Jennifer Lopez, Victoria Beckham, Heidi Klum, and Nicki Minaj are among the megastars amplifying the allure of fancy yellow diamonds by sporting the stones on their manicured fingers. So what makes these gemstones so unique, and how can you decide how much yellow diamonds are worth? We’ve created this quick beginner’s guide to orient you to yellow diamonds. We’ll explain what yellow diamonds are, how rare they are, six types of the precious gem, and the benefits of this type of stone. Finally, we’ll share a few of our favorite yellow diamond pieces available in our Arizona stores.
What are yellow diamonds?
Yellow diamonds occur naturally, just as other diamonds, which are created with intense pressure deep in the earth. However, they look yellow to the naked eye because the element nitrogen finds its way into the crystal structure of the stone. The nitrogen absorbs blue light, leaving yellow to be reflected in the eye of the beholder.
In addition to natural diamonds, some brown diamonds can be made to appear yellow with a color treatment, which makes these diamonds more affordable compared to their natural counterparts.
How much are yellow diamonds worth?
When it comes to yellow diamonds, their value can be reflected in the gradations of the yellow hue they exhibit. Namely, the deeper the yellow hue, the more the yellow diamond is worth. As of September 2023, natural yellow diamonds typically cost between $3,000 and $5,000 per carat, while fancy vivid yellow diamonds can cost between $8,000 and $16,000 per carat as of September 2023.
How rare are yellow diamonds?
While yellow diamonds are some of the most common colored diamonds worldwide, they are still relatively rare. According to the Cape Town Diamond Museum blog, “Only 1 of every 10,000 carats mined is a yellow diamond.”
Types of Yellow Diamonds
Among the yellow diamonds, six types describe the sunshine-hued stones. They include fancy light yellow, fancy yellow, fancy dark yellow, fancy deep yellow, fancy intense yellow, and Canary diamond, also known as fancy vivid yellow. This range moves from a very light lemonade hue to the most intense coloring. The fancy, vivid yellow diamond will often feature tints ranging from orange to brown and green. Their prices also move along the color scale from lower for the light yellow tone to higher for a Canary diamond.
Benefits of Yellow Diamonds
What makes yellow diamonds so enticing? Let’s take a look at the benefits!
High Clarity
Yellow diamonds are known to exhibit a high clarity. That means that you can look at them, and they look clean and inclusion-free to your naked eye.
Affordable
Yellow diamonds are fairly common among colored diamonds, resulting in better prices for yellow diamonds, sometimes even compared with the more common white diamonds.
Unique
You’ll make a statement with a yellow diamond because it is such a rare stone. While white diamonds spring to mind when most think of diamonds, yellow diamonds can highlight the wearer and the jewelry piece in pleasing ways.
Yellow Diamond Styles to Consider
Yellow diamonds can come in any style or cut. We offer a range of beautiful styles to consider below, and many more.
Yael Designs Fancy Yellow Cushion Halo Bracelet 18K
Yellow gold surrounds a string of yellow diamonds, and white gold surrounds the white diamond halos in this stunning Yael Designs piece featuring cushion-cut yellow diamonds. The finest 18k gold is used for these diamonds weighing over 8 carats.
Yael Designs Fancy Yellow Pear Dangles 18K
A gorgeous pear-cut yellow diamond shines at the dropped center of these dangling earrings from Yael Designs. The yellow diamond is framed in yellow gold and mirrors the pear-cut white diamond in white gold sitting above. Each pear-cut rock is surrounded by a halo of smaller white diamonds in an elegant, versatile style.
London Gold Jewelry 1.42cttw Fancy Yellow Diamond Halo Studs
Pairs of round cut and gently yellow-hued diamonds make an ethereal pair of classic studs in a white gold setting with a round halo of smaller white diamonds from London Gold.
London Gold Jewelry 2.63ct Fancy Yellow Pear Diamond Halo Ring 18KW
A beautiful double diamond halo surrounds a yellow pear-shaped diamond in this show-stopping engagement ring of 2.63 carats from London Gold. A band encrusted with smaller diamonds makes this piece an unparalleled beauty from every angle.
Fancy diamond colors show a range as wide as the earth can conjure. Not only are stones simply white, yellow, pink, or brown, but there are many shades in between. Find fancy-colored diamonds in blushing pink, shimmering yellow, chocolatey brown, sparkling champagne, and more at London Gold. Our natural and color-treated yellow diamond line offers a perfect piece for any diamond lover. Any questions? Just ask!