Posted on May 18, 2021 at 9:00 amby Hitesh Patel/ 0
Diamonds, no matter the color or cut, exudes unmatched charm. While white diamonds remain the most popular, the other color variants, termed ‘fancy colors’, have been gaining their spot.
Choosing a fancy colored diamond is not easy. They tend to clash with clothes and need to be chosen in a way that they’ll complement the wearer’s skin tone and personal choices. Their maintenance can also be a little harder than white diamonds.
But there is one fancy colored diamond whose uniqueness not only makes the pendant one of a kind, but they are extremely versatile and have low maintenance: Black diamonds.
Black diamond pendants are a rare variety of diamonds predominantly due to their color and absolute opacity. These diamonds are also highly valuable. These black diamonds have an ethereal and luxurious aura that remains unparalleled no matter what. These are also some of the few diamonds that are considered unisex and can be worn by any gender.
What are black diamonds?
Let’s start by saying that black diamonds are real diamonds. The chemical and physical structures of both white and black diamonds are extremely similar.
White diamonds that have a lot of inclusions within themselves eventually turn black. These inclusions are clusters of carbon in the form of graphite inside the carbon bonds of diamonds.
Unlike other colored diamonds that get their signature color due to other elements in them, diamonds do not have any other impurities. They are just full of inclusions and blemishes in such a way that it turns the entire diamond an opaque black.
Black diamonds haven’t been popular for a long time. In the past, it has been considered worthless and unattractive. There haven’t been a lot of notable diamonds in history.
Natural black diamond jewelry is exclusively mined only in South America. Due to their appearance, early Portuguese settlers called these obsidian diamonds carbonados. They were called so due to the burnt-like appearance of these raw diamonds.
black diamonds started getting famous only in the 20th century when jewelers started using these noir stones as tiny accents for white diamonds. They came into the spotlight after their appearance in the 2010 movie Sex and the City, after which they were spotted on various celebrities like Kat Von D and Carmen Electra and only rose in popularity.
Types of black diamonds
Black diamonds are of two types: Natural black diamonds and synthetic black diamonds.
Natural black diamonds get their color while they are being formed with no external factors. They are a perfect combination of two forms of carbon found in nature- graphite, and diamonds. It is these clumps of graphite within the diamond bonds that give them their trademark metallic and matte black color.
Natural diamonds are extremely rare and are excavated only in South America. Their rarity also means that they are pretty expensive. It is rare to find diamonds in nature that have uniform black color. This makes them quite desirable and their prices shoot up. One carat of a natural diamond can cost up to $5000.
Synthetic black diamonds are also called treated diamonds. These diamonds vary from partial blackness to completely white. They are then treated with chemical and synthetic procedures to give them a uniform black color. In some cases, these procedures are also used to enhance their black color.
Black diamonds can also be grown in man-made conditions in labs. These lab-grown diamonds are actual diamonds that are made in machines using CVD(Chemical Vapor Deposition) or HPHT (High-Pressure High Temperature)
methods. They are further treated with heat, pressure, and irradiation treatments to give them the black color. These lab diamonds are priced just a fraction of natural diamonds with the same quality and luxuriousness. Some of the good-quality lab diamonds start at $300 per carat.
Lab diamonds are gradually becoming a popular option and an acceptable replacement for natural earth-mined diamonds. Reducing the environmental damages done due to mining is a more ethical option.
4Cs for the Black Diamonds
Black diamonds do not follow the regular 4C guidelines that are set up to measure the quality of the diamond.
CARAT:
Due to heavy inclusions and graphite clusters, black diamonds are denser than other colored diamonds. This makes their size smaller per carat. These diamonds are often paired with white or other colored diamonds to give them a fuller and complete look.
CUT:
Black diamonds do not refract light within or sparkle like their white counterparts. They reflect light from their outer surface. Therefore, the bigger the surface, the more it would reflect light and the more eye-catching it would be. This makes round brilliant cuts and princess cuts two of the most popular diamond cuts with this type of diamond.
