Green Diamonds

Natural fancy green diamonds are completely natural and are caused by exposure to atomic radiation. After natural fancy red diamonds, natural green diamonds are the second rarest.

What Causes the Color

The Origin of the Green Color

Most colored diamonds derive their colors from impurities and other elements. However, in the case of Green Diamonds, the origin of color is very different from other colored stones. It is actually atomic radiation or radioactivity during the diamond’s formation that causes the beautiful green color.

Cause of the Color

The green color, which is caused by exposure to atomic radiation or radioactivity, is extremely unique. So much so, that it is actually somewhat difficult to determine whether a green diamond is natural or treated. Many polishers purposely leave what is referred to as a Natural along the girdle of the stone. The purpose of the Natural is so any diamond associations, such as the GIA, can identify the natural color of the stone and thereof award it a certified diamond certificate.

Colors

Green color diamonds are among the rarest of the color diamond family. The seven natural color grades for natural fancy colored diamonds are, in ascending order, Faint, Very Light, Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid and Fancy Deep. Fancy Vivid and Fancy Deep the most desired hues.

A pure green color diamond can be found with eight different color intensity grades, as shown in the image below;

Secondary Hues and Color Intensity

Green diamonds displaying a pure color are the most sought after as well as the most expensive among green diamonds. Having said that, there are diamonds that come in a wide range of secondary hue combinations, which are stunning and also quite valuable. These hues include Yellow, Yellowish, Green, Greenish, Blue, Bluish, Brown, Brownish, Grey, Greyish, Grey Yellowish, and Greyish Yellowish. In addition to the many color options, Green Diamonds are found in several intensities, which has a huge impact on the price of the diamond. The intensity levels for Green Diamonds are as follows: Faint, Very Light, Light, Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid, and Fancy Deep.

Below is a full breakdown of the green color scale.

The green diamond has a very strong emotional correspondence with safety as it is the most restful color for the human eye. Green suggests both stability and endurance. However, Aqua green is associated more with emotional healing and protection while Olive green is the traditional color of peace.

This is the reason why so many adore green color diamond jewelry in different types of pieces, such as earrings, rings, and pendants.

Shapes

Popular Shapes for Green Diamonds

Green diamonds can be cut into a wide range of fancy shapes including princess, emerald, asscher, pear, radiant, round, oval, marquise, heart, and cushion. The most recommended shapes for green diamonds are radiant and cushion, as they are cut in a way that best complements the stone’s color. However, pear, oval, and round green diamonds are very popular as well.

Examples

Examples of Green Diamonds

Now that we have explained a bit about green diamonds, their colors, and their shapes, we can give some example of stones, complete with their color intensity level, color combination, and shape. On the lighter end, you can find a light yellow green cushion diamond, and at the darker end there can be a Fancy dark gray yellowish green pear. If you are going for a pure hue, you can choose from a Fancy green radiant, a Fancy green cushion, a Fancy Deep green cushion, and a Fancy Deep green oval. If you are after a diamond with a bit of blue in it you might come across a Fancy Intense bluish green round, a Fancy Vivid Bluish green pear, or a Fancy Intense blue green radiant green diamond.

Most Famous Green Diamonds

Green diamonds are incredibly unique and should never be mistaken for other stones, as beautiful as they may be. There is nothing like the beauty of a diamond, and one that showcases an unusual green tone is even more unusual and special. LEIBISH has an impressive collection of Green Diamonds ranging in color, intensity level, size, and price.

The most famous green diamonds, which have managed to make quite a statement among the rare diamond collectors, are of different shades and colors.

"The approximately 41 carat Dresden Green diamond is the largest, and perhaps the finest, green diamond known to have a color of natural origin." (source: Kane, 1990). The Dresden Green is a 40.70 carat, pear shaped stone with a VS1 clarity grade. It was reported as one of the largest and finest natural green diamond ever discovered.

Having such a unique color combination, The Ocean Dream happens to be one of the rarest stones on earth. The diamond is a 5.51-carat, Fancy Deep Blue-Green, Shield-shaped diamond. It is actually the only natural diamond known with this color combination.

The Dresden Green diamond, a 40.70-carat Green Diamond, is the world’s most famous and largest green diamond. The Dresden Green has a clarity grade of VS-1, which was received by the GIA in 1988. One of the reasons the Dresden Diamond is so unique is the way the color is uniformly distributed throughout the stone. Believed to have originated in India in the 18th century, the Dresden Green is one of several famous Green Diamonds, which also include The Ocean Dream and The Chopard Chameleon.

Another famous Green diamond to make the headlines is actually not strictly a Green color stone. The Chopard Chameleon, a 31.31ct Oval-cut diamond, appears green in bright light but looks yellow in darkness. This stone was actually one of the first stones reported by the GIA as a chameleon back in the late 1950s by a Mr. Peter Kaplan.

For inquiries regarding natural green diamonds browse through our vast collection or contact us at: info@leibish.com.

Browse through our wide selection of Natural Fancy Green Diamonds.