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The color of optimism and spontaneity, orange is often associated with adventure and creative pursuits. Depending on the hue, orange can transport you to a summer sunset at the beach or remind you of the trees’ changing colors in the fall. It can be dynamic and cheerful or warm and uplifting.
Fancy orange diamonds had their climb to fame when Halle Berry rocked a 5.54 carat Pumpkin Diamond to the 74th Academy Awards ceremony and took home the Oscar for Best Actress. Despite having made their red carpet debut in 2002, fancy orange diamond jewelry is still hard to come by, even at star-studded events. Pure natural orange diamonds are extremely rare, and this reflects on their hefty price tags. However, it’s not impossible to get a hold of an intense orange diamond. Natural color diamonds become more affordable when secondary colors like yellow are present.
Contact us to design your very own pumpkin orange diamond ring.
Discover what makes these gems so unique:
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What rare are fancy orange diamonds?
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What causes the orange color, and how does it influences value?
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Famous orange diamonds that made history.
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How to choose a natural fancy orange diamond.
What Are Orange Diamonds?
From Langerman’s bespoke gallery, orange diamond ring with yellow diamonds halo.
Natural color diamonds are scarce, representing less than 1% of total diamond production worldwide. Fancy-colored diamonds are sought after by jewelry designers and high jewelry houses, but they are becoming increasingly popular outside collector circles and jewelry experts.
Things to know about natural orange diamonds.
Natural Fancy Orange diamonds owe their fiery hue to the presence of nitrogen, the same element that causes yellow diamonds to have that color. However, orange diamonds are much less common than the yellow kind. Pure orange color is extremely rare to find, but secondary hints of yellow, brown, or pink make these gems more accessible in terms of price while still presenting captivating, beautiful tones.
Most Orange and Orangey colored diamonds come from South Africa and The Democratic Republic of Congo, although some specimens have also been found in Brazil and Angola. The Argyle mine in Australia—now exhausted and closed— was a significant producer of natural orange diamonds. With one less source available, future price increments are to be expected.
Why Color Matters in Fancy Orange Diamonds
Pumpkin, Orange and Apricot Diamonds from Langerman in various cuts.
Orange diamonds, also referred to as “fire diamonds,” come in a wonderful variety of colors. Secondary hints of yellow, red, pink, and violets create mesmerizing hues, which at Langerman, we have identified with unique, evocative names. You’ll see us refer to Apricot Diamonds, Saffron Diamonds, Amber Diamonds, or Cognac Diamonds, for example. These names make it easier to describe their unique color.
Learn more about the origin of color in diamonds.
Pure orange diamonds are very scarce, so what other factors influence value? Clarity is a desired characteristic for most diamonds, but natural color diamonds tend to hide inclusions better. As long as the gem looks eye-clean, clarity doesn’t play such a crucial part. However, cut is much more important not only for intense orange diamonds but also for all colored diamonds.
A pear-cut yellow diamond next to an orange oval diamond.
Colorless diamonds are typically cut to improve clarity, maximize carat weight and improve brilliance. Hence the popularity of brilliant cuts, with the round brilliant being the most popular cut in modern times. Fancy shapes are the standard for natural orange diamonds and other colored diamonds. The goal when cutting these gems is to achieve the best color possible. Which usually means saturated and evenly distributed.
Pear-shaped intense orange diamond resting on top of a macaroon.
Generally, elongated, pointy cuts like the pear or marquise favor color the most. Shapes with bigger windows like the emerald and Asscher cuts are also popular. They regulate the amount of fire and scintillation, allowing a clearer appreciation of the stone’s color.
Famous Intense Orange Diamonds
The Orange Diamond (14.82 carat) is the largest orange diamond ever graded by GIA.
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The Orange
Considered a once-in-a-lifetime discovery, “The Orange” is a 14.82 carat fancy vivid diamond of VS1 clarity auctioned by Christie’s Geneva in 2013. The pear-shaped stone was sold at the incredible price of $35.5 million, or $2.4 million per carat. But, what makes this diamond so extraordinary? “The Orange” is the largest fancy vivid orange diamond ever graded by GIA. Diamonds with such a strong orange hue usually don’t exceed three or four carats after being cut and polished. Meaning “The Orange” is nearly four times larger than the average orange diamond. Christie’s international jewelry director David Warren noted the stone being “over 14 carats is exceptional” and added “colored diamonds are real freaks of nature.” in reference to how the presence of an accidental coloring agent in the ground will result in exceptional diamonds with fantastic colors.
The famous Pumpkin Diamond, a 5.54 carat, cushion cut, orange diamond.
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The Pumpkin Diamond
It could be said this is the gem responsible for putting orange diamonds on the map. Mined in the Central African Republic, it was cut and later auctioned at Sotheby’s, selling for the price of $1.3 million. The Pumpkin owes its name to its Fancy Vivid Orange color and to the fact it was sold one day before Halloween. The cushion-cut, 5.54 carat diamond was set in a ring, which Halle Berry wore to the Oscars, thus sparking the public’s interest in orange diamonds.
How to Style Natural Fancy Orange Diamonds
Combine With Yellow Gold and White Diamonds
This pendant necklace from Langerman’s bespoke archives is an excellent example of how yellow gold compliments the warmth of fire diamonds. A white diamond halo creates enough contrast to accentuate the diamond’s bright sunny color.
Make That Cognac Pear Diamond Pop
In this custom-made ring, gray diamonds were set in white gold to frame the orange gem and draw all the attention to it.
