Natural black diamonds are striking, enigmatic and representative of passion, energy and love. They are only found in Brazil and Africa and have the same chemical composition as white diamonds, however, they get their black colour from their many inclusions. Their inclusions are typically clusters of graphite or carbon, which create a beautiful gem-like appearance. Many dispute their origin, with some believing they formed under high pressure within the earth, and some believing they arrived on an asteroid from space around two million years ago. It’s this unique appearance and mysterious creation that make black diamonds a fantastic choice for any type of jewellery.
The Strength of Natural Black Diamonds
The Mohs scale of mineral hardness is used to characterise minerals on their hardness, by quantifying their resistance to scratching. Of all gemstones, diamonds are renowned for their durability, scoring the highest possible grade (10) on the Mohs scale.
While similar, the structure of a colourless diamond and a black diamond vary slightly. A colourless diamond composes of solid crystal, whereas, natural black diamonds consist of many small, combined crystals.
This chemical composition results in a harder diamond than the majority of colourless diamonds. Black diamonds are still graded as a 10 on the Mohs scale but have been preferred for a number of different functions due to their increased durability.
How Natural Black Diamonds Are Graded
The GIA’s International Diamond Grading System is the standard means of how colourless to near-colourless diamonds are graded. However, since black diamonds fall outside of this colour range, they are instead evaluated based on the GIA’s Coloured Diamonds Grading System.
In contrast to how coloured diamonds are graded on their colour intensity, black diamonds are only assigned one colour intensity, Fancy Black. This is due to the fact that there is no variation in the saturation or tone of a black diamond.
As well as this, black diamonds don’t receive regular clarity grades due to their composition. Because they are opaque, but heavily included, they cannot be graded on the GIA clarity scale. Despite not being graded on clarity, it’s still important to verify that the diamond is completely saturated and there are no imperfections obvious to the naked eye.
All black diamonds are issued a Coloured Diamond Identification and Origin Report. This will describe their Fancy Black colour and if the diamond is naturally black or if it’s been treated.
Black Diamond Engagement Rings
Image source: Diamonds.pro
Thanks to the bold, powerful and unique appearance of black diamonds, they have become a popular alternative to colourless diamonds as the centre stone for engagement rings.
Available in a variety of cuts, the beauty of the Fancy Black colour is emphasised when paired with white metals for contrast. For a stronger contrast, the addition of white diamonds can further enhance the intrigue of a black diamond engagement ring.
Shop our one-of-a-kind natural black diamonds rings online:
18ct White Gold Engagement Ring, 1.01ct Black Diamond
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18ct White Gold Engagement Ring, 1.32ct Black Diamond
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Shop Black Diamonds at Argyle Jewellers
Shop our stunning range of black diamonds Brisbane and black diamond jewellery in-store, or book a free design consultation with our jewellers to get custom made jewellery and designs for something or someone special. If you would like more information about natural black diamonds, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.