Diamonds are particularly fascinating to me. Their cut, color, quality… each one is quite different. The ones that intrigue me the most though are the colored diamonds and of those, the most interesting has to be the black diamond. Very few people even know that they exist so here is a quick primer on what is so special about a black diamond.


Where Are They Found?
The black diamond is mostly found in Africa, Australia, Brazil, Russia and India though recently they were also discovered in Northern Canada.


Are They Enhanced?
Like all gemstones, a black diamond is put through several stages of preparation to make it look all the more beautiful. Occasionally they will be laser drilled in order to give them an improved appearance and like other colored diamonds will be subjected to irradiation or treated with heat to induce more colors to the surface.


Aspects for You to Be Aware Of

Wait. Before you go out and add a classy black diamond to your collection, you should be aware of a few things. The first thing you need to know is that not all types of black diamond are actually legitimately a black diamond. Some will actually be pure diamonds that are treated by radiation to make them appear black. In natural light, they will appear to be perfectly black but when inspected under the proper light source, you will see that they are actually a very dark green. You could use a microscope to see this difference.
In its natural form, a black diamond is actually a normal diamond with numerous levels of graphite inclusions which unfortunately makes them very fragile and therefore hard to cut. Because of this, jewelers often decline to stock them, although a general lack of buyer interest might also be a contributing factor. Although the black diamond has become more trendy and fashionable lately, it is still not in high demand. it is also extremely rare to find a black diamond set in any antique diamond jewelry.


But I Still Want To Buy One…

There are a few things that you should remember before doing so.

It’s probably best not to look online for this kind of gemstone. This is important. While it is possible to find a reputable dealer who will sell you a genuine black diamond, it’s also possible to find someone who is trying to unload an un-natural black diamond or even onyx and you won’t know the difference until you get your gemstone checked by a gemologist.
Secondly, you should decide whether you really want a natural black diamond or if you are satisfied with having a natural diamond that has been radiated. While there isn’t any real difference to the naked eye, some people just prefer to have a natural gemstone on their finger. The choice is yours.


So Here’s a Challenge

Now that you know a little about the black diamond, why not ask about them when next you’re anywhere near a jeweler. At the very least you can expect some startled expressions. At best you’ll become acquainted with one of the most intriguing of all gemstones and who knows, you might even decide to treat yourself to a black diamond.