Why Are Chocolate Diamonds Really Hot?

Alexa knew something was up when she spotted a bag from a local jewelry store tucked behind the driver's seat of Robert's car. While she figured it was something sparkly he planned to give her over dinner that night, she had no idea how surprised she'd be when she finally opened the box.

The pendant inside was sparkly, all right, and absolutely stunning. But what exactly was it?

Robert, like so many other American males, had responded positively to a marketing campaign. The product in question was a chocolate diamond. In his case, the purchase included a large brown stone surrounded by white diamonds.

Retailers sell diamonds in a variety of colors - colorless, white, pink, yellow, blue, green, purple orange, brown and black. Any one of them can become a woman's best friend.

According to Buzzle.com, it's important to distinguish colored diamonds from less-costly colored gemstones. Unlike diamonds, which are made of carbon, gemstones are made of different materials. It's the spacing of nitrogen atoms in a diamond that largely determines its shade.

How the colors form

A chocolate diamond is, to put it simply, a brown stone. The more pressure from the earth on the diamonds inside it, the darker their color. A chocolate diamond's properties are similar to those of the traditional diamond except for its color.

Jewelers classify a number of diamond shades as chocolate. Typically they include chocolate, cognac, champagne, honey, close and cinnamon (the lightest brown). Chocolate, cognac and champagne are the most common.

The only known chocolate diamond deposits to be mined are the Argyle Diamond Mines in Australia, Africa and Russia.

Chocolate diamond jewelry

Traditionally, chocolate diamonds have been less expensive than their colorless cousins. Diamondvues reports that until very recently, stones with brownish hues and yellow overtones were considered low-color diamonds.

However, a promoter came up with the idea of marketing these stones as chocolate, champagne or cognac diamonds. Large retailers like Levian took these pariahs and turned around their popularity through a massive marketing effort.

The placement of these diamonds with traditional stones has created some gorgeous and highly desirable jewelry. As a matter of fact, most chocolate diamond jewelry is designed as a combination with other colors of gems. Chocolate diamonds frequently appear as centerpieces in rings or earrings. They also sell well in pendants, cuff links, bracelets, brooches, necklaces and watches.

Buzzle reports that earrings sell for $1,000 and up. The minimum price for a ring studded with these stones is around $500. One of the most popular combinations is aquamarine with chocolate diamonds.

How to buy one

It takes some care to shop for a chocolate diamond. This is because some retailers take lower-grade stones and expose them to radiation to alter the color to a shade of brown. They look like true chocolate diamonds but have no resale value.

It's important to always shop for a valued stone from a reputable, trusted jeweler. This retailer should be very willing to provide a certificate showing the origin of the diamond and attesting to its authenticity.

In general, the deeper the color, the more expensive a chocolate diamond will be. Because these diamonds catch the right at every angle, they've caught on with virtually all age groups. Chocolate diamond engagement rings are now considered hot.

Sources:

Buzzle.com site

Diamondvues site