A. Blue Diamond Engagement Rings: 9 Things To Know
Have you fallen in love with the seductive color of blue diamonds? From oil green to peacock blue to steel gray, there are some beautiful stones. But did you know that the value of your blue diamond engagement ring depends on whether it is a natural, laboratory or treated blue? Less than 1% of mined diamonds are naturally blue! Therefore, it is very important to know how the diamond got its color. Let’s talk about getting the best return on your investment.
1. There are natural blue diamonds – but they are extremely rare and very expensive
Did you know that Hope Diamond is naturally blue? True story! Blue diamonds get their distinctive hue from invisible particles of a chemical element called “boron”. These tiny particles penetrate the diamond crystal as it forms deep in the earth and color it blue! So there are natural blue diamonds. However, they are very rare (Hope is sitting on a pillow at the Smithsonian Museum! I saw her!). Therefore, natural blues are very expensive. In fact, even extremely bright natural blues sell for tens of thousands of dollars.
2. Most blue diamond engagement rings sold today are lab-made or treated diamonds
Instead, virtually every blue diamond sold today (or at least all of them under $20,000) had a little help from gem scientists. The fact is, while most people love the look of blue diamonds, not all of us can (or want) to buy something that rare. So gem labs have come up with two smart ways to give us what we want at a better price. The two most common types of blue diamond engagement rings selected today are Treated Blues and Lab Blues!
3. Lab and treated blue diamond engagement rings are affordable
a. Engagement rings with treated blue diamonds
The treated blue tones actually start life as white diamonds with a warm color grade. Since the color gradations of these diamonds can be a little too hot for most people in a “white” diamond, diamond scientists take them to color! Gem scientists color diamonds in different colors by radiating them. That said, they use special machines to change the outermost layer of the diamond’s crystal structure and make it blue. This treatment is safe, permanent and results in a beautiful color. Treated blue tones are typically a distinct bright turquoise blue.
b. Lab blue diamond engagement rings
Diamond scientists have also recently discovered how to make lab-grown blue diamonds! Lab blues are full blue diamonds that are made from the ground in a lab. They have exactly the same chemical and visual properties as natural blue. Laboratory diamonds are made by placing a natural diamond “seed crystal” in a small chamber filled with ordinary gases. When scientists want to make blue stones, they add boron. Once all elements have been added to the chamber, the elements are heated. As the heat increases, layers of blue diamond begin to form in the seed diamond crystal, causing a large blue laboratory to grow.
4. Lab Blues has the same characteristics as Natural Blues
As with natural blue, the tone of laboratory blue can range from light gray blue to medium light blue to dark green blue. Because the color comes from boron, each lab blue is a little different! Both natural and lab blues are 10/10 on the Mohs hardness scale, have unique inclusions and individual colors. These new gems are wonderful – you can’t tell them apart from natural blue diamonds without further testing!
5. Lab and treated blue diamond engagement rings are a fraction of the price of natural blues
Couples looking for a beautiful blue diamond engagement ring get great value from a treated or blue gemstone. Natural blue is the second rarest color in the world (second only to red)! This makes them very expensive. However, couples can enjoy the glamor of a blue diamond at an affordable price by opting for a lab or treated blue. See the price difference!
6. Those you saw on the islands were also treated (you didn’t miss any deals)
I speak to many couples who, after learning more about blue diamonds in the United States, would have liked to buy something they thought was natural blue on the islands. Do not worry. Blue diamonds sold there are laboratory or treated. Often, jewelers outside the United States do not have the same disclosure laws as we do. In other words, they may not need to tell customers if the gems they’ve purchased are treated. But every blue diamond I’ve ever valued on the islands has been a treated blue diamond. And given the rarity of the blues, there’s no way the island’s stores can be filled with natural stones. You are good.
7. Natural, Lab and Treated Blues are scored the same
As they are all diamonds, Natural, Lab and Treated Blues are valued equally. I hear:
a. Color
The color of a diamond is made up of three things: the color of the rainbow, how light or dark it is, and how vivid or gray that color is. With “fancy” colored diamonds like blue, a diamond’s value increases with the depth and intensity of the color. Most natural shades of blue are a little gray. Most treated blue shades are greenish blue. Blue diamonds in the lab are available in all areas! Each blue diamond color starts with the term “fantasy”, for example “fantasy light blue”.