Other than that, pear, marquise, oval, heart are also some of the quite popular cuts. Step cuts like emerald cut and Asscher cut also look great with black diamonds, as these cuts show off the rich color of the diamond.
CLARITY:
Black diamonds get their color because of their inclusions and impurities. Hence clarity for black diamonds holds a different significance. In black diamonds, it is important to make sure there aren’t any white or colorless specks or spots that might disturb the uniformity of the black color of such diamonds.
COLOR:
Ideal black diamonds would have a uniform, undisturbed black color throughout. There won’t be any white, colorless, or any other color blemishes within the diamond.
When it comes to necklaces for women, they prefer variety; different necklaces to suit different occasions and different outfits. And just like white diamonds, black diamonds also offer this type of versatility.
Black diamond pendants aren’t just limited to women. Diamonds in incredibly unisex which means anyone can rock a decent black diamond in their neckpiece.
Pendant necklaces come in a variety of designs, each having a different vibe and charm.
SOLITAIRE PENDANT:
The solitaire pendant features a single diamond dropping from a metallic chain with a small loop. The solitaire pendant has a wide variety of styles and sizes. They can be a diamond of any cut or carat.
Round brilliant is one of the most common pendant options. Princess cut diamond for the pendant is also quite famous due to its symmetric and elegant aura. Other than that, cushion cut, oval cut, and rose-cut are some of the popular designs for solitaire pendants. Usually, solitaire pendants feature minimal design as simplicity is what makes this design famous and versatile.
HALO PENDANT:
Halo pendant features a simple black pendant with an additional layer of accent stones around the central diamond encompassing it. This halo makes the central diamond appear brighter and bigger by giving an illusion of increased surface area.
The halo around the diamond can have a single row of white diamonds. Or it can be upgraded to feature a double row. Either way, the combination of white and diamonds will give the whole pendant and the necklace a beautiful, gorgeous, and ethereal look.
Having black diamonds as accents makes the entire pendant have a chic, gothic and bold aura. This type of pendant with a white gold necklacejust makes an extravagant piece of jewelry.
CLASSIC PENDANT:
Classic pendants feature styles that are generally well-liked by the masses and remain popular for long periods. These can include but are not restricted to, hearts, journey, rainfall, flower, crosses, and cluster pendants. Depending on the style, several diamonds and a combination of black and white diamonds can be used to make a unique pendant that would fit your tastes.
CASUAL PENDANT:
The casual style of pendants is best suited if your diamond is going to be worn daily. This type of pendant not only impeccably fits your tastes but also complements your daily wear of outfits. Opting for quirky and unusual designs as your casual pendants makes them very…you. These pendants can be just a simple diamond or feature several black diamonds, with or without other colored diamonds, in simple and casual designs like flowers, bows, motifs, or symmetrical figures.
STATEMENT PENDANTS:
Statement pendants are bound to make a statement. They are popular amongst the younger generation for their bold and stylish charm. And putting black diamonds in statement pendants makes a great women’s necklace. The best part of having a black diamond statement pendant is that it gives the entire outfit that extra factor that makes it stand out.
They can be simplistic yet sophisticated which makes them elegant but not too on the nose.
MODERN PENDANTS:
Modern pendants mostly feature geometric shapes with supporting gemstones like a black diamond. Black diamonds in the shapes of circles, triangles, infinity symbols, interlocked shapes, or tiny black diamonds set in shapes like moon or teardrop are quite popular. These pendants have an edgy charm and rigid boldness to them that complement the black stone itself.
The prong setting works great with solitaire pendants as they expose most parts of the diamond to reflect the light off its surface. The shiny surface or the metallic chain and the matte appearance of the diamond create a gorgeous piece of jewelry.
Bezel settings also look gorgeous as they give an added layer around the pendant. Black diamonds are not as hard as white diamonds. The heavy amount of inclusions and blemishes increase its density and make it easier for them to chip, compared to white colorless diamonds. Bezel setting secures the pendant and makes it secure and reduces the chances of them chipping or denting or snagging into things.
In addition to the bezel setting, the halo setting also works great in adding an extra layer of protection around the center diamond. These layers work as shock absorbers or buffers by reducing the impacts on the diamond. They also make sure that the diamond won’t snag on things.
