Clarity is less important for colored diamonds than it is for their colorless counterparts because any inclusions in the gemstone tend to be masked by the diamond's color.

• Colored diamonds are extremely rare, and prized for the intensity and evenness of their color.

• They come in an array of colors—yellow is the most common and red is the most elusive. Blue Nile only carries naturally occurring colored diamonds, not those dyed or irradiated.

• Intensity refers to the depth or richness of color and is the most important consideration when choosing a colored diamond.

• The larger the carat weight, the more expensive the diamond, but clarity is less important because the color hides inclusions or blemishes.

• Colored diamonds are cut in favor of their color rather than their brilliance, like their colorless counterparts.

• You’ll find colored diamonds are often cut into fancy shapes to maximize the intensity of its color.

• All Blue Nile colored diamonds come with a certificate of authenticity from GIA, specifying color grade and natural origin.

Colored diamonds are extremely rare—occurring just once in every 10,000 diamonds.

As diamonds are forming deep in the earth, exposure to different naturally occurring minerals affect their color. For example, boron turns a diamond blue and nitrogen turns a diamond yellow or brown.

After color, carat weight has the most impact on the price of colored diamonds. Since larger diamonds are more rare than smaller ones, it follows that the price for colored diamonds rises exponentially with carat weight.

Red

Yellow

Blue

Pink

Considerations of cut and clarity fade to the background—it’s all about the vividness and distribution of color.  The more intense the diamond’s color, the more valuable it is.

While colorless diamonds are cut to maximize brilliance, colored diamonds are cut to emphasize their color. Brilliance is still a factor with colored diamonds, just not the most important characteristic when they are being cut.

Many colored diamonds are cut in fancy shapes to enhance their color—a pear-shaped yellow diamond for instance, or a heart-shaped pink one. But since they’re so rare, not every shape and color combination is available all the time. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, call our Diamond and Jewelry Consultants at 888.565.7641 for more options.

All Blue Nile colored diamonds are independently analyzed and graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and come with a Colored Diamond Report that lists the diamond's color grade and ensures its natural origin.

Gray

Rarely is a colored diamond influenced by one single mineral.

Slide the button to see the range of diamond colors

More often, the diamond’s color is the result of a combination of minerals that create overtones, or a secondary hue. The dominant hue is always listed last and is the primary color.

Their allure is legendary, which makes them highly coveted and very precious.

The range of colors span the spectrum, red is the most rare and yellow is the most common. While artificially colored diamonds exist, all of our colored diamonds are natural and have not been dyed or irradiated.

Image of Colored Diamond Jewelry

After color, carat weight has the most impact on the price of colored diamonds. Since larger diamonds are more rare than smaller ones, it follows that the price for colored diamonds rises exponentially with carat weight.

The deep richness and intensity of color is the most important thing to keep in mind when purchasing a colored diamond.