A blue diamond is a naturally occurring diamond with hues of blue color due to the occurrence of an element called boron in the all-carbon structure of the diamond. The color range of a blue diamond varies from light blue to a dark deep blue. Some blue diamonds have hues of a secondary color like grey, green, or violet. Blue diamonds are not enhanced in any way to bring out the color they have; they occur naturally under the surface of the earth and are mined like all other diamonds.

It should be noted that blue diamonds are rarely found in only a few of the world’s mines. Mines that carry blue diamonds include the Argyle Mine from Australia, Cullinan Mine from South Africa, and the Golconda Mine from India. The deeper the blue color in a diamond, the more it is worth. Blue diamonds are much more expensive compared to colorless diamonds because they are scarce to find.

Where do blue diamonds originate from?

Blue diamonds are formed beneath the earth’s surface over the span of billions of years. Natural blue diamonds are not put under any enhancement treatment to give them their blue color; rather, they naturally have it due to the presence of boron in their carbon composition. Blue diamonds are often confused with sapphires, which belong to the corundum family and have traces of iron, titanium, copper, magnesium, and chromium to give them their blue color.

Blue diamond details

 A blue diamond’s value is rated based on the 4 Cs of diamonds. The 4 Cs of a diamond are its cut, clarity, color, and carat weight. The color of a blue diamond is the most important factor in determining its value because the deeper the blue color, the greater its value. This means that blue diamonds have a spectrum of colors, ranging from light blue to vivid shades of blue. Many blue diamonds have a secondary color present in them, giving them an even more interesting and unique look. These secondary colors alter the primary blue color of the diamonds and include grey, green, or violet. However, regardless of where the blue diamond falls on the color grade scale, it is bound to be stunning and extremely expensive to buy.

Intensity levels

The strength of a blue diamond’s colors is known as its color intensity level. Every fancy-colored diamond has a different intensity level by which its value is evaluated. Blue diamonds have a color scale that includes faint blue, really light blue, light blue, fancy light blue, intense blue, deep blue, vivid blue, and fancy dark. A blue diamond falls at the fancy dark range in the color scale due to the presence of a secondary color.

As mentioned earlier, blue diamonds are a rare find regardless of their color intensity level. However, pure color diamonds, which have no secondary color that alters their look, are the most unique. This is because a pure blue-colored diamond is difficult to obtain. The most common secondary color combinations in blue diamonds are grey and green-blue.

Rarity

Blue diamonds are extremely rare to find and are mined at only a few mines in the world. They are also more expensive than any other fancy color diamond, with the exception of red diamonds. Blue diamonds with higher carat weight, such as 2 or 3 carats, are even rarer to find and are extremely expensive. Since blue diamonds are so rare, collectors and diamond enthusiasts often keep an eye on any blue diamond they can buy to add it to their collections.

Cost

The cost of a blue diamond varies depending on its color intensity and carat weight. For example, a 0.3 carat of light blue diamond’s costs around $16,000 on average, whereas a 0.5 carat diamond in the same color range is about $26,000.

If a blue diamond has a secondary color present as part of the color combination, it can be more affordable than pure blue diamonds. For example, a 0.5-carat grey-blue diamond is priced at $32,000 compared to a 0.5-carat intense blue diamond which is priced at $210,800.

If you want to make your jewelry piece look special, you could opt for a smaller blue diamond below 0.3 carats paired with other stones. Suppose you place a small blue diamond in the center of a ring surrounded by colorless diamonds or any other gems. In that case, it will elevate the ring’s beauty and make it look extraordinarily unique.

Alternatives

Since blue diamonds may be out of your budget, you could opt for a lab-created fancy colored diamond that is much more affordable. However, it would be best if you remembered that fancy-colored diamonds created in labs are nowhere near the value of a naturally occurring blue diamond since they can be created at any time without specific geological conditions.

Frequently asked questions

• How are naturally colored diamonds formed?

Naturally colored diamonds are formed under immense pressure with compounds that develop together over the span of millions of years. Some people have found ways to create colored diamonds in labs artificially, but these diamonds are in no way natural and as valuable as a naturally colored diamond.

• How do fancy colored diamonds get their color?

The color of fancy-colored diamonds is due to different elements and impurities present in the pure carbon structure. For example, the presence of boron in a blue diamond gives it a beautiful blue color. Yellow diamonds have nitrogen as part of the compound structure, giving them a bright hue. The cause of the pink hue in pink diamonds is unknown, but many believe that the deformation in the lattice structure is responsible for a beautiful pink diamond.

• What color diamond is the most expensive?

Diamonds with the purest color, perfect clarity, and highest carat weight are the most expensive. Of all colored diamonds, a red diamond is the priciest. However, since a diamond’s value is measured according to the 4 Cs, this will only be applicable if other factors are just as perfect as the red color of the diamond.

• Do colored diamonds sparkle?

The sparkle of a colored diamond depends on the cut it has. They do not sparkle as colorless diamonds do; however, the sharper the cut, the fiercer the sparkle.

Conclusion

To sum it up, blue diamonds are one of the most sunning fancy-colored diamonds found and the rarest. They are found in only three to four mines on earth and need specific geological conditions to grow. The blue color present in the diamond is due to the presence of boron in the diamond’s compound structure. The deeper the blue color of a diamond, the more expensive it is. The diamond with the purest blue color is the priciest, so if you cannot afford it, you could buy a blue diamond with a secondary color like grey, green, or violet. If you want to make your jewelry piece stand out, you could buy a blue diamond lesser than 0.3 carats and surround it with other gemstones or colorless diamonds. If you can not afford a naturally occurring blue diamond, you could opt for its alternatives. Alternatives like lab-grown colored diamonds take way less time to create than natural-colored diamonds.