What type of chain to choose for black diamond pendants?
Black diamonds work with chains of any style, color, and material.
The best type of chain is a cable chain. Cable chains are strong, sophisticated, and suit all styles. Though other chains that can be chosen for the same can be box chains, curb chains, Cuban chain Figaro chains, and wheat chains. All these designs of chains look appealing with pendants.
Platinum for chain and pendant is a great option. It’s versatile, hypoallergenic, and doesn’t get dented or chipped easily. It is also very strong and durable and the perfect metal for a daily wear necklace. It has a white gold necklace appearance but stronger. Platinum with black diamond creates a beautiful contrasting necklace for women that is sophisticated and gorgeous.
If you are ready to spend for the pricier platinum, then 14K and 18K gold work just as great. Sure they are not as durable and strong as platinum, but gold has its pros. Gold has three variants: yellow gold rose gold and white gold.
White gold is an excellent substitute for platinum. It gives the same appearance as platinum but at a lower price. This metal can bring an extra luster to the matte black diamond.
Rose gold is a frequently used metal with diamonds. The warmth of the metal is something that complements the blackness of the diamond. Diamonds often symbolize love and eternity and so does rose gold, as it is popular for its vintage and romantic vibe. In a way, rose gold and black diamond make an excellent pendant necklace.
Yellow gold with black diamond makes a classic timeless piece of a pendant that will have a hard time losing its charm.
Conclusion Thoughts
Black diamonds are rare and bold. With proper settings, they give off an unrivaled charm and personality that is hard to find in any other gemstone. Since natural diamonds are rare, lab-grown black diamonds make an impressive substitute. They give off the same aura as their natural earth-mined counterparts. Choosing a diamond to accessorize your neck gives you a versatile piece of jewelry that is bound to attract attention. There are so many styles and designs with the black diamond that you are bound to find one that suits your bold and unique personality.
Black Diamond Pendant – Best Buying Guide In 2021
Diamonds, no matter the color or cut, exudes unmatched charm. While white diamonds remain the most popular, the other color variants, termed ‘fancy colors’, have been gaining their spot.
Choosing a fancy colored diamond is not easy. They tend to clash with clothes and need to be chosen in a way that they’ll complement the wearer’s skin tone and personal choices. Their maintenance can also be a little harder than white diamonds.
But there is one fancy colored diamond whose uniqueness not only makes the pendant one of a kind, but they are extremely versatile and have low maintenance: Black diamonds.
Black diamond pendants are a rare variety of diamonds predominantly due to their color and absolute opacity. These diamonds are also highly valuable. These black diamonds have an ethereal and luxurious aura that remains unparalleled no matter what. These are also some of the few diamonds that are considered unisex and can be worn by any gender.
What are black diamonds?
Let’s start by saying that black diamonds are real diamonds. The chemical and physical structures of both white and black diamonds are extremely similar.
White diamonds that have a lot of inclusions within themselves eventually turn black. These inclusions are clusters of carbon in the form of graphite inside the carbon bonds of diamonds.
Unlike other colored diamonds that get their signature color due to other elements in them, diamonds do not have any other impurities. They are just full of inclusions and blemishes in such a way that it turns the entire diamond an opaque black.
Also Read: Black Diamond Guide: Should You Buy Or Avoid Them
A brief history of black diamonds
Black diamonds haven’t been popular for a long time. In the past, it has been considered worthless and unattractive. There haven’t been a lot of notable diamonds in history.
Natural black diamond jewelry is exclusively mined only in South America. Due to their appearance, early Portuguese settlers called these obsidian diamonds carbonados. They were called so due to the burnt-like appearance of these raw diamonds.
black diamonds started getting famous only in the 20th century when jewelers started using these noir stones as tiny accents for white diamonds. They came into the spotlight after their appearance in the 2010 movie Sex and the City, after which they were spotted on various celebrities like Kat Von D and Carmen Electra and only rose in popularity.
Types of black diamonds
Black diamonds are of two types: Natural black diamonds and synthetic black diamonds.
