond is a magical gem, which can erase the evil spirit and also cleanse bad luck into good.
In many different cultures, this magical stone is also used as an ascendant between the human world and the divine world. Besides all this history, it is still believed that black diamonds have the power to shape your destiny.
The Symbolism of Black Diamonds and Their Meaning
Black diamonds are undoubtedly beautiful, but they are more related to spiritual significance. These rings are generally popular for justice, inner power and eternal love. Therefore, it could be a perfect gift to give as a promise ring to your loved one. It would represent the symbol of a vow and commitment to get stronger.
If it has been chosen for an engagement ring, it will give a unique impact with its overtone in the ceremony. It also signifies the link between two spirits (you and your significant other).
These diamonds can be passed on to family as a symbol of trust and also represents loyalty. Getting an ancestral black diamond ring from the family signifies the promoted status in the family.
A black diamond ring is given on a wedding day; it defines the enlightenment, elegance, and powerful sexuality of the woman according to her partner.
In addition, the black diamond ring also represents trust and loyalty. Hence a black diamond ring enhances the importance of the occasion, and it acts as an important symbol for couples.
Sometimes the black diamond is considered a symbol of evil, grief, or dark spiritual meaning but that is not for pure occasions like a wedding. These are more folklore and cursed stones which you won’t be able to buy anyway.
Like black diamonds, other various powerful entities and groups have used different stones for both good and non-noble purposes. The good or bad depends on the person and not on the gem.
The eye of Brahma also has the name, Black Orlov. In India, the statue of Brahma is given a rough diamond stone. One monk saw the black stone and found it advantageous and stole it.
The eye of Brahma is one of the pieces of that stone. It has been known that all three owners of that stone have died mysteriously. It is also heard that the Brahma got angry and cursed that stone according to Indian culture.
Black Diamonds as A Unique Alternative for Engagement Rings
A black diamond can be a perfect choice as an engagement ring especially if your partner wishes to wear a unique out of the world type ring.
These are unconventional but you can flaunt them well if you display a good fashion sense and dignity. If you are looking at black engagement rings for her then you are on the right track.
As you can make the engagement ceremony more memorable and unique by having something mysterious and unusual, like a black diamond. It will be adored by your partner and appeal to the guests. Making the whole ceremony memorable.
Not just for the ring you can add these preferences for other ceremony factors as well. Like people go for black balloons, and flowers just to make their wedding experience unique. So, if you choose a black diamond ring as your special engagement diamond ring it will be an excellent choice that you won’t regret.
One more reason to have a black diamond ring as an alternative to the traditional colorless ring is that the diamond can look perfect in any shade of hand, any size, and any shape.
The black diamond engagement ring will look beautiful if it has some white diamonds to compliment the black ones. The engagement ring will be perfect with the black gem at the center of the ring and other white stones at the side. Another plus point is, that black diamonds are unisex and can be worn by anyone.
Black Diamond ring is also known for healing relationships, so for the starting of a new life with your partner what can be better than this? It is going to soothe relationship problems and reduce any kind of jealousy between the couple.
Also, it looks stunning with almost every type of setting. A Black diamond is incredibly hard, and it won’t break soon. This can be a piece of jewelry that can be worn daily for even a lifetime.
Black Diamond’s Intensity Levels
When it comes to black diamonds there is a scale having intensity grades. The price will go up as you choose the diamond with intense color. The color of these diamonds is determined based on color intensity, main color, and secondary color (overtone).
The main color and overtone are going to decide the color tone. However, the intensity is responsible for the color strength of a diamond. Intensity ranges from extremely light to extremely strong shade.
Here the extremely light one is going to cost the least whereas a stone with a strong intensity will cost much more.
GIA has made an intensity grading scale to help customers to buy the perfect diamond of their choice.
- Faint
- Very Light
- Light
- Fancy Light
- Fancy
- Fancy Intense
- Fancy Vivid, Fancy Deep, or Fancy Dark
It is also important to know that all diamond colors don’t have all types of intensities of color. For example, orange-colored diamonds don’t have faint, very light, and light intensities.
Natural black diamonds are found in only one intensity grade which is fancy black. This is the main reason behind the contrast to other colored diamonds. Sometimes black diamonds can have inclusions and gray spots because of this reason it is said that black diamonds have shades which are different from normal colored diamonds.
There are two types of black diamonds: Natural and Heat-treated. Graphite inclusions are responsible for the color of Natural fancy black diamond, which is pretty rare.
On the other hand, the treated or enhanced diamond turns black with the help of radiation treatments or heat. Low-clarity colorless diamonds which are full of inclusion are used for this procedure.
This can be very helpful as the unwanted inclusion gets hidden and you are left with a beautiful opaque black diamond.
Speaking of inclusions and intensity, ‘salt and pepper’ are another variety of black diamonds. They also have inclusions like a normal black diamond, but these are translucent rather than opaque. They have small spots or patches of white in the black diamond which is pretty much unique. It looks like a galaxy, thus making viewers starstruck.
Things To Look Out For When Buying a Black Diamond?
