What Are Black Diamonds and Should You Buy Them?

What Is a Black Diamond?

A black diamond has the same chemical structure as a regular white diamond, and the two differ only in color.

Black diamond solitaire ring

Are Black Diamonds Real Diamonds?

Black diamonds are as real as white diamonds but are not as common. It should be noted, though, that there are diamonds whose color has been artificially changed to black. There are, however, genuine black diamonds that occur naturally.

Types of Black Diamonds

There are two kinds of black diamonds: those that occur naturally and those that used to have a different color (usually white) but have been dyed black.

Natural black diamonds are mined in Africa and Brazil, and are relatively rare. This type of black diamond is called “carbonado.”

Like white diamonds, natural black diamonds are made up of carbon, but their crystal structure is slightly different, making them more porous than other diamonds.

Treated black diamonds are regular diamonds whose color has been changed through treatment with heat or radiation. The physical and chemical characteristics of these stones are the same as those of white diamonds.

How Natural Black Diamonds Are Formed

Natural black diamonds, also called “carbonado”, can only be found in Brazil and Africa.

Although these stones have the same chemical composition as white diamonds, their crystal structure is different and they have many inclusions, causing them to differ in color.

There are different hypotheses as to how black diamonds were formed – some say that they were created within the earth under high pressure; others think that they came from space, on an asteroid that fell to earth some 2 million years ago.

To see what loose black diamonds look like, click here to browse a selection of black diamonds from James Allen.

Are Black Diamonds Naturally Colored?

Naturally occurring black diamonds are in short supply, and they can be mined only in Brazil and Africa. This is why many vendors take real diamonds of another color and turn them black through artificial treatment.

Very often, the original stones used are actually white diamonds of low-grade color and clarity. In fact, most of the black diamonds sold are not genuine “carbonado” stones but have been colored artificially.

What Are Enhanced or Treated Black Diamonds?

The black diamonds in this ring have been color-enhanced.

Enhanced or treated black diamonds are diamonds that have been colored artificially. Since natural black diamonds are very rare, jewelry manufacturers have begun to offer regular diamonds whose color has been turned black. In fact, most black diamonds on the market today have been treated to change their color.

How Are Enhanced Black Diamonds Made?

Enhanced black diamonds are created by treating white or yellowish diamonds with heat or radiation. Often, high pressure is also used.

This treatment changes the color of the stone, usually to dark green that appears black.

Some artificially black diamonds are created by applying a coating to their surface.

However, oftentimes this results in a color that is not durable, as the dark layer can come off after some time, or when the stone is cleaned.

What Is the Difference Between Natural and Enhanced Black Diamonds?

Both natural and artificial black diamonds have the same chemical and physical properties.

The main difference between these two types of stones is simply in the cause of their color – natural versus synthetic.

Although made of carbon, just like treated black diamonds, natural black diamonds tend to have a more porous structure.

Because of this characteristic, they also absorb light more fully, and look completely dark and opaque.

Treated black diamonds, on the other hand, can look shinier depending on how dark their treatment has made them.

The difference becomes more visible when the enhanced stone is put under a source of light – then it can become evident that the diamond has some translucence and is not completely opaque.

Under the light, you might also be better able to see that the stone’s actual color is dark green.

Buying an Enhanced Black Diamond

When buying a black diamond whose color has been enhanced artificially, don’t forget to ask about the method used to make the original stone black.

As already mentioned, the color of black diamonds that have been coated with a dye is less likely to be durable. (Black diamonds dyed this way are rare, though.)

Make sure to ask whether the black diamond you are purchasing requires special care.

For example, depending on the exact process of treatment, some enhanced black diamonds should not be exposed to high heat.

This is important to know because if you ever need to have your piece of jewelry repaired, the jeweler should be warned that the diamond in it has been colored synthetically, and it might not be a good idea to expose it to high temperature.

Related: See how you can create your own customized diamond ring.

Are Black Diamonds Low-Quality Stones?

Black diamonds are as real as white diamonds but are not as common.

Many people think that black diamonds are simply stones that have so many inclusions as to look black.

Actually, the color of natural black diamonds is not only due to their inclusions but also due to their unique structure, which affects how they reflect light, most of which is absorbed by the stone.

Lab-created black diamonds, on the other hand, owe their color to their treatment, not their structure. Whether the original diamond whose color was changed was a high quality stone is another story, though.

Since black diamonds are usually cheaper, it is highly unlikely that a jewelry dealer would take an expensive white diamond of the highest quality and change its color just to sell it for less money.

But would you really care what the clarity, color, or cut of the original stone was when none of these characteristics affect its appearance once it’s black?

Regardless of their origin, such stones will have a very low clarity grade simply because of their color and structure.

