What are Green Diamonds
Most people don’t know that diamonds can be green too. It seems like the green color should be solely reserved for emeralds. However, green diamonds and green emeralds, as well as other green gemstones differ from each other in many ways.
Though green diamonds consist of elements that result in a green hue, the chemical structure is more or less the same as colorless diamonds. Both rank 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness whereas emeralds rank 7 and some other gemstones even lower. This means that green diamonds are far more durable than emeralds. Additionally, there are various color intensity levels and color combinations for green diamonds, resulting in many different beautiful shades. A green diamond can also give off a whole different look depending on its shape. The color is a direct symbol of nature and symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility. #
Natural fancy green diamonds are completely natural and are caused by exposure to atomic radiation. After natural fancy red diamonds, natural green diamonds are the second rarest.
What Causes the Color
The Origin of the Green Color
Most colored diamonds derive their colors from impurities and other elements. However, in the case of Green Diamonds, the origin of color is very different from other colored stones. It is actually atomic radiation or radioactivity during the diamond’s formation that causes the beautiful green color.
Cause of the Color
The green color, which is caused by exposure to atomic radiation or radioactivity, is extremely unique. So much so, that it is actually somewhat difficult to determine whether a green diamond is natural or treated. Many polishers purposely leave what is referred to as a Natural along the girdle of the stone. The purpose of the Natural is so any diamond associations, such as the GIA, can identify the natural color of the stone and thereof award it a certified diamond certificate.
Colors
Green color diamonds are among the rarest of the color diamond family. The seven natural color grades for natural fancy colored diamonds are, in ascending order, Faint, Very Light, Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid and Fancy Deep. Fancy Vivid and Fancy Deep the most desired hues.
A pure green color diamond can be found with eight different color intensity grades, as shown in the image below;
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From left to right: Faint Green, Very Light Green, Light Green, Fancy Light Green, Fancy Green, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid, and Fancy Deep
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Secondary Hues and Color Intensity
Green diamonds displaying a pure color are the most sought after as well as the most expensive among green diamonds. Having said that, there are diamonds that come in a wide range of secondary hue combinations, which are stunning and also quite valuable. These hues include Yellow, Yellowish, Green, Greenish, Blue, Bluish, Brown, Brownish, Grey, Greyish, Grey Yellowish, and Greyish Yellowish. In addition to the many color options, Green Diamonds are found in several intensities, which has a huge impact on the price of the diamond. The intensity levels for Green Diamonds are as follows: Faint, Very Light, Light, Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Intense, Fancy Vivid, and Fancy Deep.
Below is a full breakdown of the green color scale.
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The image above depicts images of green diamonds with different overtone colors in the various intensity grades. The green color scale is shown line by line from left to right:
First line: Fancy Light, Grayish Green Chameleon, Fancy Grayish Green Chameleon, Fancy Deep Gray, Yellowish Green Chameleon, Fancy Dark Gray Yellowish Green Chameleon, Fancy Light Grayish Yellowish Green, Fancy Grayish Yellowish Green
Second line: Fancy Gray Yellowish Green, Fancy Dark Gray Yellowish Green, Fancy Yellowish Green, Fancy Intense Yellowish Green, Fancy Vivid Yellowish Green, Fancy Deep Yellowish Green, Fancy Light Yellowish Green, Fancy Yellow Green
Third line: Fancy Intense Yellow Green, Fancy Vivid Yellow Green, Fancy Deep Yellow Green, Faint Green, Very Light Green, Light Green, Fancy Light Green, Fancy Green
Fourth line: Fancy Intense Green, Fancy Vivid Green, Fancy Deep Green, Fancy Gray Green, Fancy Grayish Green, Fancy Deep Grayish Green, Fancy Light Bluish Green, Fancy Bluish Green
Fifth line: Fancy Intense Bluish Green, Fancy Vivid Bluish Green, Fancy Deep Bluish Green, Fancy Light Blue Green, Fancy Blue Green, Fancy Intense Blue Green, Fancy Vivid Blue Green, Fancy Deep Blue Green
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The green diamond has a very strong emotional correspondence with safety as it is the most restful color for the human eye. Green suggests both stability and endurance. However, Aqua green is associated more with emotional healing and protection while Olive green is the traditional color of peace.
This is the reason why so many adore green color diamond jewelry in different types of pieces, such as earrings, rings, and pendants.
 
 
A few various pieces of Green Diamond Jewelry
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Shapes
Popular Shapes for Green Diamonds
Green diamonds can be cut into a wide range of fancy shapes including princess, emerald, asscher, pear, radiant, round, oval, marquise, heart, and cushion. The most recommended shapes for green diamonds are radiant and cushion, as they are cut in a way that best complements the stone’s color. However, pear, oval, and round green diamonds are very popular as well.
Examples
Examples of Green Diamonds
Now that we have explained a bit about green diamonds, their colors, and their shapes, we can give some example of stones, complete with their color intensity level, color combination, and shape. On the lighter end, you can find a light yellow green cushion diamond, and at the darker end there can be a Fancy dark gray yellowish green pear. If you are going for a pure hue, you can choose from a Fancy green radiant, a Fancy green cushion, a Fancy Deep green cushion, and a Fancy Deep green oval. If you are after a diamond with a bit of blue in it you might come across a Fancy Intense bluish green round, a Fancy Vivid Bluish green pear, or a Fancy Intense blue green radiant green diamond.
Most Famous Green Diamonds
Green diamonds are incredibly unique and should never be mistaken for other stones, as beautiful as they may be. There is nothing like the beauty of a diamond, and one that showcases an unusual green tone is even more unusual and special. LEIBISH has an impressive collection of Green Diamonds ranging in color, intensity level, size, and price.
The most famous green diamonds, which have managed to make quite a statement among the rare diamond collectors, are of different shades and colors.
"The approximately 41 carat Dresden Green diamond is the largest, and perhaps the finest, green diamond known to have a color of natural origin." (source: Kane, 1990). The Dresden Green is a 40.70 carat, pear shaped stone with a VS1 clarity grade. It was reported as one of the largest and finest natural green diamond ever discovered.
Having such a unique color combination, The Ocean Dream happens to be one of the rarest stones on earth. The diamond is a 5.51-carat, Fancy Deep Blue-Green, Shield-shaped diamond. It is actually the only natural diamond known with this color combination.
The Dresden Green diamond, a 40.70-carat Green Diamond, is the world’s most famous and largest green diamond. The Dresden Green has a clarity grade of VS-1, which was received by the GIA in 1988. One of the reasons the Dresden Diamond is so unique is the way the color is uniformly distributed throughout the stone. Believed to have originated in India in the 18th century, the Dresden Green is one of several famous Green Diamonds, which also include The Ocean Dream and The Chopard Chameleon.
Another famous Green diamond to make the headlines is actually not strictly a Green color stone. The Chopard Chameleon, a 31.31ct Oval-cut diamond, appears green in bright light but looks yellow in darkness. This stone was actually one of the first stones reported by the GIA as a chameleon back in the late 1950s by a Mr. Peter Kaplan.
For inquiries regarding natural green diamonds browse through our vast collection or contact us at: info@leibish.com.
Browse through our wide selection of Natural Fancy Green Diamonds.