Now, as we all know, a black Diamond is a hard stone to get. It is important to know what to expect when you are going to find one.
Below are some important factors to look at if you are going for a black diamond:
- Look for surface imperfections
You will be grateful if you notice surface imperfections because a real black diamond does not have a perfect surface, scratches on the surface are the ideal indicators that the diamond isn’t fake. black diamonds are extremely hard and are impenetrable to scrape. If you are looking for a diamond that will not lose brilliance lifelong and you can wear it as a daily ring, then nothing is better than a black diamond. - Consider the cut
Cut is the most important factor to look at while buying a black diamond ring. Black diamonds are fragile to cut, so it is very hard to cut a black diamond in the first place. This means the price of a cut black diamond is going to be steep for fancy cuts. Even if we have a great cut on these diamonds there is no chance, they will get glitter like a normal white diamond. It is recommended to go for a rose-cut, brilliant or step-cut black diamond to get the maximum brilliance. - Consider the jewelry you want
If you want a black beauty at the center, there might be a little danger that the gem may get split. For solving this problem, you should go for smaller diamonds. Small diamonds have very low chances to break. You can have small black diamonds around with another diamond as a center which complements the black diamond set. - Always go for GIA certification
This is to ensure authenticity. As many jewelers use the heat treatment on colorless diamonds to get a blackish appearance. These types of diamonds are not that costly and are mostly used for industrial purposes. If you go for a GIA certificate, the report will mention the origin of the diamond. If it is natural then you can go for it, if it is heat-treated then don’t buy it as it will be of no use. - Look at the price
Black diamonds come under the expensive diamond category or fancy diamonds. Even though they have a lower price than white colorless diamonds they are still considered expensive. Determine the price per carat going on in the market and make sure to purchase a stone according to that. - Only buy from trustworthy jewelers
You must buy a diamond from reputable and reliable retailers to prevent yourself from succumbing to any type of fraud. Online shopping for a diamond is one option you can go for to buy a genuine black diamond. But be sure to view the diamond carefully and ask for the diamond certificate. - Carat weight
The black diamond is different from a normal diamond in many aspects. Carat weight is one of these aspects, as black diamonds are denser, for example, a one-carat black diamond weighs more than a one-carat black diamond. You should focus more on the cut rather than the carat when looking at black diamonds. - Ready for fracture
Undoubtedly black diamonds are the hardest substance, but they can have fractures. Heat-treated diamonds and naturally occurring diamonds both have a high number of inclusions. These inclusions can lead to cracks inside the diamond at the microscopic level. Due to this reason, a diamond can break or crack by getting hit with a high force at a weak point. - Choice of metal
A black diamond will look good on a platinum or white gold metal band. You can also be unconventional and choose a yellow gold or rose gold metal band for the black stone.
Black Diamond Engagement Ring Settings
If you are searching for a perfect black diamond wedding ring, consider looking at these settings beforehand for a better selection:
- Solitaire black diamond ring – The true beauty of a black diamond ring can be attained when placed in a solitaire setting where it will be the center and only stone.
- Side stone black diamond ring – This is a setting that will look elegant with a black diamond. In this setting, the black diamond will be in the center and two side stones which will be white. The contrast will increase the beauty of the black stone.
- Pave and Milgrain black diamond ring – This setting is the best option for a black diamond ring. The metalwork of this setting gives a dramatic and magical effect to the complex temptation of the black diamond. Additionally, the 14-20 accent diamonds complement perfectly with the central black diamond.
- Lily black diamond ring – This is a glorious setting for black diamond, it is inspired by nature. This ring has delicate Lily petal shapes curved towards the center. A black diamond will become the most eye-catching with this setting.
- Halo black diamond ring – This is the perfect design having both white and black diamonds in contrast. The outer white diamonds surrounding the center black diamond will radiate the beauty of the black stone.
All these engagement ring settings are a trendsetter, you should choose the one that suits you more and you can flaunt with any attire.
Conclusion
Having a black diamond ring is magical, mysterious, and unique in its way. It has many deep meanings of both emotions and spirit. It is also known for making the bond of couples strong.
When you are intending to buy a black diamond ring, you must go for a high-quality gem to express your true intentions and vow of strong commitment whilst also making a worthy investment.
FAQs
Are Black Diamonds Real Diamonds?
Yes, natural black diamonds are real diamonds. However, there are different types of black diamonds. They are man-made, natural, and treated black diamonds. All these come under the real diamond category, but they have a big difference in look, properties, and price also.
What Do Black Diamonds Symbolize?
Black diamonds symbolize the same as other diamonds. But every black diamond has its meaning depending on the person, not the gem. It symbolizes purity, love, eternity, and loyalty. On the other hand, it can also symbolize evil, grief, and dark spiritual meaning.
How Much is a 1-Carat Black Diamond Worth?
If you are talking about GIA-certified black diamonds, the price of natural black diamonds can range from $1,500 to $3,000 per carat. This means that a naturally occurring 1-carat black diamond price will range from around $2,500 to $3,000.