However, keep in mind that the traditional quality guidelines used to evaluate white diamonds are not really applicable to black diamonds. That’s why the term “low quality” is not very meaningful when used for these stones.

Related: Browse loose diamonds and search stones by price, color, carat, clarity, and cut.

Black Diamonds vs. White Diamonds: What Is the Difference?

Here are some of the most important characteristics on which black and white diamonds differ:

Structure

Although black diamonds are identical to white ones from a chemical standpoint, the structure of black diamonds is different.

This difference causes them to absorb most of the light that falls onto their surface, causing them to appear opaque. Black diamonds are also more porous than white ones.

Color

The difference in color between black and white diamonds is obvious, but it is worth noting that black stones are not simply diamonds of low-quality color.

Since the black is a result of these stones’ unique crystal structure, the conventional grading standards used for white diamonds are not applicable to black ones.

Clarity

Contrary to what some people think, black diamonds are not just regular diamonds of very low clarity.

Diamond clarity refers to the number, size, and visibility of internal and external flaws, whereas the color in black diamonds is not only due to “defects”.

Although a black diamond’s clarity can be graded with the lowest possible grade, the truth is that the usual clarity grades assigned to white diamonds are not really useful for grading black ones.

Price

Black diamonds are usually cheaper than white ones.

This is partly because many of the black diamonds on the market are actually created in a lab. Natural black diamonds are relatively rare.

Should You Buy Black Diamonds?

Whether you like black diamonds is a matter of taste. Don’t expect these stones to display any brilliance or sparkle similar to that of white diamonds.

Many people buy black diamonds because they just find them interesting and exotic.

Black diamonds are usually cheaper than their white counterparts. They can be a good choice if you want to add a black stone to your jewelry collection.

Of course, an onyx or a similar stone would also do the trick, but black diamond has unparalleled durability.

Black diamonds are especially suitable for white settings, which make these stones stand out. Platinum, white gold, and silver are all good choices to have a black diamond set in.

If you want an even stronger contrast, consider pieces that combine black diamonds with white ones, whose sparkle will greatly enhance the appearance of your jewelry.

Buying Black Diamonds: Natural vs. Treated Stones

You might be wondering whether it is better to buy a natural black diamond or a treated one.

The reality is that you may not have much of a choice, as genuine carbonado diamonds are relatively rare, and many stores do not carry them. Most black diamonds on the market have actually been treated artificially.

A treated black diamond may be your only option, but is there any downside to buying such a stone instead of a natural one?

For the most part, whether a black diamond is natural or dyed doesn’t make much of a difference. Treated black diamonds have the same composition as other diamonds and are just as hard.

The only thing you need to pay attention to when buying a treated stone is if there any special directions for cleaning and care. Depending on the method used to turn the stone black, it may not be advisable for it to be exposed to high temperatures as this might alter the diamond’s color.

As already mentioned, if you need to have your black-diamond jewelry repaired, you should warn the jeweler that the stone is treated so that he or she is careful when handling it.

Evaluating the Quality of Black Diamonds

Evaluating the quality of a black diamond is not exactly the same as evaluating that of a white one.

For example, standard color grading is not really applicable to black stones as they are either black or very dark grey. Clarity grading is also not feasible, as black diamonds are not transparent and clear at all.

The cut of black diamonds is a characteristic that cannot be evaluated in the same way as that of white diamonds.

For one thing, the traditional quality grade of cut is linked to how it enhances the brilliance of a diamond, and since black diamonds don’t reflect any light, they also don’t have any brilliance.

When looking at the cut of a black diamond, you should simply make sure that the stone has such proportions that will make it look good when it is mounted.

For example, sometimes it might be desirable to choose a shallower cut, which will make the stone’s visible surface look bigger when the diamond is mounted.

Prices of Black Diamonds

Black diamonds are usually cheaper than white ones of passable quality. This is not always true, however – natural black diamonds are relatively rare, and some of them can be quite expensive.

As already mentioned, you are much more likely to see treated black diamonds instead of natural ones when shopping.

This doesn’t mean that someone wouldn’t try to sell you a treated stone at a much higher price by passing it off as a natural black carbonado.

To make sure you know what you are actually buying, shop for black diamonds at reputable jewelry stores, and always ask for the grading report of the stone to see what its origin is, i.e., if it is natural or treated.

The diamond certificate should be issued by a reputable and independent third-party organization such as the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) or the AGS (American Gem Society).

Click here to see prices of black diamonds from James Allen.

Choosing a Setting for a Black Diamond

If your black diamond is going to be put in a setting, consider the metal it will be made of. Black diamonds go especially well with white, so a setting that is made of platinum, white gold, or silver is a good choice.

Of these metals, platinum is the most durable but also the most expensive. Silver, on the other hand, is cheap but pretty soft. While not as durable as platinum, white gold holds up reasonably well and costs less.