Blue diamonds are among the most sought after stones in the world. These beautiful pieces are very popular for rings and other jewelry pieces and can be purchased from a number of traditional jewelry stores and online retailers. The diamonds, like all diamonds of color, get their color from defects or chemical impurities in the structure of the stone. A completely perfect diamond will be perfectly clear and without any color. While there are perfect diamonds in the world, they are very rare and very expensive.
Nitrogen is a common impurity that can cause blue diamonds as well as other various colors. The nitrogen replaces many of the carbon atoms in diamond stones and gives it a tinted color. Diamonds that have deeply saturated colors are typically more expensive. In natural stones, champagne colors as well as yellow and brown colors can occur often while other colors such as green, pink and blue are a bit rarer to find.
True blue diamonds, those that have occurred naturally, are very rare. In fact they are so rare that many professional jewelers have never seen one in person. It is believed that there are 10,000 natural white diamonds produced for every single colored diamond in the world. Of course, there are man-made ways of producing colored stones and these are typically the ones that you will find at your local jewelry store. Most of the colored diamonds that you will find today are naturally yellow stones that have been enhanced to produce the blue color.
Choosing blue diamonds may seem difficult. However, if you know a bit about how stones are graded you can make your selection a bit easier. Learn about the 4 C’s of grading a diamond. These include cut, clarity, color and carat weight. Carat weight is simply what the stone weighs. Color, clarity and cut will all contribute to the value of the stone and the brilliance of the diamond as well. The color of the stone is very important and how each diamond gets its color will help to determine its overall value. Again, a natural blue diamond is very rare but other colors can be found naturally.
Blue diamonds are used in a number of jewelry pieces. Rings are typically the most commonly purchased pieces that contain a blue diamond although there are a number of other pieces that you can purchase. When choosing blue diamond rings, be sure that you look at the cut of the stone. A round cut is going to give you more brilliance when the stone is held to the light. Emerald cuts are very attractive but will often show imperfections more than other cuts. You should determine what specific cut you prefer before you begin shopping. This will help you to find the ring that you want much easier.
The cut of blue diamonds will help to hide blemishes and other imperfections. If you want a diamond that looks completely flawless, choose one with many facets. The facets will capture light and give you a sparkling stone while hiding inclusions. You can buy a slightly flawed stone in a good cut that will not show the flaws and save yourself a bit of money. Most consumers have no idea how to grade a diamond so if you are concerned about the overall quality of the stone you should work with a professional jeweler.
Also consider the specific color of blue diamonds when you purchase jewelry. Colors can be light or deep and the stone will shine more brilliantly if the color is saturated deeper. Deeper colors however will raise the price a bit so be sure that you know what kind of budget you have before you begin shopping. Also check with your jeweler about a certificate when you purchase diamonds. A certificate will ensure that you are purchasing a true diamond stone and not a knock off that is less valuable. Reputable jewelers will be able to provide you with these certificates which is another reason that you should always work with a professional when purchasing diamonds and other fine gemstones. The certificate will provide details about the carat weight, clarity, color and cut of the stone and should be backed by the Gemological Institute of America or the European Gemological Laboratory, depending on where you purchase the stone. Take your time when purchasing blue diamonds to ensure that you end up with stones that are worth what you pay for them. You will find a number of beautiful choices that match both your budget and your personal taste.