When it comes to investing, diamonds are a consideration due to their indestructibility, high value and stability (in addition to other investments of course). However, many grow confused when it comes to buy diamonds due to the large variety that are available.
Diamonds are still widely thought of as glittering transparent gems, but the truth is that diamonds not only come in all shapes and sizes, but in all colours as well.
Coloured diamonds
Buying coloured diamonds is an increasingly popular option for the savvy investor and the discerning gift-giver alike. This is partly due to their unique beauty and partly due to the fact that they are among the rarest – and thus the most valuable – of all diamonds. Coloured diamonds gain their hue from combinations of trace minerals and other geological elements present at the time of their birth in the depths of the earth. When you see what goes to make the various coloured diamonds, you can appreciate what a rare and precious item they are.
Blue diamonds
It’s boron which alters the conductivity of the diamond during its earliest formation and turns it blue. One of the most famous diamonds in history – the Hope Diamond – is a blue diamond, cut from the French Blue Diamond after its theft in 1762. Today, you can see the Hope Diamond in Washington’s Smithsonian Institute, or possess your very own blue diamond through accredited brokers.
Green diamonds
It is radioactive exposure that makes a diamond green, so elements such as uranium in the earth will have this effect. The 41 carat Dresden Green is the most famous of its kind, with records of the gem dating all the way back to 1722. It remains in Germany, and has been on display in Dresden Castle for over 200 years.
Yellow diamonds
Nitrogen is one of the most common elements on the planet, yet its presence during the formation of a diamond creates one of the world’s rarest and most beautiful stones. The most celebrated yellow diamond is the massive 101 carat Allnatt diamond, currently the possession of the SIBA Corporation.
Pink Diamonds
The glowing pastel pink of a pink coloured diamond comes from a crystal lattice fault developing during the stone’s formation. This does not stop them being highly rare and valuable, though – especially such gems as the 32 carat Agra diamond, also owned by the SIBA Corporation.
Black Diamonds
Unusually, these diamonds are opaque, without sacrificing any of their sparkle or lustre. They derive their colour from tiny carbon clusters. The huge 202 carat Black Star of Africa is the world’s largest coloured diamond.
Red Diamonds
All coloured diamonds are rare, and the rarest of all is the red diamond, of which only a few examples have ever been found. The red colouring occurs for the same reason as pink diamonds but the exact kind of crystal lattice defect is far rarer. The most famous red diamond is the Moussaieff Red. Although it weighs just over 5 carats, it is by far the rarest coloured diamond.
Whilst diamonds can certainly be considered an investment, make sure this commodity is not your only investment. Here at Magical Penny we are big proponents of equities investing, so do read more articles about investing.
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