Pro tip: If you want to look similar to your natural blue, don’t go for something super shiny. These natural diamonds are so rare that most jewelers and even auction houses have never seen them. In other words, people assume that a light blue diamond is treated. If you want them to look at them and ask, choose a lighter blue, more gray – that’s the most natural look of blue tones!
b. Clarity
Diamond clarity is how “crystal clear” the diamond is. In other words, how many internal markings (“inclusions”) does the stone have or not. Couples should be aware that many (if not most) treated blue diamonds are quite poor in purity. In fact, these inclusions were one of the reasons these diamonds were irradiated blue. Unfortunately, the clarity of these gemstones is often so poor that you can see the inclusions with the naked eye. Ugly. Couples who opt for Treated Blues should therefore look specifically for VS Clarity Stones.
Natural and laboratory stones tend to have fewer inclusions than treated blue shades. However, couples should make sure that their gemstone is “eye-clean”. In other words, the stone’s inclusions are invisible to the naked eye. The degree of purity you need to have a clean eye stone depends on the cut and carat weight. Read more about clarity here!
c. Carat weight
Carat weight is a measure, not a size. Therefore, couples should always look at the physical dimensions of a stone to see how big it is, rather than relying on its carat weight. As mentioned earlier, natural blues are incredibly rare. Therefore, you will see very high prices for gemstones as low as 0.10ct. Treated blues and lab diamonds can come in much larger sizes at better prices.
d. Cut
In addition to the diamond’s shape, “cut” means how well the diamond’s angles are aligned to reflect light. We encourage couples to look for “Excellent” cut GIA diamonds that offer great shine and easy return. However, there are nuances in each form – trading tips and tricks, if you will. So once you’ve decided on your format, head to our Resources section to learn how to get the most for your money.
8. Blue is a large center stone, side stone or wedding ring stone
While blue diamonds create an eye-catching center stone, they can also be used as side stones or as a wedding ring sparkle! One of my favorite looks right now is a double halo, with a halo being colored. So if you think a little color in your engagement ring is right for you, try blue! However, if you don’t want too much, a few smaller stones around a white center really add a nice splash of color.
9. You should also consider blue sapphire, blue topaz, blue spinel, and aquamarine
There are other blue engagement rings too! Couples looking for blue diamond engagement rings should also consider blue sapphire, blue topaz, blue spinel and aquamarine. All of these gemstone engagement rings are blue, durable and beautiful. Sapphire is one of the hardest minerals in the world, which makes it a great alternative to blue diamonds. Couples should also be aware that blue sapphire and blue spinel are often richer in color than diamond. So if you’re looking for a deep royal blue, you’ll find sapphire or spinel more to your liking. After all, topaz and aquamarine are wonderfully affordable options in very large sizes. This is ideal for couples looking for a great look at a cost-effective price.
10. Can you help me design a beautiful blue engagement ring?
I can! And I will go! My name is Corinne, I’m the gemologist and I love it! Although Do Amore doesn’t have blues listed on our site, you can get it if you want! Send me an email here and I will be happy to discuss blue diamond engagement rings with you. We can discuss what you think, what style to choose, and design the perfect blue engagement ring for your budget. Then I’ll make a custom blues search available to you.
B. 9 Enchanting Blue Diamond Rings For A Bling Of “something Blue”
Since the invention of the gem ring as a symbol of love, men look for the most sought after and rare stones to decorate these metal bracelets. One such gemstone is the blue diamond, and blue diamond rings are often the first choice for anyone wanting to give her a diamond as rare and beautiful as she is. In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the blue diamond rings that stunned us and talk a little bit about what makes a blue diamond ring so great. Here’s a teaser: It’s a diamond AND it’s blue – how much more original and adorable can you be?!
1. Natural Blue Diamond Rings
a. Intense and chic blue diamond ring
This ring is number one for a reason. An intense blue round cut diamond surrounded by smaller blue diamonds. Impressive. We’re pretty sure this is the ring Prince Charming gave Cinderella. It’s perfect.
b. Very light blue diamond ring
The diamond and white gold setting that frames this beautiful diamond brings out that subtle blue. This one is great for the girl who loves to be prom beauty.
c. Royal blue diamond ring extracted from natural earth
This is such a classic and delicate ring. Royal blue will remind her that she is like a queen in her eyes. Perfect for asking the question.
d. Chic blue diamond ring
Here is another pink diamond and gold ring with a star-shaped design that actually shows off the blue diamond in the center.
e. Fancy light blue-green diamond ring
Are you looking for a cocktail ring that will turn some heads? Try it out to see the size. Your whole hand will glow.