Mimic The Cut’s Shape
Orange diamonds are rare, fun, and full of personality. Let it shine with a bespoke design that follows the diamond’s dynamic shape. This Langerman’s custom ring features an intense orange pear shaped diamond of 3 carat set in an embellished, tapered band that mimics the diamond’s tip.
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Find the orange diamond of your dreams at Langerman Diamonds.
Step into the mesmerizing world of natural Pink diamonds, synonymous of elegance and sophistication. These exquisite gems have stolen the spotlight in the realm of fine jewelry, captivating the hearts of fashion enthusiasts around the globe.
In this article, we’ll explore the enchanting features of Fancy Pink diamonds, uncovering their origins, possible tones, and the growing fascination around them. As we delve into their unique characteristics, you’ll learn how they compare to other popular pink gemstones, revealing the distinct advantages that set them apart.
The Origin Of Their Mesmerising Hues
Fancy Pink diamonds are the result of a remarkable geological process that lasted millions of years. During their formation process, atomic traces of minerals such as hydrogen, nitrogen, or boron were introduced into their crystalline structure, resulting in impressive hues.
However, another scientific theory states that the pink hue comes from a deformation in the crystal lattice of the stone, a phenomenon caused by extreme pressure.
Whichever the cause, thanks to our Earth’s natural transformations, today we get to enjoy the exceptional shades of Pink diamonds.
From delicate pastel tones reminiscent of blooming cherry blossoms to intense, vivid shades that command attention, natural Pink diamonds offer a diverse palette of hues that ignite the imagination.
Rarity And A Growing Fascination
The allure of these unique stones lies not only in their enchanting beauty but also in their rarity.
As luxury enthusiasts and jewelry connoisseurs seek to come in possession of the most exclusive and coveted pieces, the interest surrounding fancy pink diamonds continues to grow. With the recent closure of the renowned Argyle mine in Australia, a significant source of Pink diamonds, their scarcity has skyrocketed.
Pink Diamond’s Unparalleled Properties
Brilliance
The refractive index of a diamond is approximately 2.42. This high refractive index is one of the factors that contribute to the exceptional brilliance and sparkle that diamonds are renowned for. The high refractive index allows diamonds to bend and reflect light in a way that creates maximum dispersion and brilliance, resulting in their captivating play of light and fire. It is this unique optical property that sets diamonds apart from other gemstones and contributes to their timeless allure and desirability.
Hardness
Diamonds are renowned for their exceptional hardness, ranking 10 on the Mohs scale, which is the highest possible rating. This remarkable property makes diamonds highly resistant to scratching and abrasion, ensuring their longevity and durability even with daily wear.
The hardness of a diamond contributes significantly to its value. Diamonds are prized for their ability to withstand the rigors of everyday use without losing their beauty or succumbing to damage. This durability ensures that diamond jewelry, such as engagement rings and heavily worn pieces, can be cherished forever and passed down through generations.
What About Other Pink Gemstones?
Tourmaline
This pink gemstone is often used in jewelry for its vibrant color. Pink tourmaline can be found in various parts of the world, including Brazil, Afghanistan, Mozambique, and the United States. Each location may produce unique variations in color and quality, making it more complicated for the regular customer to understand how to measure and compare characteristics.
Tourmaline ranks 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs' scale of hardness, making it moderately durable, but relatively softer compared to Pink diamonds. With a refractive index between 1.624 and 1.644, pink tourmaline exhibits a good amount of brilliance and light dispersion.
Pink quartz
This mineral showcases a soft, delicate pink hue that does not typically offer much sparkle. There are multiple levels of transparency available, from very translucent to milky opaque or smoky with yellow or brown undertones.
Scoring a 7 on the Mohs scale, pink quartz is relatively durable and suitable for some types of jewelry. However, it is still important to protect it from impact, and best suitable for earrings and low-wear pieces.
Pink Sapphire
The intensity of its color depends on the place of origin and the combination of trace elements present within its crystal structure.
With a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, pink sapphires are very durable and resistant, making them suitable for all kinds of jewelry pieces. However, they are more prone to scratches than diamonds.
Kunzite
Kunzite is quite affordable because it’s relatively unknown although it can be found in many places like Afghanistan, Brazil, Madagascar, and the USA.
Like most color stones, kunzite can be undergo irradiation or heat treatments to enhance its color. Exposure to heat and bright light can cause color in both natural and treated kunzite to fade over time.
Morganite
Most morganite deposits are found in Brazil, but the highest quality specimens come from Madagascar. Typically, morganite enjoys a high transparency with minimal inclusions resulting in clear, polished stones.
Scoring a 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, Morganite is safe and durable enough for jewelry.
Your Best Choice: Pink Diamonds
There are multiple options to choose from to create a jewel with pink gemstones. However, they all fall short when compared to the durability and brilliance of natural Pink diamonds. With sources becoming more scarce while demand continues grows, Pink diamonds keep appreciating in value making them a better financial choice when compared to other gemstones which tend to loose value in the resale marker. Pink diamonds present multiple advantages for their investment potential and as a valuable asset to be passed on for generations.
When purchasing color gemstones, it’s important the buyer requests a professional laboratory report that discloses any enhancements to make an informed decision. Unfortunately for most consumers, it’s hard to find full-detailed information on a finished jewelry piece and it requires additional effort and inquiries to confirm the quality of a gemstone.
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Langerman Diamonds has over 50 years of expertise in sourcing and trading natural color diamonds. Explore our online inventory and contact us to learn more about the purchasing process.