Green Color Diamond Buying Guide

What is Green Color Diamond?

Green color diamonds uniquely inherit their green color compared to all other fancy-colored diamonds. There are two processes involved in the development of diamond green color.

First, rocks containing radioactive elements like uranium or thorium give off a green color diamond. During this process, a reaction occurs between the radioactive elements and the diamond’s crystal lattice structure. Many of these radioactive elements are stabilized, so they aren’t harmful. 

In addition to nitrogen, hydrogen, and nickel elements, diamonds get their green color from chemical reactions. Diamonds’ beautiful hue comes from these elements reacting with the carbon atoms.

How Affordable are Green Color Diamonds?

A natural green colored diamond belongs to the category of fancy colored diamonds. Among the most valuable colors are saturated pinks, blues, and greens.

Due to their rarity, green colored diamonds often cost more, especially those with vibrant colors. The color of green color diamonds can range from light to dark.

Most green color diamonds in nature also have a secondary color, called a modifier. Modifying colors include yellow, blue, and grey. The more valuable the green colored diamond, the more “pure” it is. Similarly, the deeper the color depth, the higher the diamond’s value. Several types of green colored diamonds are available, but the most expensive and in high demand is the fancy vivid green color diamond.

Are Green Color Diamonds Rare?

Green color diamonds are among the rarest and most valuable diamond variations. Only red color diamonds are more valuable than green colored diamonds.

Dresden Green is the most valuable diamond green color ever discovered. As a result of being cut, the stone weighed an astonishing 41 carats. Over 200 years ago, it was discovered in Dresden, Germany, and has since been on display.

It’s incredibly rare for green color diamonds to go through irradiation. For diamonds to develop a green hue, they must meet certain environmental conditions. As with all gems, rarity directly affects value. Green colored diamonds are the only fancy-colored diamonds with a higher rarity and value than red diamonds.

How to Choose a Green Color Diamond?

Color

Green diamonds are graded according to their color and intensity. Secondary colors are also included in the grade if they’re present. Yellow, brown, blue, and grey are the most common secondary hues.

Green diamonds are evaluated based on three factors:

• Hue
• Saturation
• Tone

A diamond’s hue is its visible color, and the primary hue of a green diamond is green. A stone’s value can also be affected by secondary hues. In green colored diamonds, secondary hues include yellow, yellowish, blue, bluish, brown, brownish, greyish, grey-yellowish, and greyish-yellowish.

A secondary hue that enhances the primary hue or does not detract from it adds value as a rule. For instance, diamond green color with a secondary blue hue command a higher price than diamonds with grey, yellow or brown secondary hues. The rarest and most expensive diamonds are natural diamond green color without secondary hues.

The saturation of a color refers to its intensity. The more saturated the color of a diamond, the more valuable it is. As a result, diamonds with pale or faint green colors are less desirable than those with vivid, deep green colors.

A color’s tone refers to how light or dark it is. Your personal preference will determine the tone, but for the most part, the middle tones are the most popular.

Clarity

The clarity of green colored diamonds is the same as colorless diamonds. A higher clarity grade means fewer inclusions. Fancy color diamonds do not require high clarity to be valuable, but high clarity green diamonds certainly are. Green diamonds appear less affected by flaws than white diamonds because their color hides imperfections.

Carat

Like colorless diamonds, fancy colored diamonds are also valued according to their carat weight. The majority of discovered fancies weigh under 1 carat. Large stones sell for a lot because they’re rare. Color intensity is an essential thing about colored diamonds. In most colored diamonds, Fancy Shapes are cut rather than Round Brilliant Cuts because they intensify color. Radiant and Cushion Cuts are the most popular cuts for colored diamonds, followed by Oval Shape, Pear Shape, Heart Shape, and Marquise Cut.

Cut

Natural green colored diamonds have a “skin deep” color, so green color diamonds are cut to get the best color possible. Cutters often try to preserve the green color in the culet or around the stone’s girdle. Therefore, the proportions considered ideal for colorless diamonds won’t always be perfect for green diamonds. When choosing one, it would be best if you looked at a green diamond’s color intensity and hues instead of its cut grade.

Where to Buy Green Color Diamonds?

Always choose a reputable and trustworthy retailer when buying green colored diamonds. It is always advisable to obtain a certificate of authenticity from an independent laboratory and to inquire about the origin of the stone.

If you’re looking for loose green color diamonds, we recommend checking out Brilliant Earth. They have one of the largest online diamond inventories and offer a wide variety of green colored diamonds at reasonable prices.