Natural black diamonds get their color while they are being formed with no external factors. They are a perfect combination of two forms of carbon found in nature- graphite, and diamonds. It is these clumps of graphite within the diamond bonds that give them their trademark metallic and matte black color.
Natural diamonds are extremely rare and are excavated only in South America. Their rarity also means that they are pretty expensive. It is rare to find diamonds in nature that have uniform black color. This makes them quite desirable and their prices shoot up. One carat of a natural diamond can cost up to $5000.
Synthetic black diamonds are also called treated diamonds. These diamonds vary from partial blackness to completely white. They are then treated with chemical and synthetic procedures to give them a uniform black color. In some cases, these procedures are also used to enhance their black color.
Black diamonds can also be grown in man-made conditions in labs. These lab-grown diamonds are actual diamonds that are made in machines using CVD(Chemical Vapor Deposition) or HPHT (High-Pressure High Temperature)
methods. They are further treated with heat, pressure, and irradiation treatments to give them the black color. These lab diamonds are priced just a fraction of natural diamonds with the same quality and luxuriousness. Some of the good-quality lab diamonds start at $300 per carat.
Lab diamonds are gradually becoming a popular option and an acceptable replacement for natural earth-mined diamonds. Reducing the environmental damages done due to mining is a more ethical option.
4Cs for the Black Diamonds
Black diamonds do not follow the regular 4C guidelines that are set up to measure the quality of the diamond.
CARAT:
Due to heavy inclusions and graphite clusters, black diamonds are denser than other colored diamonds. This makes their size smaller per carat. These diamonds are often paired with white or other colored diamonds to give them a fuller and complete look.
CUT:
Black diamonds do not refract light within or sparkle like their white counterparts. They reflect light from their outer surface. Therefore, the bigger the surface, the more it would reflect light and the more eye-catching it would be. This makes round brilliant cuts and princess cuts two of the most popular diamond cuts with this type of diamond.
Other than that, pear, marquise, oval, heart are also some of the quite popular cuts. Step cuts like emerald cut and Asscher cut also look great with black diamonds, as these cuts show off the rich color of the diamond.
CLARITY:
Black diamonds get their color because of their inclusions and impurities. Hence clarity for black diamonds holds a different significance. In black diamonds, it is important to make sure there aren’t any white or colorless specks or spots that might disturb the uniformity of the black color of such diamonds.
COLOR:
Ideal black diamonds would have a uniform, undisturbed black color throughout. There won’t be any white, colorless, or any other color blemishes within the diamond.
Also read: Black Diamond Earring- All you need to know before buying
Black Diamond as Necklace
When it comes to necklaces for women, they prefer variety; different necklaces to suit different occasions and different outfits. And just like white diamonds, black diamonds also offer this type of versatility.
Black diamond pendants aren’t just limited to women. Diamonds in incredibly unisex which means anyone can rock a decent black diamond in their neckpiece.
Pendant necklaces come in a variety of designs, each having a different vibe and charm.
SOLITAIRE PENDANT:
The solitaire pendant features a single diamond dropping from a metallic chain with a small loop. The solitaire pendant has a wide variety of styles and sizes. They can be a diamond of any cut or carat.
Round brilliant is one of the most common pendant options. Princess cut diamond for the pendant is also quite famous due to its symmetric and elegant aura. Other than that, cushion cut, oval cut, and rose-cut are some of the popular designs for solitaire pendants. Usually, solitaire pendants feature minimal design as simplicity is what makes this design famous and versatile.
HALO PENDANT:
Halo pendant features a simple black pendant with an additional layer of accent stones around the central diamond encompassing it. This halo makes the central diamond appear brighter and bigger by giving an illusion of increased surface area.
The halo around the diamond can have a single row of white diamonds. Or it can be upgraded to feature a double row. Either way, the combination of white and diamonds will give the whole pendant and the necklace a beautiful, gorgeous, and ethereal look.
Having black diamonds as accents makes the entire pendant have a chic, gothic and bold aura. This type of pendant with a white gold necklace just makes an extravagant piece of jewelry.
