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Champagne diamonds are colored diamonds which usually occur naturally in just a few locations around the entire world. Mined principally in the Argyle mine in Australia, these diamonds are generally light brown diamonds, or maybe yellowish diamonds with a tint of brown. Like all colored diamonds, their hue originates from a selection of enclosed impurities. Nonetheless, in contrast to various other fancies, champagne diamonds are Type II colored diamonds.

Type I colored diamonds are diamonds whose coloring is produced from external non-diamond sources, particularly enclosed impurities, such as nitrogen plus boron, or even natural radiation. Nitrogen is the most often found impurity and creates Yellowish as well as Orange diamonds. Boron generates fancy Blues. Natural radiation on the other hand, typically produces green-colored diamonds.

Type II fancies are created whenever there is a problem with the crystalline structure of the diamond at the time of its creation. For example, excessive pressures could trigger deformation of the crystal lattice, dispersing light and creating Reds, Pinks, Browns and Champagne diamonds.

Champagne diamonds range in shade from a pale hay brown to a rich deep cognac brown. They are specifically prized for their dazzling brown color, which can certainly also have flashes of gold, red, copper and peach. Champagnes are very lovely gemstones!

The Earth Star and the Golden Jubilee are two of the best known Champagne diamonds. Much more than fifty percent of the 248.9 carats of the diamond rough of the Earth Star was lost at the time it was faceted into a magnificent 111.59 carat cognac colored Pear shape. It is still one of the most significant diamonds of its kind anywhere. But the most important faceted diamond is even now reckoned to be the Golden Jubilee diamond which has a yellowish brown Champagne color and is widely regarded as being the most gorgeous diamond ever.

When they were initially uncovered in the Argyle mine in Australia, Champagnes were thought to be numerous. They were undoubtedly a good deal more plentiful than other sorts of fancy colors of diamonds! And because they are normally significantly more affordable than white colored diamonds, Champagnes continue to make an easily affordable alternative to white diamonds. Having said that, this situation may not last.

Since their discovery, the Argyle mine has continued to be the most important source of Champagnes for the worldwide jewelry markets. In actual fact more than 95% of Champagnes available around the world come from the Argyle mine. Nevertheless, resources are unsurprisingly declining. And because no other source of Champagne diamonds has been discovered, but the desire for Champagnes is still growing, these wonderful diamonds are becoming less available.

Which certainly means their prices will have to climb shortly! Click here to check out our selection of fancies including champagne colored diamonds.

Known as the extraterrestrial gemstone because it has been found in meteorites, peridot makes sensational jewelry and exceptional peridot eternity and engagement rings. 

Peridot is an idiochromatic gemstone, meaning that the color is intrinsic and that the gemstone is always the same color.  In the case of peridot, that is green.  However, it can be found in a range of hues from palest yellow green through golden lime greens to the deepest grass green.  Traditionally, the richest darker grass greens have been the most highly sought after, although different trends and preferences emerge from time to time.

Peridots are often clear gemstones with few apparent flaws, and when facetted, they split and bend the light in such as way as to give a velvet-like appearance with a  glorious rich glow.  But is probably their clarity and sensational color which makes them a firm favorite for jewelry, ranging from peridot earrings, peridot bracelets, peridot necklaces and pendants and of course, peridot rings.

Because they are green, the best quality peridots have traditionally been mistaken for emeralds.  Peridot rings are often prong set because this allows the maximum amount of light through the gemstone, making it flash with color.  However, with a hardness of only 6.5 compared with 10 of diamond, peridot is a relatively brittle gemstone.  To protect it more completely, it is can be set into a bezel (or rub over) setting in which the gemstone girdle is completely surrounded by a trace of precious metal.  Bezel set peridots can be completely surrounded by very small prong set diamonds, perfect for an engagement ring, or channel set for an eternity ring.  Check it out!