Is a Diamond a Gemstone? What's the Difference?
KNOW YOUR STONES
Is a Diamond a Gemstone? What's the Difference?
"Aren't gemstones just lower quality diamond alternatives?"
Read on for a brief explanation of the differences between diamonds and gemstones and whether that's even the right distinction to make in the first place...
The Definition
To start with a boring gemological definition ;) A gem or gemstone is a precious stone that possesses:
- beauty,
- durability and
- rarity.
If these 3 conditions are fulfilled we call stones ‘gem-quality’ stones vs. stones that are used for industrial purposes. Gemstones may then be cut and polished (and often treated as well) to be prepared for use in jewelry or they can remain in their natural form and they may or may not be set in a piece of jewelry.
More precisely, most gemstones are:
- made of minerals,
- which occur naturally in the earth,
- with a defined chemical composition and
- a clear atomic structure.
Now as you know, diamonds can also come in colors… Where do they fit in this picture? We will never call them ‘colored gemstones’ but refer to them as ‘colored diamonds’ or ‘fancy colour diamonds’.
Colour in Diamonds
The colour of diamonds is typically described and graded through the colour grading scale of D-to-Z which was invented by the GIA (the Gemological Institute of America, the biggest gemological institute in the world with a focus on diamonds in particular).
The colors range from the best colorless (or ‘white’) D-diamonds through light yellow, with Z being a heavily tinted yellow diamond. But all diamonds along this D-to-Z scale are still considered ‘white diamonds’. So, a Z-diamond is a heavily tinted white diamond. Diamonds in the D-to-Z range generally decrease in value as the colour becomes more evident.
Now fancy colour diamonds is another story. These are yellow and brown diamonds that exhibit colors beyond the Z range (so more intense yellows and browns) or diamonds of another colour altogether. They can come in any colour, the ‘least valuable’ of the fancy colour diamonds being the intense yellow and brown ones. Red, green, purple and orange diamonds are considered the most rare, followed by pink and blue diamonds.
These fancy colour diamonds are extremely rare and very valuable; we are talking about Sotheby’s and Christie’s type of quality (or Liz Taylor, Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez-kind of quality who either got engaged in fancy colour diamonds or just owned a few pieces).
Most fancy diamond colors are not intense or pure in colour however, but rather muted. For instance, a good quality ‘pink diamond’ is still very pale pink compared to a good quality pink sapphire or spinel!
Colored Gemstones
So, colored gemstones simply refer to the colorful gem species instead of to the colorless diamonds and are not, per definition, of lesser quality at all.
Both diamonds and colour stones can come in lower and in the highest quality but they need to be graded on a case-by-case basis and with their own respective grading system.
Also lesser well-known colored gemstones like red and pink spinels, tsavorite garnets, paraiba tourmalines can sell for several tens of thousands of dollars, wholesale price…
When you realize on top of that that most diamonds up to 3 or 4 carat are not rare at all and of average quality - with inflated profit margins and prices that are kept artificially high through supply and demand being controlled by a cartel of the diamond producing companies - you see nothing is as straightforward as you might have thought.
Are you thinking about taking the plunge into the world of colour but aren't quite sure whether you're ready to steer away from the plain diamond? Let me know if I can help with any questions about precious colored gemstones!
And if you're ready to start your journey with a bespoke rare gemstone jewelry piece: arrange a complimentary - virtual or in-person - consultation with me to discover the jewel that's best for you!