2. Enhanced Blue Diamonds – all the beauty at half the price
Looking for a blue diamond ring but on budget? An enhanced blue diamond is a natural diamond that has been color enhanced – it retains all the beauty of a blue diamond for a fraction of the price.
a. 14K White Gold Victorian Blue Diamond Engagement Ring
This ring is so beautiful! The color of the stone is particularly vibrant and the setting is super elegant – it really is a ring not to be missed.
b. Princess cut blue diamond engagement ring
We love the unique setting for this ring. Available in 14K pink gold, yellow gold, white gold and platinum.
c. Blue Diamond 18K White Gold Engagement Ring
Halo diamond rings remind us of classic 1920s glamour. Think gatsby and flapper dresses with sequins and fringes. You can see this This ring would fit exactly.
d. Classic Three Stone Blue Diamond Engagement Ring
This princess cut ring will wrap your finger in rich blue diamonds. What could be better than this?
3. What is the difference between blue diamond rings and other diamonds?
a. Blue diamonds are formed naturally
Many think that blue diamonds are uniquely refined, but this is not true. While you can certainly buy upgraded blue diamonds, true blue diamonds come naturally from the earth. They get their different shades of blue from boron within the carbon structure of the diamond. Blue diamonds come straight from the earth in light blue, violet blue, gray blue, dark blue and even blue green.
b. They are extremely rare and sought after.
Blue diamonds belong to a group of diamonds known as Fancy Color Diamonds. It’s not the most poetic name for these glittering stones, but there it is. Besides the red diamond (go ahead, you know you want to see it), they are the rarest of all. When we say rarely, we mean that the majority of blue diamonds make up 0.1% of the world’s most sophisticated colored diamonds. So yes. You won’t find many straight from the ground. This rarity, of course, means they are more expensive than other extravagantly colored diamonds and are highly sought after by gem collectors and dealers around the world.
4. Pricing for a natural blue diamond
Because of the variables involved, it is difficult to determine the value of a blue diamond. Price ranges vary dramatically mainly because of their color. Because they are so rare and each blue diamond is unique, the old standards of clarity and cut for carats are not as reliable when it comes to determining their value. Needless to say, finding a reliable, GIA-certified gemologist is important when trying to assess the value of a natural blue diamond.
5. What about highlighted blue diamonds?
Enhanced blue diamonds are still natural diamonds, folks. What converts them from transparent to blue are the color enhancement processes they go through. Color enhancement treatments will not damage the diamond, but will result in a permanent color change (preferably one that will please buyers!).
Here’s a quick summary of some of the most common color enhancement techniques:
- Irradiation is the most common treatment used to create an enhanced blue diamond. In this process, the stone is exposed to high-energy particles that displace the carbon in the stone’s natural composition.
- This change in the gem’s physical properties causes the change in color as the altered carbon atoms rearrange to develop their blue color. It is then heated in a process called annealing.
High pressure and high temperature (HPHT) treatments are also widely used to create an enhanced blue diamond. In this process, the diamond is subjected to incredible amounts of heat and pressure, which is what causes the color to change. It’s the same process that creates a natural stone beneath the earth’s crust, except that it doesn’t take millions of years, but rather a few hours in the laboratory. Although upgraded blue diamonds are cheaper than natural blue diamonds, we still consider them to be beautiful. Also, unless you’re a trained professional with a keen eye, it’s really hard to tell them apart.
6. The most famous blue diamond of all
Blue diamonds are among nature’s most incredible creations. Damn, diamonds are amazing, period. Still, there is something intriguing about the mystique that surrounds natural blue diamonds. In addition to endless rumors of curses and complaints, the gem stimulates the imagination and has been featured in all kinds of movies and literature. It now rests comfortably in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, weighs an impressive 45.52 carats and is estimated to be worth a meager $200-350 million.
