Diamonds are prized for their sparkle, brilliance, and enduring beauty. As one of the hardest minerals on earth, diamonds can come in a variety of colors, from colorless to yellow, brown, pink, blue, and more. While colorless diamonds are the most popular, fancy colored diamonds like yellow diamonds are rare and valuable finds.
What Gems Can Be Confused for Yellow Diamonds?
There are a few yellow gemstones that can be mistaken for yellow diamonds at first glance:
- Citrine
- Yellow sapphire
- Yellow beryl
- Heliodor
- Golden topaz
- Golden zircon
These gems share a similar golden yellow hue as natural yellow diamonds. However, there are some key differences when examined closely.
How to Tell the Difference
Citrine
Citrine is a transparent yellow variety of quartz. It has a vitreous luster and ranges from a pale yellow to a deep golden brownish color. Natural citrine is rare, so most commercial citrine is heat treated amethyst or smoky quartz. Under magnification, citrine will show inclusions and only display a hint of yellow rather than a pure strong yellow.
Yellow Sapphire
Yellow sapphire is a golden variety of the mineral corundum. Under magnification, yellow sapphires will display inclusions like clouds and fingerprints that indicate their natural origin. Their color is also not as intensely saturated as natural yellow diamonds.
Yellow Beryl
Yellow beryl, sometimes called golden beryl, is a rare find. It ranges from a light yellow to a deeper golden hue. With a hardness of 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale, it’s softer than diamond’s rating of 10. Under magnification, you’ll see inclusions in yellow beryl.
Heliodor
Heliodor is a greenish-yellow or golden yellow variety of beryl. It will show inclusions under magnification. While heliodor does occur naturally, most gem-quality material is created by heat treatment. It has a hardness of 7.5-8.
Golden Topaz
Golden topaz has a yellow to gold color, sometimes with a brownish tint. As a variety of topaz, it has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs scale. Under magnification, inclusions will be visible. Natural golden topaz is quite rare, so most golden topaz gems are heat treated to produce the desirable color.
Golden Zircon
Golden zircon has a brilliant yellow color but lacks the fiery sparkle of a diamond. With a hardness between 6-7.5, it’s much softer than diamond. Under 10x magnification, you’ll be able to see inclusions in zircon.
What Makes a Yellow Diamond So Unique?
Now that we’ve compared some common diamond lookalikes, what makes natural yellow diamonds truly one-of-a-kind?
Color
Yellow diamonds get their golden color from nitrogen impurities present when they formed deep underground. The more saturated the yellow, the rarer and more valuable the diamond. Fancy vivid yellow diamonds are the most prized. Unlike other yellow gems, the color is intrinsic to the diamond and not from artificial treatment.
Sparkle
With their exceptional brilliance, yellow diamonds have a fire and liveliness unmatched by other yellow gems. While other gems may look somewhat similar at first glance, they lack the dazzling light performance of diamond.
Hardness
With a rating of 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, diamond is the hardest known mineral. Other yellow gems, while still hard, fall short of diamond’s unmatched durability and resistance to scratching.
Inclusions
Under magnification, most yellow gems will show inclusions, flaws, and minerals trapped during their formation. Under 10x magnification, yellow diamonds typically have very few or no inclusions visible due to their crystalline perfection.
Luster
Diamond has an extremely brilliant adamantine luster. The way light interacts with its surface gives it unmatched sparkle. Other yellow gems have a vitreous, resinous, or waxy luster that lacks diamond’s dazzling light performance.
How Rare are Yellow Diamonds Compared to Other Colored Diamonds?
Diamonds come in every color in the rainbow. However, yellow diamonds are one of the more rare and valuable colored diamond varieties.
| Diamond Color | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Yellow | 1-2% of diamonds |
| Pink | 2% of diamonds |
| Blue | Less than 0.1% of diamonds |
| Red | Less than 0.1% of diamonds |
| Green | Extremely rare |
| Orange | Very rare |
| Purple | Very rare |
| Brown | More common |
| Colorless | Most common diamond variety |
As you can see, yellow diamonds are far more rare than colorless diamonds but more frequently occurring than ultra-rare blue and red diamond varieties. Their rarity adds to their allure and value.
What Determines the Value of a Yellow Diamond?
Like all diamonds, several factors determine the value of yellow diamonds:
Color
The most important factor is the intensity and saturation of the yellow color. Vivid yellow diamonds with a pure primary yellow hue fetch the highest prices. Pale yellow diamonds are more affordable. Secondary colors like brown-yellow are less desirable.
Clarity
The clarity rating, which refers to the absence of inclusions and blemishes, greatly impacts price. A Flawless or Internally Flawless yellow diamond will be exponentially more valuable than one with inclusions and flaws visible under 10x magnification.
Carat
Larger yellow diamonds in terms of carat weight are harder to find and more expensive. Price per carat increases exponentially with carat size.
