Black diamonds are not easy to find, and you won’t see them for same in many places. But you’ve likely seen some examples worn by celebrities, like Gwyneth Paltrow or Blake Lively. Not as engagement rings, but as general jewelry.
But what about using a black diamond as your engagement ring stone ? Has anyone done that ? What does a black diamond mean ? Is it rare or actually easy to come by ? Why don’t more people wear it ? Let’s take a look and answer all these questions.
Black diamond engagement ring meaning
Black diamonds stand for power, charisma, charm, and certain air of eccentricity and artistic flair. There’s no denying a black diamond looks incredibly dramatic, especially when compared to the traditional white diamond. Really, a black diamond engagement ring will set you apart from the crowd.
Famous examples of black diamond engagement rings belong to:
- tattoo artist Kat von D, who is famous for her dark look and ultra-artistic style
- Carrie Bradshaw, even if she is a character she’s fashion-forward, authentic, and strong
- actress Carmen Electra, famous for her looks, a bold personality, and a risk taker
A black diamond ring is not for everyone. It’s generally the women who stand out in some way or another that get these rings, and if you think your fiancee-to-be is highly individualistic, artistic, bold, and strong then a black diamond engagement ring might just fit her style.
How can you tell if a black diamond is real ?
When you’re looking at black diamonds to use in the engagement ring, you’ll be met with two categories: natural and enhanced black diamonds.
Natural black diamonds appear black because they are heavily, heavily included so barely any light can pass through them. The inclusions are graphite (carbon) so they will always appear black.
Enhanced black diamonds are diamonds that have just a bit of inclusion in them and have been heat-treated to achieve a black color. If put shine a very strong light into enhanced diamonds you will see a blue-green cast and the light will traverse the diamond quite easily. Less inclusions, so less things will black the light.
Aside from this the best way to tell whether your black diamond is real or enhanced is to look at its certificate. The certificate should state the cut, weight in carats, origin, and whether it’s natural or enhanced.
Read also: Three Stone Engagement Ring Meaning
Is a black diamond rare ?
Black diamonds in their natural form are actually rarer than white diamonds. Almost all diamonds are at least a bit included, with white diamonds having the smallest inclusions (microscopic). This is what makes them appear white, or colorless.
Black diamonds are on the other end of the spectrum, where they are heavily included, so much so that they appear opaque. Such a high level of inclusion is just as rare as no inclusion. There is also the fact that not all diamond inclusions are black, some are cloudy or white.
Black diamonds are simply darker salt & pepper diamonds
Because of this, black diamonds are actually a subgroup of salt and pepper diamonds, or rather a very included version of salt and pepper. The same way clear diamonds are a version of barely included salt and pepper diamonds.
You see, diamonds are almost always included. Salt and pepper diamonds have varying spots and tiny clouds within them, looking like someone mixed grains of salt and black pepper within a drop of water.
Black diamonds can range from completely opaque to somewhat transparent, in which case you can see how they are related to salt and pepper diamonds. In the case of opaque black diamonds it’s incredibly easy to be fooled if you don’t ask for the certificate. There are plenty of black gems that could pass as a black diamond !
How much is a 2 carat black diamond ?
Black diamonds are significantly less than a white diamond, simply because they’re not as sought-after. for example this hexagonal cut black diamond, weighing 2.20 carats goes for about $4.900 on Leibish. Its inclusions can be seen better than in an opaque black diamond, and some of them even reach the surface of the diamond. You can see them as the diamond turns in the short video.
Here’s another example, though this diamond is classed as a dark grey diamond. It’s a 1.24 carat Asscher cut diamond, and as it turns in the video you can see into the diamond even better. This one runs for about $2.800 in Leibish.
A clearer diamond that is still pretty dark would be this dark grey round brilliant, also on Leibish. It’s a 2.09 carat diamond and you can very clearly see the tiny, thin, wispy inclusions within the diamond and several black spots of graphite. It goes for much, much more than the others (around $22k) due to its better color and higher clarity.
A fully white diamond, that is one that is included but with white and looks much like frosted glass is still more expensive than the best black diamond. This Asscher cut 2 carat diamond from Leibish goes for $14k as is mesmerizing to look at.
As you can see black diamonds are not a fortune, especially compared to clear and white diamonds. If you’re looking for an alternative to the classic brilliant diamond engagement ring then a black diamond is also quite affordable, aside from fashionable.
Alternatives to black diamonds
When buying your black diamond you may also be looking for alternatives. Or you may want to watch out for alternatives passed off as black diamonds ! Here are some of the most common alternatives to black diamonds you can find on the market:
- smoky or black quartz, may have a brownish hue to them
- black onyx
- black sapphires, will have a vague blue hue to them
- black spinel
- black garnet
- black tourmaline
- black cubic zirconia, black moissanite, and other simulants
Wherever you buy your black diamond from, make sure you get a certificate for it. One of the reputable diamond certification companies or institutes should issue it, like GIA or IGI.
I’m the main author for jewelrymaterialguide.com. I started this site after we did tons of research before our wedding and noticed that there is information about rings, jewelry, and so on that is really hard to find on the internet.
