Can All Yellow Diamonds Be Called Canary Diamonds?

Although much rarer than traditional white diamonds, the natural yellow diamond is relatively common among fancy colored diamonds. There is a common misconception that ayellow diamond is less valuable than a clear diamonds. Even though very light or slightly yellow diamonds are considered to be quite typical and not of a really high value, yellow diamonds for instance intense and vivid are quite valuable.



Yellow diamonds with secondary brown tones are worth less than pure yellow stones. However, secondary colors of green-yellow or orange-yellow can considerably increase the value of the diamond because these diamond colors are even scarcer than yellow diamonds.



Fancy color yellow diamonds are graded on the strength and intensity of color. The highest-quality grade is the Vivid Yellow, closely followed by the Intense Yellow diamond. The lowest quality of natural yellow diamond is the Light Yellow diamond, closely followed by the Fancy Yellow. Some shades of Vivid Yellow diamonds as well as the more rare Intense Yellow diamonds are called Canary Diamonds. Canary yellow diamonds are the rarest amongst yellow diamonds and consequently they are the most expensive and are desirable both by investors and sophisticated customers. The canary diamond has a very distinctive shade of yellow, even if you have never observed a Canary Yellow, once you see it, you will realize that it is a Canary Diamond.



Yellow diamonds are typically set in yellow gold. When it comes to the diamond setting, yellow diamonds look spectacular if they are mixed with white stones, as the white diamonds create a strong color contrast. If you happen to choose a yellow diamond to be a center stone for your 3 stone ring, then it is recommended to have white side stones where trapeze, triangle or oval shapes can make an ideal match.



Similar to other natural fancy color diamonds the color remains the main thing that influences the value of the diamond, then comes size and clarity. Clarity is also crucial in evaluation of yellow stones, though much less than in traditional white diamonds.



Fancy colored diamonds are most often found in the Radiant cut, as this is considered the ideal shape for maximizing the color. Yellow diamonds, however, can also be found in Oval Cut an Cushion cut and in Heart and Pear shapes. The rarest are the Emerald, Square Emerald and the Brilliant cuts (round shape). Prices of these shapes are considerably higher and not just when it comes to the yellow diamonds. This refers to all fancy color diamonds..



Colored diamonds have completely different standards to white diamonds in regards to cut quality. The goal when cutting a fancy color diamond should be to maximize the depth and saturation of the diamond's color while, at the same time, striking a balance between the carat weight and brilliance. When purchasing a natural yellow diamond or any other natural fancy color diamond, it is vital to examine that the stone is accompanied by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grading report, or other trustworthy laboratories like HRD, IGI, EGL, stating that the color origin is natural. The report should also describe the intensity of color, along with the color distribution throughout the diamond.



The largest naturally formed octahedral diamond in the world is the Kimberley Octahedron and this is a Canary Diamond and weighs 616 carats. This stone was discovered in 1964 in the Dutoitspan mine, situated in the Kimberley region of South Africa. The Kimberley Octahedron is still uncut, which means that the color and distribution grades cannot be applied to this stone. The owners of the mine choose to preserve the diamond in the condition that it was mined. This diamond is on display at the visitor’s center at the Kimberely Big Hole mine.