Personal Consultation
By Benji, Content ManagerOne of the reasons colored diamonds are so sought after is because they are so incredibly rare and unique. However, there are some colors, such as blue that are even rarer than most other members of the fancy colored diamond family. In fact, blue diamonds are considered among the rarest of the collection.
Between their rarity and their exquisite and regal color, blue diamonds are extremely valuable. The fascinating structure of the blue diamond has made it become one of the most famous and expensive jewels of all time.
The Origin of the Blue Color
Every colored diamond has a cause for its color. Interestingly enough, the origin is often some sort of element or impurity present in the structure of the diamond. This is also the case with blue diamonds. Traces of boron, as well as nitrogen, are found in blue diamonds, and this is what causes the remarkable blue color.
Blue Diamonds Ranging in Color and Intensity
Type Ia, Ib, IIa, and IIb Diamonds
All diamonds are divided into four categories known as Type Ia, Type Ib, Type IIa, and Type IIb. The first group, Type Ia, is the most common, and most colored diamonds belong to this category. Clusters of nitrogen are found in these diamonds, which leave traces of color. Only a small percentage of diamonds are type Ib diamonds. These diamonds also contain nitrogen, but they are found individually and not in clusters. This results is found often in green stones. Type II is much less common than Type I. Very few diamonds are IIa or IIb. The former includes either very colorless diamonds or diamonds with colors such as pink and purple. The latter includes incredibly unique blue diamonds.
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0.54 carat, Fancy Intense Blue, Type IIb, Oval |
An example of a Type IIb Diamond Certificate |
Most Famous Blue Diamonds
The most famous blue diamonds are naturally both relatively large in carat weight and have an exquisite blue color. For example, the Wittelsbach-Graff Blue Diamond is one of the most famous blue diamonds. It is also one of the most expensive diamonds sold at auction. The 31.06-carat Fancy Vivid Gray Blue stone with an IF clarity sold for $35 million. Another very famous blue diamond is the Blue Hope Diamond, a 45.52-carat Fancy Deep Grayish-Blue VS1 diamond. The Heart of Eternity is a 27.64-carat heart-shaped Fancy Vivid Blue diamond.
Highest Prices for Blue Stones Sold at Auction
Blue diamonds tend to receive lots of attention since they are infrequently auctioned off. It is for this reason that blue diamonds sold at auction are quite noteworthy. Two such stones include the famous Wittelsbach-Graff Diamond and the 7.03-carat blue cushion-cut diamond, which sold for $9 million at Sotheby’s. The former diamond has a rich history and is a whopping 31.06 carats. The latter stone was discovered much more recently and fetched a might impressive sum.
It is not often that blue diamonds are stumbled upon, but when they are, they make waves. Many diamond collectors will not see or own a blue diamond, but they all wish to. That is the way it works; the rarer the commodity, the more desirable and valuable it becomes.
Contributor: Benji Margolese
