What is special about a black diamond?

Ever since Carrie Bradshaw (born Sarah Jessica Parker) said “I do” when she was offered a black diamond engagement ring on the hit show Sex and the City, the popularity of dark diamonds has increased. But black diamonds aren’t just celebrity favorites. They have an intriguing past, and scientists can’t confirm where they came from. Are they really from outer space? Are they cursed? Are these even real diamonds? Read on to find out everything you need to know about black diamonds. Discover a spectacular selection of black diamond rings found in iconic designs from Shimansky. We invite you to visit a Shimansky showroom and explore the unique variety of designer diamond jewelry and engagement rings, or book the Shimansky Diamond Experience in Cape Town today.

1. THIS IS NOT A REAL COLORED DIAMOND

Canary yellow, pink and even blue diamonds come in a variety of beautiful shades. Signature shades are formed when diamonds are exposed to different minerals during their development. You may wonder if black diamonds were formed by the same twist of geological fate that created fancy-colored diamonds. However, black diamonds are not fancy diamonds at all – their composition is closer to pure colorless diamonds. Although colorless diamonds are clear, black diamonds are characterized by a large number of inclusions or accumulations of graphite in the stones, causing them to appear black.

2. REAL BLACK DIAMONDS DO NOT SHINE

Due to the high inclusion content of black diamonds, they do not sparkle and reflect light like other diamonds. Instead, they absorb light, giving them an intriguing marbled feature. When shopping for a black diamond engagement ring, you may find black diamonds that exude sparkle. These are most likely treated black diamonds made from real white diamonds. White diamonds are irradiated or heated to give them a black tint. These gemstones are called “colorless cut black diamonds” or “black colored diamonds.” Black diamond simulants are also brilliant and are produced in laboratories.

3. BLACK DIAMONDS WERE NOT ALWAYS CONSIDERED PRECIOUS

The first black diamonds to be traded commercially were allegedly discovered in Brazil by Portuguese settlers. They called the diamonds “carbonado” because they looked burnt (carbonated). Rough diamonds are a bit like charcoal. When settlers began shipping black diamonds to other countries in the 19th and 20th centuries, it became difficult for jewelers to cut and polish them. For this reason, they were used primarily for industrial purposes until key diamond collectors began to view them as the unique, rare, and precious gemstones they are recognized as today. Only three metric tons have ever been mined, making them very rare.

4. NO ONE CAN AGREE WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM

Colorless diamonds have been found on all continents, but black diamonds have very limited origins. To date, they have only been sourced from Brazil and the Central African Republic. There is another unusual factor in the story of their origin. Black diamonds are not mined deep below the surface of the earth, where other diamonds are usually found. Black diamonds are mined from stream beds and scientists date their formation to 3.8 billion years ago. These facts have led to the formation of many theories about where they came from. The most convincing argument is that black diamonds formed in outer space. They arrived on Earth through an asteroid that fell onto the surface of our planet millions of years ago. Those who believe in this theory say that matter existed in outer space for about one and a half billion years before being fragmented upon entering the Earth’s atmosphere. Others support an extraterrestrial origin, but suggest that the rocks were formed by a thermal reaction when they collided with Earth or were part of a giant star that exploded in our Universe.

5. THEY SAY THEY ARE CURSE

One of the most famous black diamonds in history gave the pieces an aura of mystery. The Black Orlov Diamond is a magnificent 67-carat deep steel gray diamond believed to have been found in India. Legend has it that it was installed in an idol statue before a monk stole the gem. In subsequent years, it fell into the hands of Westerners who were then plagued by misfortune. The “Eye of Brahma”, as it is also called, was purchased by a diamond merchant in 1932. JW Paris reportedly jumped off one of New York’s tallest buildings shortly after completing the sale of the gemstone. Ten years later, the black diamond was sold to the Russian princesses Nadya Vegina-Orlova and Leonila Galitsyna-Baryatinskaya. The story goes that they also jumped to their deaths after taking possession of the gem. The media picked up the story and ever since there have been rumors that black diamonds are cursed. However, this myth is being dispelled. Since then, no more misfortunes have been associated with the possession of black diamonds. One of the largest known black diamonds in the world, the 88-carat Korloff Noir Diamond is believed to bring good luck and happiness to everyone who touches it. It was exhibited in Dubai in 2015, but is rarely seen by the general public. What happened to Orlov’s diamond? The current owner reported that he believed the curse had been lifted since there had been no problems with it for half a century. However, this particular gem can’t shrug off its dark past. In 2006, actress Felicity Huffman was asked to wear the piece to the Oscars, but she declined the offer due to its unpleasant history.

