The Different Colors of Diamonds-Red
Red is the color of romance, passion, and intensity. Diamonds are symbols of love, commitment, and luxury. Combine these two symbols, and you have one of the rarest and most beautiful stones in existence. Red diamonds have a special place among fancy-colored diamonds. For one, red diamonds are one of the most desired stones of all. In addition, red diamonds are so rare that many jewelers have never even seen such a stone. Out of all the fancy-colored diamonds, red diamonds are the rarest and most precious.
Natural vs. Enhanced
The rarity of these stones doesn’t just apply to naturally-occurring red diamonds. Enhanced red diamonds are actually also very difficult to find, which further contributes to the stone’s rare quality. Thus, even with the largest budgets, red diamond can be tough to come by. Most natural red diamonds are discovered at the Argyle mine in Australia. The stones are found in very limited numbers, which makes their prices prohibitive. Red diamonds are usually auctioned off every year or so and usually sell for millions of dollars.
Famous Red Diamonds
The largest red diamond ever found is known as the “Red Shield.” The diamond weighs only 5.11 carats, which is about a hundred times less than the largest diamonds of any kind. Another well-known red diamond is the “Hancock Red,” which weighs 0.95 carats. The Hancock Red sold at Christie’s in New York for a whopping $880,000 in April of 1987.
Shapes & Colors
Usually, the more brilliant and deep the color of red, the more costly the diamond will be. The color of red diamonds can be classified as purple-red, vermillion, crimson, scarlet, pure red, or a faint red. Red diamonds come in various shapes, including heart-shaped, round, and pear-shaped. If the color of the red diamond is enhanced, it will not be as valuable as a natural red diamond.
Alternatives
Clearly, red diamonds are only for the wealthiest and most elite diamond buyers. However, if you like the look of red diamonds, you may pursue cheaper alternatives. For instance, you might look into fancy diamonds of a different color or rubies, which have many similarities with red diamonds and are considerably cheaper.
