Black Diamonds
The little black dress has always held, and continues to hold, an almost unchallenged place at the top of the fashion hierarchy. A more recently witnessed trend in the world of high fashion and amongst the trendsetters of the acting and musical fraternities is the preponderance of the use of black diamonds, also known as carbonados.
Unlike most other types of diamonds, black diamonds are found mainly in two places on earth – Brazil and Africa, specifically the Central African Republic. They are also found exclusively in alluvial deposits and not in kimberlite or lamproite.
The mystique of natural black diamonds is further enhanced when noting other differences between black diamonds and other types of diamonds. Unlike other types of diamonds, black diamonds are porous, they have a different carbon isotope, and they are usually very small. Due to their unique crystal structure, black diamonds absorb light and are also difficult to cut and polish. Also, since they don’t sparkle like other diamonds but rather absorb light, the surface polishing of the stone is an even more integral part of capturing its beauty.
Although black diamonds are often very small, there have been some enormous stones of this variety discovered over the years. The Spirit of Grisogono is a 312.24 carat mogul-cut black diamond that was cut over the course of more than a year from a 587 carat rough. It is believed to be the largest natural black diamond in the world. The Black Star of Africa and the Black Diamond of Bahia at 160 carats and 350 carats (rough) respectively are two other examples of the size potential of these black wonders.
Notwithstanding that black diamonds have often been deemed the domain of men with a penchant for diamond jewelry, none other than Kimberley Caldwell and Lea Michele were recently flaunting earrings and cuffs embellished with black diamonds at the Grammy Awards, and as usual, style icon Madonna was of the pack; modeling a black diamond necklace six months earlier. The contrast they provide to other colored diamonds or other precious stones now make black diamonds an indispensable ingredient for the jewelry nobility.
Although coveted historically, natural black diamonds have lived in the shadow of their more illustrious fancy color sisters for too long and have only recently started to take their place amidst the diamond elite. Prices tend to be cheaper than many other natural fancy color diamonds, however an equivalent black diamond will generally be marginally more expensive than its white counterpart.
The rebirth of the black diamond as an essential part of precious jewelry will ensure a re-rating and re-pricing of this wonder of nature. Ultimately, is it not impossible to cast a shadow over something black?