6. THEY ARE NOT PRICED THE SAME AS OTHER DIAMONDS

Because black diamonds are opaque, they cannot be graded on the GIA clarity scale. The GIA does not publish grading reports for black diamonds. However, your jeweler will instead provide you with a report on the identification and provenance of the colored diamond. Another thing to note is that since black diamonds are denser than colorless diamonds, their sizes vary. So, a 1 carat black diamond will be smaller than a 1 carat colorless diamond.

7. QUALITY AFFECTS PRICE LIKE ALL DIAMONDS

The 4Cs diamond grade applies to black diamonds. If you are purchasing a stone, you should pay close attention to its color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. These factors are combined with the GIA International Diamond Grading System, standards by which diamonds are graded from colorless to nearly colorless (colors D to Z). Because black diamonds are not in this shade range, their color is based on the GIA color grading system for colored diamonds.

8. THEY COME IN LARGE SIZES ALSO

Although rare, large black diamonds are sometimes discovered. The largest diamond ever found was discovered in Brazil. The diamond, named “Sergio”, weighed 3167 carats and was black. This is 61 carats heavier than the most famous single clean diamond discovered, the Cullinan. The next largest diamonds ever found in Brazil are also carbonados, weighing 2000, 932 and 828 carats. Other famous black diamonds include the Gruosi diamond, the Black Star of Africa and the Spirit of Grisogono diamond.

9. THEY BECAME POPULAR WITH MEN

Perhaps it’s their unusual origins or simply their striking appearance, black diamond jewelry is becoming increasingly popular among men. Justin Bieber is a fan of wearing stud earrings with black diamonds. *NSYNC singer Lance also succumbed to the allure of black diamonds, choosing to wear a black diamond engagement ring. Lance’s ring featured two rows of black diamonds set in yellow gold.

10. THEY ARE THE ZODIAC STONE FOR SCORPIO

Did you know that the “colored diamond” of the Scorpio zodiac sign is a black diamond? While yellow diamonds match Gemini, who is considered outgoing and positive, and pink diamonds match Taurus, known for their sensual nature, black diamonds complement Scorpio children. This is because Scorpio is considered the most energetic of all the zodiac signs. This zodiac sign is also known to revel in mystery, a characteristic of black diamonds due to their myth-steeped history.

BUY A BLACK DIAMOND RING

Black diamonds are suitable for creating unique designs and attractive rings. Szymanski is known for his exquisite black diamond rings. Make an appointment with us today. Black diamonds are just as real as white diamonds, but are much less common. However, they are considered not only rare, but can rightfully claim to be the most mysterious crystals in the world, since little is still known about them. We will reveal some of the secrets of black diamonds and show how beautifully they can sparkle in jewelry. In the photo: black diamonds.

Origin of dark gems

• dark gems contain nitrogen, titanium and other chemical elements that are characteristic of meteorites;
• Black crystals are found either in Brazil or in Africa. However, in the early 2000s, such a mineral was discovered in Kamchatka.

All deposits of dark diamonds were discovered by chance and there are no rules for finding them. Perhaps there are still places on our planet where the night-colored stone is found, but at the moment there are only three such deposits recorded.

In the photo: black diamonds.

Other theories about the origin of black diamonds say that they are formed under the influence of high temperatures and pressure inside the Earth. Such samples were found on the slope of the Avachinsky volcano in Kamchatka.

But whatever the theory, the origin of these stones is still a matter of debate and is still perceived as a mystery.

