The new year is here! And good riddance to 2016. Hopefully by now your champagne hangover has subsided. If it hasn’t, I am here with a little of the hair of the dog that bit you.
Champagne diamonds, by their strictest definition, are those graded by GIA as “Fancy yellowish brown.” This means they fall on the fancy color spectrum and their predominant hue is brown, but with yellow undertones. Those fancy brown diamonds with orange undertones are considered “cognac” diamonds, euphemistically. The term chocolate diamond is a proprietary name for brown diamonds.
Contrary to some belief, these diamonds aren’t just up-jumped industrial grade diamonds better suited to skin cream, nail polish, or actual tools (drills, maybe?)
Because you and I both know that you should never shop for a diamond based on certificate alone, we also know that it’s more important to get a diamond with a color grade that’s visually appealing than buying a GIA D because that’s what Beyonce told you to do. Let me get one thing straight: I am not saying that all color grades are created equal – I don’t mean, obviously, that “A G color is not the same as a L color.” I mean “A G is not a G is not a G is not a G – even when they all come from the same grading lab. And if they’re graded by different labs? Fuhgeddaboudit.”
You can’t compare apples to oranges, and that’s what it means to compare some grading labs’ certificate for the exact same diamond. But I won’t launch into an EGL vs. GIA diatribe now. Let’s focus on the champagne.
So champagne diamonds do have parameters, however they vary widely depending on which jeweler you ask. Those parameters don’t matter. What matters is that you find an honest jeweler. If they’re calling a warm K color a champagne diamond, it should be priced appropriately. Ditto for a fancy yellow. If they’re charging you fancy yellow prices for an L color, then you need to find another jeweler. Read more about color here if I’m not making sense.
You, wise and wonderful diamond admirer, know to only buy something at the right price, and you know the only way to do that is with a jeweler you can trust. But you’ve already found that jeweler, and now you only need to decide just what varietal of champagne diamond rings you’d like. Warmer, more brown, closer to yellow, brut, spumante? Pour another glass and let’s decide together:
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This beautiful rose gold Henri Daussi ring brings out the warmth of the cushion cut diamond starring in the center. It’s an elongated 1.13ct cushion cut, L color and VS2 in clarity. The accent diamonds are white round brilliants that add another .33ctw to the ring.
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If you prefer your diamonds with richer color, this gorgeous .73ct fancy brown cushion cut is calling your name. It’s an SI1 clarity, and the rose gold setting is the perfect match, with .32ctw of white diamonds.
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On the other hand, a lighter diamond calls to many a bride’s heart. This .71ct L colored (not fancy) elongated cushion cut looks awesome in a Henri Daussi rose gold split shank halo with .73ctw of accent diamonds.
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I love this .36ct marquise diamond just as much as I love the unique two-tone buckle setting it’s ensconced in.
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Finally (for today) I have to show off this sick bypass ring. Two champagne marquise diamonds (approximately .48ctw) twist around on rose gold bands set with .12ctw of white round brilliant diamonds and are surrounded by halos of fancy yellow diamonds weighing .19ctw.
Obsessed with champagne diamonds yet? I am! And these are just a few of the rings…check out all the champagne diamond jewelry (like that bangle I tweeted last week.)