CLASSIC PENDANT:
Classic pendants feature styles that are generally well-liked by the masses and remain popular for long periods. These can include but are not restricted to, hearts, journey, rainfall, flower, crosses, and cluster pendants. Depending on the style, several diamonds and a combination of black and white diamonds can be used to make a unique pendant that would fit your tastes.
CASUAL PENDANT:
The casual style of pendants is best suited if your diamond is going to be worn daily. This type of pendant not only impeccably fits your tastes but also complements your daily wear of outfits. Opting for quirky and unusual designs as your casual pendants makes them very…you. These pendants can be just a simple diamond or feature several black diamonds, with or without other colored diamonds, in simple and casual designs like flowers, bows, motifs, or symmetrical figures.
STATEMENT PENDANTS:
Statement pendants are bound to make a statement. They are popular amongst the younger generation for their bold and stylish charm. And putting black diamonds in statement pendants makes a great women’s necklace. The best part of having a black diamond statement pendant is that it gives the entire outfit that extra factor that makes it stand out.
They can be simplistic yet sophisticated which makes them elegant but not too on the nose.
MODERN PENDANTS:
Modern pendants mostly feature geometric shapes with supporting gemstones like a black diamond. Black diamonds in the shapes of circles, triangles, infinity symbols, interlocked shapes, or tiny black diamonds set in shapes like moon or teardrop are quite popular. These pendants have an edgy charm and rigid boldness to them that complement the black stone itself.
The prong setting works great with solitaire pendants as they expose most parts of the diamond to reflect the light off its surface. The shiny surface or the metallic chain and the matte appearance of the diamond create a gorgeous piece of jewelry.
Bezel settings also look gorgeous as they give an added layer around the pendant. Black diamonds are not as hard as white diamonds. The heavy amount of inclusions and blemishes increase its density and make it easier for them to chip, compared to white colorless diamonds. Bezel setting secures the pendant and makes it secure and reduces the chances of them chipping or denting or snagging into things.
In addition to the bezel setting, the halo setting also works great in adding an extra layer of protection around the center diamond. These layers work as shock absorbers or buffers by reducing the impacts on the diamond. They also make sure that the diamond won’t snag on things.
Also Read: The ultimate guide to black diamond earrings
What type of chain to choose for black diamond pendants?
Black diamonds work with chains of any style, color, and material.
The best type of chain is a cable chain. Cable chains are strong, sophisticated, and suit all styles. Though other chains that can be chosen for the same can be box chains, curb chains, Cuban chain Figaro chains, and wheat chains. All these designs of chains look appealing with pendants.
Platinum for chain and pendant is a great option. It’s versatile, hypoallergenic, and doesn’t get dented or chipped easily. It is also very strong and durable and the perfect metal for a daily wear necklace. It has a white gold necklace appearance but stronger. Platinum with black diamond creates a beautiful contrasting necklace for women that is sophisticated and gorgeous.
If you are ready to spend for the pricier platinum, then 14K and 18K gold work just as great. Sure they are not as durable and strong as platinum, but gold has its pros. Gold has three variants: yellow gold rose gold and white gold.
White gold is an excellent substitute for platinum. It gives the same appearance as platinum but at a lower price. This metal can bring an extra luster to the matte black diamond.
Rose gold is a frequently used metal with diamonds. The warmth of the metal is something that complements the blackness of the diamond. Diamonds often symbolize love and eternity and so does rose gold, as it is popular for its vintage and romantic vibe. In a way, rose gold and black diamond make an excellent pendant necklace.
Yellow gold with black diamond makes a classic timeless piece of a pendant that will have a hard time losing its charm.
Conclusion Thoughts
Black diamonds are rare and bold. With proper settings, they give off an unrivaled charm and personality that is hard to find in any other gemstone. Since natural diamonds are rare, lab-grown black diamonds make an impressive substitute. They give off the same aura as their natural earth-mined counterparts. Choosing a diamond to accessorize your neck gives you a versatile piece of jewelry that is bound to attract attention. There are so many styles and designs with the black diamond that you are bound to find one that suits your bold and unique personality.
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