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Birthstone jewellery: Fancy coloured diamonds for April
The diamond is recognised as the birthstone for the month of April, and traditionally, when we talk about diamonds we imagine their colourless version. However, did you know that diamonds come in a large variety of colours from black to green, orange, purple and even red? To welcome in the spring season and give you a taste of something different, I have decided to take a look at the less conventional versions of the most famous stone in the world: fancy coloured diamonds.
The origin of the concept of birthstones dates back to biblical times, when Aaron’s breastplate was decorated with 12 assorted coloured gems – representing the tribes of Israel. As time wore on, the 12 gems became associated with each month of the year. This then evolved into a tradition for wearing different gems as a good luck charm, rotating the stones according to the month of the year they represent to derive the greatest benefit of each one. Eventually, people started to wear the stone associated with their birth month for the entire year.
Yuli Jewellery necklace with heart shaped multi-coloured diamonds
Although most people associate diamonds with a lack of colour, the visibility and presence of fancy coloured diamonds in jewellery collections continues to increasing. This is in part due to celebrities such as Lady Gaga and Michelle Yeoh sporting headline-making, enormous fancy yellow diamond necklaces at the biggest red carpet events of the year – from Tiffany&Co. and Moussaieff respectively. At the same time, other famous names such as Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey and Heidi Klum have chosen fancy coloured diamonds for their engagement rings. More and more people have become familiar with blue and pink diamonds in the last few years, since many magnificent diamonds have fetched world-record sums in auction sales. Despite being rare, pink and yellow diamonds are the most known of fancy coloured diamonds, with orange, green, blue, and purple continuing the colour range, and red being the rarest variety.
Suzanne Syz 'Sex on the Beach' ring with fancy deep grayish yellowish green cushion diamond and coloured diamonds in enamel and 18k pink gold
Beauty, rarity and investment value are the key features that continue attracting collectors around the globe to these stones. If you are thinking of enriching your collection this month, why not consider the unparalleled exclusivity of fancy coloured diamond jewellery?
Dior
Dior
‘Dentelle Guipure' ring from the 'Dior Dior Dior' collection with yellow diamond and diamonds in 18k yellow and pink gold
Chaumet
Chaumet
'Soir de Fête' necklace from the 'Josephine Chaumet au Firmament' collection with approximately 10ct pear cut yellow diamonds, 13ct pear-shaped EF VVS colourless diamonds and colourless brilliant cut diamonds in 18k white gold
De Beers
De Beers
'Vulcan' ring with 3.53ct pear cut diamond and coloured diamonds in platinum
De Beers
De Beers
'Vulcan' earrings with two 1.50ct round cut diamonds and coloured diamonds in platinum
David Michael
David Michael
Ring with old mine cut pink diamond, green and pink diamond pavé and 18k white gold
Boghossian
Boghossian
Cuff with yellow, blue, and green fancy coloured, intense coloured, colourless diamonds and mother-of-pearl in 18k white gold
Calleija
Calleija
'Tsarina' ring with 2.15ct pear cut fancy intense purplish pink diamond, four marquise cut blue diamonds from the 2012 Argyle Tender, and colourless diamonds, in platinum and 18k rose gold
Boodles
Boodles
'Papillon' earrings with approx. 4ct fancy coloured diamonds and colourless diamonds in platinum
Forevermark by De Beers
Forevermark by De Beers
Drop earrings by Julius Klein Group with 12.96ct cushion cut fancy yellow and accenting pink diamonds in 18k rose gold
Hirsh
Hirsh
'Papillon' ring with 1.03ct marquise cut natural fancy yellow diamond and colourless diamonds in platinum and 18k gold
Graff
Graff
Earrings with 63.38 carats multi-coloured fancy and fancy intense diamonds in platinum
Graff
Graff
Earrings with 27ct multi-coloured round and cushion cut diamonds in 18k rose gold
Harry Kotlar
Harry Kotlar
'The Vault' transformable pendant / brooch with 0.99ct fancy intense orange diamond and colourless diamonds in 18k yellow gold and platinum
Pragnell
Pragnell
Ring with fancy vivid pink 0.50ct, fancy intense blue-green 0.50ct, fancy intense yellow 0.52ct and colourless diamonds in platinum
Piaget
Piaget
'Sun Vibrations' ring with 4.27ct flawless fancy vivid yellow diamond and colourless diamonds in 18k white gold
Moussaieff
Moussaieff
Bangle with 27.49ct natural fancy coloured diamonds and 71.97ct E/F colourless diamonds in platinum
Messika
Messika
‘Kite’ ring from the 'Private' collection with kite cut 6.14ct fancy intense pink diamond and colourless diamonds in 18k white gold
Picchiotti
Picchiotti
'Pavone Diamanti ' brooch from the 'Exceptional Fauna' collection with fancy yellow, champagne and colourless diamonds in 18k white gold
Martin Katz
Martin Katz
Ring with 3.42ct fancy-yellow-green diamond, colourless trapezoid diamonds, channel-set carré diamonds and vivid-pink diamonds in platinum and 18k rose gold
Jessica McCormack
Jessica McCormack
Ring with central 1.50ct cushion cut natural pink diamond in 18k rose gold, and a party jacket with 2.62ct of brilliant cut diamonds in 18k white gold and 18k rose gold
Jacob&Co
Jacob&Co
Earrings with 15.12ct fancy pink diamond and 15.92ct fancy blue diamond
Kwait
Kwait
Ring with radiant cut bluish green diamond and pink diamonds in 18k rose gold
Lily Gabriella
Lily Gabriella
'Infinitas' ring for Sotheby's Diamonds with a 6.78ct fancy intense pink diamond and pavé-set light green grossular garnet in 18k yellow gold
David Morris
David Morris
Necklace with 26.32ct coloured and 47.68ct colourless diamonds in platinum
Tiffany&Co.
Tiffany&Co.
Rings (from top): with cushion-cut fancy intense bluish green diamond in platinum , square antique modified brilliant cut fancy yellow diamond ring with melee diamond border in platinum and 18 karat yellow gold, and cushion mixed-cut fancy intense purplish pink diamond ring with pink diamond in platinum and 18 karat rose gold
Reza
Reza
'Double Swing' ring with 2 marquise cut diamonds: a 3.08 ct E color internally flawless, a 3.59 ct fancy intense yellow diamond, pink and orange brilliant cut diamonds in 18k yellow and white gold
Maria Canale
Maria Canale
'Drop' statement earrings with 0.62ct blue-green pear cut diamond and 0.60ct pear cut fancy vivid IF yellow diamond, and a total of 10.07ct colourless diamonds in 18k white gold
WORDS
Jodie Smith is a San Francisco based writer, trend forecaster and creative consultant specialising in the jewellery and luxury industries.
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