Yellow Diamonds
Yellow diamonds were first discovered in South Africa in the 1860s, where they were originally called "Cape diamonds." They are the most common coloured diamonds after white, making up 60 per cent of all fancy-coloured diamonds. Despite this prevalence, yellow diamonds are still extraordinarily rare; only one in every 16,500 carats mined is classified as a Fancy Vivid yellow diamond.
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Yellow diamonds are formed when nitrogen enters the stone's chemical makeup. Most white diamonds contain a degree of nitrogen, which is considered an impurity. The higher the nitrogen content, the stronger the yellow hue. On the D to Z colour scale used to grade white diamonds, colourless stones (graded D-F) command the highest prices. However, diamonds with strong yellow tones that fall outside the Z grade are classified as 'fancy' coloured and are assessed using a different scale that gemologists use to assess colour saturation.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has a coloured diamond grading scale that ranges from Fancy Light to Fancy, Fancy Dark, Fancy Deep, and Fancy Intense, with Fancy Vivid being the rarest and most coveted grade. The way a yellow diamond is cut can influence its colour's intensity; jewellers often use radiant cuts because their multiple facets enhance the hue. Consequently, emerald-cut fancy-coloured diamonds are the rarest. To achieve a strong colour saturation in this cut, without the help of facets, the colour must be spread evenly throughout the stone.
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Saturation isn’t the only characteristic that affects a yellow diamond’s desirability. Yellow diamonds can have orange, brown or green tones like paint colours. Preference for one tone over another is a personal choice, but ‘pure’ yellow stones are the most sought-after. However, more recently, orange-yellow diamonds have become highly prized.
Like white diamonds, yellow diamonds contain individual inclusions and blemishes; flawless emerald-cut Fancy Vivid yellows are true collectors’ stones.
The market for yellow diamonds has risen in the past two decades, partly due to increased interest, as celebrities wear them on the red carpet, but moreover, as consumers become more aware of the beauty and rarity of these sunshine-hued stones. As jewellery connoisseurs seek to diversify, yellow diamonds represent a magnificent springboard into the exclusive world of coloured diamonds.
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Kimberley Yellow Diamonds
The Kimberley mine in the Northern Cape province has been in operation since 1886 and was at the heart of the 19th-century South African diamond rush. It has long been a source of important diamonds, and the region is particularly famous for producing top-quality yellow stones, such as the Kimberley Octahedron, the largest natural yellow diamond in the world, which was discovered in 1972.
The Kimberley mine is an important source of enrichment for the local community. In addition to providing safe working conditions, well-paid jobs, and opportunities to develop new skills, the operating mining company Ekapa invests in community outreach and support beyond its immediate workforce. It also funds environmental projects to protect South Africa’s natural habitat and right any disruption caused by mining.
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The Kimberley Yellow Diamond Ring
An extraordinary opportunity arose to acquire a 40.91ct rough yellow diamond directly from the famous Kimberley mine in South Africa. The Kimberley Sunshine diamond was named in homage to its bright yellow hue and storied origin.
Our gemmologists had expected that the rough Kimberley Sunshine Diamond would yield a 20ct cushion-cut fancy yellow diamond with VS clarity. What emerged instead from the cutters’ wheel was a 22.09ct cushion-cut fancy yellow diamond that was internally flawless, as well as an additional 4.5ct Cape diamond from the same rough.
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