Red Diamonds
Diamonds are found in almost all colors of the spectrum. All natural fancy colored diamonds are rare, none are more so than the red diamond.
How does red diamond get its color?
The difference between red and other colored diamonds is the chemical composition. Red diamonds are purely carbon, while others have minor flaws and inconsistencies in their compositions that grant them their unique colors. The red color of the diamond is created by a rare occurrence in its atomic structure.
Red diamonds look different in various lighting environments. They look best in daylight and candlelight and they look worst in fluorescent light.
How valuable are red diamonds?
The rarer a diamond is, the more desired and valuable it is. The value of a red diamond is determined by the carat weight, color, and clarity. A pure red diamond without any secondary color will sell for more. According to predictions, red diamonds will become even more rare and as a result their price is expected to double in the next couple of years. Today, the price for a natural, untreated red diamond rarely starts under $100 000 for anything above 0.20ct.
Luckily there are treated red diamonds available at a more reasonable price point. Treated red diamonds are still very rare and rarely come in larger sizes.
Red diamond treatment
All diamonds have been exposed to natural radiation over the millennia before man unearthed them, so all colored diamonds have been "irradiated." Irradiated diamonds are genuine diamonds that exhibit an intense color change to red after being exposed to a strong radiation treatment. Because natural, untreated red diamonds are so rare and in high demand, irradiation is a laboratory process used to produce the same type of effects or similar color for a much less expensive price.
Where are red diamonds found?
Most red diamonds are found in the Argyle diamond mine in Kimberly, Australia. However, there have been specimens found in Brazil and Africa as well.
How Can You Tell if a Red Diamond is Real?
The best way to assess if a red diamond is real is to have a gem lab check it. The process for identifying the tell-tale signs of a fake requires years of training and experience, as well as the right equipment. However, there is a simple way to determine whether a red diamond is lab-grown or mined. If the gem shines fluorescent under UV light, it came from a mine. If not, it was likely lab-grown. This is not a fool-proof method, but a fluorescent reaction to UV serves as solid evidence for a red diamond’s authenticity.
How hard is a red diamond?
Red diamonds are rated 10 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, which characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material. The Mohs scale of mineral hardness was created in 1812 by German geologist and mineralogist Friedrich Mohs.
What are the best jewelry settings for a red diamond?
Due to the rarity of red diamonds the weights are usually under 1 carat. Red diamonds are very suitable for multi stone rings and pendants as well as earrings.
Is red diamond a birthstone?
Red diamond along with all other diamonds are the birthstone for April. Diamond is also the 60th wedding anniversary stone.
What is the difference between red diamond and ruby?
While rubies and red diamonds may appear similar to the untrained eye, they are vastly different. Red diamonds are purely carbon while rubies are made primarily of red corundum. Rubies are much softer than red diamonds, measuring 9 on the Mohs hardness scale while red diamonds measure 10. A red diamond will also be more lustrous and sparkly than a ruby, which would appear dull in comparison. Of course, red diamonds are far rarer than rubies and therefore many times more expensive.