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FANCY COLORED ORANGE DIAMONDS

Fancy Colored Orange Diamonds stand out as one of nature’s most extraordinary anomalies. In the renowned book "The Great Diamonds of the World," published by the world-famous gemologist Edwin Streeter in 1882, Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamonds were aptly referred to as "fire diamonds." These stunning diamonds undeniably live up to this powerful name.

Grading a diamond as ‘pure’ orange is a rarity acknowledged by the GIA. A genuinely pure orange diamond is an exceptionally scarce find, considered the ultimate possession for diamond collectors and investors. In fact, it is widely accepted that Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamonds graded as ‘pure’ are rarer than elusive red diamonds!

WHERE ARE FANCY COLORED LOOSE ORANGE DIAMONDS FOUND?

The majority of Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamonds are discovered in either the famous Argyle mine in Western Australia or in South Africa.

WHAT GIVES FANCY COLORED LOOSE ORANGE DIAMONDS THEIR COLOR?

The unique coloration of Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamonds results from the presence of nitrogen within the diamond. Scientists believe that nitrogen atoms are arranged in a hyper-specific way during diamond formation. In this particular arrangement, they absorb blue and some yellow light, producing an orange appearance.

The majority of Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamonds fall into the Type 1b classification. Unlike Type 1a diamonds, where nitrogen atoms are grouped in twos, threes, or fours, in Type 1b diamonds, nitrogen is scattered as individual atoms.

WHAT SHADES AND INTENSITIES DO FANCY COLORED LOOSE ORANGE DIAMONDS COME IN?

The GIA classifies Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamonds into seven intensities: faint orange, very light orange, light orange, fancy, fancy intense orange, fancy vivid orange, and fancy deep orange. The most desired hues are fancy vivid and fancy deep. These diamonds are predominantly dark in tone and exhibit weak to moderate saturation.

Given that orange is a natural mix of the primary colors red and yellow, strong modifiers are common in orange diamonds. Therefore, Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamonds range from brown-orange to yellow-orange, with most stones having a brown or brownish appearance to the naked eye. However, for a diamond to be classified as Fancy Colored Loose Orange, it must lack brown within the stone.

On the color scale, orange is close to yellow. Modifying colors in Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamonds, where orange is the secondary color, typically include brown, yellow, or pink. If the diamond's color is less than 23% orange, it is termed "orangey." For example, the GIA classifies overtone shades as: Fancy Vivid Yellow Orange, Vivid Yellow Orange, Fancy Deep Brown Orange, Deep Brown Orange, and Fancy Orangey Pink. A pure fancy vivid orange diamond or vivid orange with a slight yellowish tone (i.e., vivid yellowish orange diamond) is sometimes referred to as a "pumpkin diamond" due to its resemblance to a pumpkin's color.

ARE FANCY COLORED LOOSE ORANGE DIAMONDS RARE AND EXPENSIVE, AND ARE THEY A GOOD INVESTMENT?

While orange is not among the rarest colors in Natural Fancy Colored Diamonds, the GIA rarely grades a diamond as "pure" orange due to the prevalence of a secondary color tone. This rarity makes Pure Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamonds highly desirable for collectors and investors. In fact, pure orange diamonds are considered almost as rare as fancy red diamonds and even rarer than green, pink, or blue diamonds.

The cost and desirability of Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamonds hinge largely on the intensity of their hue. The order of increasing rarity and value for these diamonds is graded as faint orange, very light orange, light orange, fancy orange, fancy intense orange, fancy deep orange, or fancy vivid orange.

From the perspective of a true diamond connoisseur or an investor seeking a high return, the factor limiting the price of these diamonds is that orange is not a primary color. Consequently, collectors and investors tend to prefer red, blue, and green diamonds over Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamonds. However, when a pure Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamond becomes available on the market or at auction, it generates significant interest from collectors.

ARE THERE ANY FAMOUS FANCY COLORED LOOSE ORANGE DIAMONDS?

Historically, due to their scarcity, very few fancy vivid orange diamonds have been sold at auction, all weighing less than 6 carats. An exception to this occurred when a breathtaking beauty, part of a private collection for over 30 years, was revealed to the public—‘The Orange,’ a fancy vivid orange diamond with VS1 clarity.

‘The Orange’ is hailed as a ‘miracle of nature’ as the GIA rarely encounters a Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamond that exceeds 4 carats when polished. Astonishingly, ‘The Orange’ weighed in at a magnificent 14.82 carats—nearly four times the normal size!

Most Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamonds fall into the Type 1b classification; however, ‘The Orange’ is an exception. This exceptional orange diamond shattered records at Christie's of Geneva, fetching $33.3 million at auction, surpassing all expectations. Christie's had predicted a range of $17 million to $20 million, equivalent to $2.4 million per carat!

Before the discovery of ‘The Orange,’ the largest vivid Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamond was the ‘Pumpkin Diamond.’ Graded as vivid orange by the GIA, this diamond weighs 3.34 carats and was discovered in Central Africa. It was cut and polished by the acclaimed master diamond cutter William Goldberg. The Pumpkin gained worldwide acclaim when worn at the 2002 Academy Awards by American actress Halle Berry, who won the Best Actress award. The following year, it was featured in the Smithsonian's "Splendour of Diamonds" exhibition.

DO FANCY COLORED LOOSE ORANGE DIAMONDS LOOK GOOD AS JEWELRY?

Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamonds make a stunning addition to any jewelry collection with their mesmerizing and dramatic range of colors and hues. From lively citrus to warming amber, they complement various jewelry settings, suitable for both women and men’s jewelry. They add a masculine edge to items such as cuff links or a man’s bracelet or pendant.

WHERE CAN I BUY FANCY COLORED LOOSE ORANGE DIAMOND JEWELRY?

For the finest selection of Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamond Jewelry, look no further than the specialists at Rêve Diamonds, New York. We offer one of the widest selections of stunning pieces featuring Fancy Colored Loose Orange Diamonds to suit every budget and taste.

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