The mystery of black

The real appeal and value of natural gems lies in their unique and rare color. But there is another fascinating feature of black diamonds – their sparkle. The crystal does not scatter light, therefore it has an opaque appearance and a characteristic rich black color.

Some scientists claim that the reason for a black diamond’s color is because its unique crystal structure absorbs light. Mineralogists believe that the rich shade is due to the high graphite content. But in a scientific study of a crystal from Russia, it was discovered that the stones with the most intense dark color have predominantly magnetite inclusions.

You can talk for a long time about the secrets of the origin and the mystery of the color of the black crystal, but one thing is for sure – it looks incomparable in jewelry.

In the photo: the “Black Knight” ring from the Maxim Demidov jewelry house.

Physico-chemical properties of the gem and its types

Like clear diamonds, black diamonds are made of carbon. However, the crystalline structure of the dark mineral is porous. This means that black diamonds contain the same chemical elements as colorless diamonds, but have different atomic weights and physical properties.

• Hardness on the Mohs scale – 10;
• Black color;
• Gloss – silky or weak diamond. Stones do not transmit light at all or partially. In opaque samples, the surface is matte and the rays that fall on it are not reflected, but are absorbed, resulting in a silky shine. Translucent crystals have a weak diamond luster;
• Transparency – opaque, translucent;
• Cleavage – perfect;
• The fracture is conchoidal.

Despite the fact that the stone is hard, it is quite fragile and can easily crack when cut due to its porous structure. That is why black diamonds were not of interest to jewelers as precious stones until the mid-twentieth century.

In the photo: black diamonds.

There are only two types of black diamonds found in nature: pique and carbonado. They have identical properties, but some parameters are different.

• Piqué is a single crystal whose structure is similar to a classic diamond. Small particles of graphite and other elements give the stone a dark color.
• Carbonado – gray-black or dark green opaque porous stones with a matte sheen. The structure of the mineral does not reflect light, but absorbs it. The crystal lattice contains: hematite, magnetite and graphite.

The largest carbonado nugget was found in Brazil – 3167,5 carats. The stone was named Sergio.

In the photo: the largest black diamond Sergio.

Magical and healing properties of black diamonds

According to many experts in the field of spiritual and healing practices, a black diamond can bring its owner not only aesthetic pleasure, but also a positive magical effect. The gem symbolizes beauty and strength, attracts abundance, gives its owner courage, resourcefulness, endurance, and loyalty. Owners of black crystals are full of self-confidence and have willpower.

Bioenergetics experts believe that dark diamond has a harmonizing and calming effect. It encourages spiritual freedom, provides clarity of thought and teaches the owner to penetrate to the essence of things.

In the photo: black diamonds.

Traditional healers claim that the dark mineral helps a person cope with nervous disorders, relieves the blues, depression and insomnia. It also has the ability to restore blood pressure, pacify emotional pain, fear and protect the wearers from any harmful energies. Many lithotherapists say that wearing a dark crystal for a long time can help you get rid of bad habits.

Assessing the quality of black diamonds

Gemstones are graded according to the 4Cs: color, clarity, weight and cut. But since a black diamond lacks clarity due to the large number of inclusions, in this case clarity is not the main factor in determining quality and value. It is necessary to evaluate the mineral according to the 3C parameters:

• Color – a black crystal, unlike fancy and colorless diamonds, is completely opaque and does not vary in hue, tone or intensity. The stone has a discreet matte shine.
• Weight – a dark diamond, due to its dense structure, can have the same mass as the others, but look visually smaller. For example, a one-carat natural black diamond will be visually significantly smaller than a one-carat clear diamond.
• Cutting – black minerals are difficult to cut due to their dense structure and inclusions. Therefore, professionally cut gems will have significantly greater value. Thus, cut is the most important quality to consider when assessing the value of a dark crystal.

In the photo: a set with Mexican opal and black diamonds “Embodiment of Grace” from the Maxim Demidov jewelry house.

In jewelry, these crystals look impressive against the background of other gems and precious metals. And if previously black diamonds remained in the shadow of other precious stones, now they easily set their own fashion.

Truly amazing jewelry with this and other gems can be viewed in the Maxim Demidov catalog.