Cut
A well-cut yellow diamond will have superb brilliance and fire. Diamonds that are too shallow or deep lose light through the sides and bottom, reducing sparkle. Thus, ideal cut yellow diamonds command higher prices.
Where are Yellow Diamonds Mined?
The majority of the world’s yellow diamonds are mined at these locations:
- Australia – The Argyle Diamond Mine produces over 90% of the global supply of rare pink and yellow diamonds. The mine is set to close in 2020.
- Africa – Countries such as South Africa, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania have yielded yellow diamond finds.
- Russia – Russia is the world’s leading diamond producer and yellow diamonds have been found at mines in Siberia.
- India – The famous Golconda mines were an ancient source of yellow diamonds like the Florentine Diamond.
Due to limited supply from these rare mineral finds, prices per carat for natural yellow diamonds continue to rise, especially with the closure of Argyle.
How are Yellow Diamonds Graded?
Like colorless diamonds, yellow diamonds are graded on the 4Cs – color, clarity, cut and carat weight. Here’s an overview of yellow diamond grading specifics:
Color Grading
The GIA grades yellow diamond color on a scale from faint yellow to fancy vivid yellow. The more saturated and pure the yellow hue, the more rare and valuable the stone. Secondary colors like greenish-yellow or brownish-yellow are less desirable.
| Color Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| Faint Yellow | Very light yellow tint visible face-up |
| Very Light Yellow | Light yellow tint faintly visible face-up |
| Light Yellow | Noticeable light yellow tint face-up |
| Fancy Light Yellow | Bright yellow tint face-up |
| Fancy Yellow | Rich yellow color face-up |
| Fancy Intense Yellow | Vivid medium to medium-deep yellow color face-up |
| Fancy Vivid Yellow | Pure vivid yellow hue face-up |
| Fancy Dark Yellow | Slightly brownish-yellow color face-up |
Clarity Grading
Yellow diamonds are graded for clarity based on the number, size, relief, nature, and position of internal characteristics and surface flaws according to the GIA’s 11-step diamond clarity scale:
| Clarity Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| Flawless (FL) | No inclusions visible under 10x magnification |
| Internally Flawless (IF) | No inclusions, only minor surface blemishes |
| Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1, VVS2) | Minute inclusions difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10x magnification |
| Very Slightly Included (VS1, VS2) | Minor inclusions ranged from difficult to somewhat easy for a skilled grader to see under 10x magnification |
| Slightly Included (SI1, SI2) | Noticeable inclusions easy for a skilled grader to see under 10x magnification |
| Included (I1, I2, I3) | Obvious inclusions visible under 10x magnification, often affecting appearance |
Cut Grading
Well-cut yellow diamonds follow GIA’s cut grading criteria for brilliance and fire:
| Cut Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| Excellent | Reflects nearly all light that enters. Exceptional brilliance and fire. |
| Very Good | Reflects most light that enters. Excellent brilliance and fire. |
| Good | Reflects much of the light that enters. Good brilliance and fire. |
| Fair | Reflects some light that enters. Less than ideal brilliance and fire. |
| Poor | Reflects little light that enters. Negligible brilliance and fire. |
Celebrity Yellow Diamond Engagement Rings
Rare and beautiful yellow diamonds make stunning engagement rings. Some famous celebrity yellow diamond rings include:
- Beyoncé’s 18-carat cushion-cut yellow diamond ring from Jay-Z worth $5 million.
- Jennifer Lopez’s 15-carat yellow diamond engagement ring from Ben Affleck valued at $1.2 million.
- Katie Holmes’ 5-carat yellow Asscher cut diamond ring from Tom Cruise worth $275,000.
- Catherine Zeta-Jones’ 10-carat antique yellow diamond ring from Michael Douglas valued at $2 million.
Yellow diamonds complement all skin tones with their sunny brilliance. The vibrant color provides a distinctive and luxurious alternative to classic colorless diamond engagement rings.
Yellow Diamond Care and Cleaning
To keep your yellow diamond jewelry sparkling beautifully:
- Store pieces separately from other jewelry to prevent scratching and tangling.
- Clean with mild dish soap and warm water using a soft brush.
- Avoid exposing to harsh chemicals like bleach, acid, or chlorine.
- Take off yellow diamond rings and bracelets when doing physical activities.
- Have settings periodically checked by a jeweler to ensure prongs and metal are secure.
By caring for your yellow diamonds with sensible precautions, you can enjoy their radiance for a lifetime.
Conclusion
The exclusive beauty of yellow diamonds makes them one of the most desirable diamond colors. When shopping for yellow diamonds, expertise is essential to identify natural diamonds with no treatments. Reputable diamond certificate from labs like GIA or AGS provide documentation of quality. With their captivating golden glow and scintillating brilliance, yellow diamonds are the embodiment of natural luxury and make stunning additions to fine jewelry collections.