Are Chocolate Diamonds Real or Synthetic?

The term “chocolate diamond” is a relatively new and creative way to refer to brown colored diamonds. This term was coined by the Le-Vian group to entice buyers into seeking out brown or cognac colored diamonds, but in all actuality, Le-Vian chocolate diamonds speak for themselves. A chocolate diamond can be found both naturally and artificially.

Artificial chocolate diamonds, like the artificial diamonds of other colors, are manmade in a lab. Although the look of these diamonds makes them appear brown, they are actually white diamonds that have been treated with heat in order to change the color to brown.

Therefore, synthetic chocolate diamonds are not actually chocolate diamonds at all. Because of its synthetic creation, a manmade chocolate diamond's value is much lower than a brown diamond found in nature.

How Valuable are Chocolate Diamonds?

Of all the colored diamonds, chocolate diamonds are some of the least valuable. This low value is due to many chocolate diamonds being opaque in color with very little shine. Additionally, many chocolate diamonds contain many inclusions because synthetic diamond producers tend to use poor quality white diamonds to create them because this process is easier and cheaper than using high-quality diamonds. Therefore, it is at the utmost importance that buyers seek out certified and trusted diamond producers to buy their chocolate diamonds. With certification, the buyer can prove the authenticity of his or her chocolate diamond.

Where are Brown Diamonds From?

One of the most interesting aspects of brown diamonds is the fact that they can be found all over the globe just like most colorless diamonds; they can be found in Australia, Angola, Borneo, Brazil, and the Congo (Le-Vian sources their chocolate diamonds from the Argyle mine in Australia mostly). While this increases the supply of chocolate diamonds that are able to be used for jewelry such as chocolate diamond wedding ring sets, chocolate diamond rings, chocolate diamond engagement rings, or chocolate diamond earrings, the demand is significantly lowered due to its commonality. Brown diamonds are the most common colored diamond in the world, and therefore, until recently, they were only used for industrial purposes. When brown diamonds made the switch over to fine jewelry, the value still remained lower than diamonds of any other color.

Benefits of a Chocolate Diamond

Chocolate diamonds (of the Le-Vian variety) are of a much higher value than other brown diamonds due to their guarantee of rich color and high quality. However, Le-Vian does not own every high-quality brown diamond in existence, but it is considered the designer brand: the Gucci of diamonds.

One of the perks of a brown diamond engagement ring is the low cost. The color allows buyers to customize and personalize their ring while still remaining within a budget. A brown diamond is perfect for a couple that wants all of the appeals of a colored diamond but does not quite have the budget for one of the other colored diamonds in high demand.

Notable Brown Diamonds

The largest cut diamond in the world, the Golden Jubilee Diamond, is actually a brown diamond. Found in 1985, this brown diamond reached over 755 carats! This South African diamond was eventually cut down to 545 carats and given to King Bhumibol Adulyadej on his 50th coronation anniversary.

Another notable South African brown diamond is the Earth Star Diamond. This diamond's origin story is a little more unique than most because the diamond was found on a 2,500-foot strip of a volcanic pipe of diamonds. What made this particular diamond so unique was its extraordinary brilliance.

In popular culture, another notable brown diamond could be found on Elizabeth Taylor's hand at the Oscars in 1974. She sported not only a cognac diamond ring but also brown diamond earrings to match. This stunning array only added to her already timeless beauty and grace on stage. This peculiar and beautiful combination was a tenth-anniversary wedding present from her husband, Richard Burton. Elizabeth Taylor, among other celebrities, helped to increase the desire for these brown diamonds as well as other colored diamonds.

Chocolate Diamond Engagement Rings

Like any other colored diamond, brown diamonds can be used for all types of jewelry. Specifically, a chocolate diamond engagement ring is probably one of the least popular choices for a colored stone. However, because of its low popularity, buyers who do seek out brown diamonds for their rings have the opportunity to completely customize their ring.

Additionally, there is no one hue of brown for couples to pick from as chocolate diamonds range from light brown to deep and dark brown. Beyond those colors, couples still have more choice as the diamond could possibly contain hints of orange, yellow, or even pink. Many buyers find the diamonds intriguing not only because of their color but also because of their names such as chocolate, champagne, and cognac. Don't let the names fool you though, the diamonds may be enticing, but they are definitely not that tasty!