Are Grey Diamonds the Latest Trend? Here’s a Complete Buying Guide
Grey diamonds are classic alternatives to natural diamonds. Anyone who grabs a look will instantly fall in love with its mystical look. For brides who want fancy colored diamonds, gray diamonds are a sure shot. These premium stones are trending on social media because of their unique appearance and subtle brilliance.
However, there are still many who don’t know such diamonds exist!
So if you’ve already thought about pink and yellow diamonds, here’s a different alternative for your engagement ring — even better when it’s custom made jewelry.
What are Grey Diamonds?
Thinking of being bold before tying the knot? Maybe you want jewelry with colored diamonds that suit a specific look? Whatever be the motive, grey diamonds are sleek and luxurious for any consumer wanting a change. While grey isn’t a natural diamond color, it is certainly appealing for most consumers.
A gray diamond is a rare entity that comes in a variety of shades and tones. Just like a pink diamond, this stone is elusive and quite in demand. From dark hues to cool undertones, grey diamonds showcase a variety of colors, all of which are beautiful. Whether you’re opting for a wedding ring or simply want a promise ring, a grey colored diamond is the best choice for a fresh new look.
How are grey diamonds formed?
As it turns out, this type of diamond is what we call ‘grace from waste’ since the diamonds are not man made as such. Naturally when a diamond interacts with hydrogen and boron during its formation, it turns grey. The final saturated hue can create shades of varying intensities so this isn’t a stone you’ll easily come by. They are collected from diamond deposits prevalent in India, Brazil, Russia, Australia and South Africa.
Consumers generally want colorless diamonds but that’s obviously at a huge cost. With a grey colored diamond ring, you’re actually saving money (for now). The natural beauty of such diamonds is much appreciated by modern couples, celebrities and mindful consumers. The diamonds are not a waste product but have become exclusive for being rare anomalies. They are quite a sustainable choice since they’re naturally formed.
Do they sparkle enough?
In the end, even a grey diamond is just a diamond. So yes, it sparkles enough. This type of diamond reduces the labor you would put while hunting for a premium diamond. While understanding the 4Cs is important, a grey diamond is great at hiding inclusions. When it comes to its sparkle and brilliance, it catches light and reflects it back moderately – just enough for a subtle radiance. If you don’t like bright sparkling diamonds and would prefer a more sober colored stone, a grey colored diamond is value for money.
Are they more expensive versus regular diamonds?
This brings us to our next point: Are grey diamonds really expensive? For the time being it’s safe to say that the cost doesn’t override premium white diamonds. Most consumers believe grey diamonds are rare and therefore expensive. This isn’t the case since their anonymity meets the supply-demand chain in the industry. For now these diamonds are reasonably priced for the aesthetic value they bring to most consumers. Pink diamonds are far more expensive compared to grey diamonds. On an average, anything less than 1 carat would stand between $2000 to $2500 irrespective of its cut and clarity.
Grey Diamonds Buying Guide
The highest cost of such diamonds goes up to $7000 to $10,000 which is for a 2 carat diamond. A white diamond of the same carat with the highest color grade, and spectroscopic properties would amount to more especially if you’re going for a brilliant round cut. Assuming you do choose a grey diamond for a wedding ring, the additional cost you put in would vary. The price per carat for such a diamond is low.
So if you choose the ideal 1 carat grey diamond, you’ll want to choose a cut and a setting that sits well within your budget – and offers a wonderful radiance. For e.g. if you choose a white gold setting for a grey colored diamond, you’d be paying $500 additional for a solitaire setting. For a split shank setting or a halo embellishment, you can expect to add in anywhere between $1500 to $2000 depending upon the finished look.
A smart way to buy grey diamonds is by going for custom made rings. A lot of men prefer this color tone and include melee diamonds in the design. The ideal cut you’d want to experiment with could be a round, princess cut or a cushion cut. They compliment the halo setting or pave styled white diamonds, which in turn contrasts beautifully against a grey centrepiece. These diamonds are commonly mounted on platinum or white gold bands. When you embellish the grey with miniature diamonds, make sure you choose diamonds with good clarity and excellent color grading.
Grey Diamond Ring Undertones
While hunting for a fancy grey diamond, there are many beautiful accents to choose from. From dramatic hues to cool undertones, gray diamonds are extremely rare with high clarity ratings. The colors vary featuring distinct intensity levels:
- Faint Grey
- Light Gray
- Fancy Grey
- Dark Grey
Fancy grey diamonds get their color tones because of the hydrogen and boron concentration in their structural bonding. Just like white diamonds, these too have quality clarity ratings with VVS being the highest. These diamonds are quite sought after since they present a wonderful blend of hues like the ‘salt & pepper’ look which is both raw and unconventional. Grey diamonds showcase visual birthmarks that are in fact inclusions. Who would have thought these imperfections would become iconic?
When your diamond has high levels of white and black inclusions, it blends together to form a textured undertone that’s neither white or black. These visible flecks are considered to be beautiful imperfections giving the diamond its unique look. Since these diamonds have a unique number of inclusions, they’re considered a rarity. We recommend consumers to settle for diamonds having dark grey undertones that contrast wonderfully against pave diamonds. If you’re looking to reduce the darkness or pronounce it more, pick the right setting.
Some Facts about Grey Diamonds
Historically you’ll find that the Wittelsbach-Graff diamond is a rare 35.5 carat fancy deep grey diamond. It dates back to the 1600s and is one of the most beautiful diamond pieces of all times. These diamonds have an understated rawness and they’re considered secondary gradients against diamonds having cool blue tones and deepened yellow tints. These color tones can range from stormy greys to hazy whites.
What cuts suit gray diamond rings?
A lot of jewelry experts love the diamond’s subtle visuals. When modern couples want identical looking rings, this type of diamond offers a better price for two versus a white round brilliant. Whether you choose half a carat or go for 1 carat diamond rings, you can easily experiment with princess cuts and radiant cuts for an engagement ring. Additionally you can surround your gray diamond with white pave stones such that the grey undertone stands out even more. We recommend a rose cut which is both timeless and shapely. Since it has a flat bottom and oversized surface area, it won’t need a halo setting. Geometric diamond shapes are ideal for gray diamonds since a large surface area enhances the diamond’s brilliance.
Would you buy a gray diamond ring?
Consumers who love visible imperfections choose the gray stone over a white diamond owing to its natural appeal. Despite being rare, they’re cheaper than traditional white diamonds that have dominated the gemstone industry for years. With a gray diamond, you can settle for a large stone but when you’re thinking about durability, a prong setting is the safest bet. These diamond rings can have specks of translucency or may appear more opaque. Either way, they’re budget friendly and have a unique look. Their neutral tone makes them the perfect choice for men’s engagement rings and jewelry designs.