Education
Diamond Education
- Lab Diamonds
- History Of Lab Grown Diamonds
- Lab Diamond Shapes
- Lab Diamonds
- Lab Diamond Ring Guide
- Lab Diamond Carat Guide
- Lab Diamonds Color Guide
- Lab Diamond Shape Guide
- Lab Diamond Size Guide
- Lab Diamond Cut Guide
- Lab Diamond Jewelry Guide
- Lab Diamonds vs Moissanite
- Lab Diamonds vs. Real Diamonds
- Lab Grown Diamond vs. Cubic Zirconia
- Lab Diamonds vs. White Sapphires
- Lab Diamonds
- Diamond 4 C's
- Diamond Buying Guide
- Answers to 1 Carat Diamond Questions
- Your Guide to Buying a Diamond Online
- How to Pick the Right Diamond
- Diamond Buying Mistakes
- Real vs. Fake Diamonds
- Lab Diamond Buying Guide
- 10 Most FAQ - Diamonds
- Off Size Diamonds Guide
- Popular Diamond Cuts
- Price of a 2 Carat Diamond
- Top FAQ - Lab Diamonds
- What Is the Average Diamond Size in Engagement Rings?
- Diamond Carat
- Diamond Clarity
- IF Diamonds
- FL Diamonds
- Diamond Inclusions Guide
- Flawless vs Internally Flawless
- Which Diamond Clarity Is Best?
- VS2 vs VS1: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- VVS2 vs VVS1: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- SI2 vs SI1: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- SI1 vs VS2: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- VS1 vs VVS2: Diamond Clarity Comparison
- Accent Diamond Clarity
- Lab Diamond Clarity
- SI Diamonds
- VS Diamonds
- VVS Diamonds
- Diamond Color
- Diamond Cut
- Diamond Cut Types
- Ideal Cut Diamonds
- Hearts and Arrows Diamonds
- What is Diamond Depth
- Diamond Table
- Lab Diamond Cut
- Antique Cut Diamonds
- Brilliant Cut Diamonds
- Rose Cut Diamonds
- What Is The Most Expensive Diamond Cut?
- What Are Step Cut Diamonds?
- Diamond Bow Ties
- How Are Diamonds Cut
- Diamond Brilliance
- Spread Diamonds
- Diamond Fire
- Crushed Ice Diamonds
- Diamond Shape
- Lab Diamond Shape
- Asscher
- Cushion
- Emerald
- Marquise
- Oval
- Pear
- Princess
- Radiant
- Round
- Which Diamond Cut Is Best?
- Round vs Princess Diamond Cut
- Round vs Cushion Diamond Cut
- Cushion vs Princess Diamonds
- Cushion vs Oval Cut Diamonds
- Emerald vs Asscher Cut Diamond
- Princess vs Marquis Diamonds
- Princess vs Radiant Cut Diamonds
- Cushion vs Asscher Cut Diamonds
- Emerald vs Radiant Cut Diamonds
- Oval vs Marquise Cut Diamonds
- Oval vs Pear Cut Diamonds
- Pear vs Marquise Cut Diamonds
- Emerald vs Cushion Cut Diamonds
- Elongated Cushion Cut Diamonds
- Diamond Certification
- Diamond Fluorescence
- How Diamonds Are Formed
- Diamond Pricing
- Diamond Size Chart Carat & MM
- Diamond Symmetry
- Diamond Polish
- Diamond Girdle
- Diamond Culet
- Engraved Rings
- Fancy Colored Diamonds
- Loose Diamonds
- History Of Lab Grown Diamonds
- Natural vs Synthetic Diamonds
- Diamond Sourcing
- NY Diamond District
- Diamond Certification
- A Guide to Accent Diamonds
Engagement Ring Education
- How To Buy Engagement Rings
- Affordable Engagement Rings
- Cost of a One Carat Diamond
- How To Buy A Lab Diamond Ring
- How to Buy An Engagement Ring In a Time Crunch
- How to Choose An Engagement Ring
- How to Pick Your Engagement Ring Budget
- Engagement Rings For Second Marriage
- Best Time to Buy An Engagement Ring
- How to Buy An Engagement Ring As a Couple
- Everything You Need to Know About Dainty Engagement Rings
- Future Mother In Law's Guide to Engagement Ring Shopping
- Engagement Ring Financing
- Why You Need an Engagement Ring Appraisal
- Best Round Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Square Cut Engagement Ring
- Top Teardrop Engagement Rings
- Best Asscher Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Oval Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Radiant Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Marquise Cut Engagement Rings
- Twisting Rings
- Best Emerald Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Cushion Cut Engagement Rings
- Best Dainty Engagement Rings
- Best Unique Engagement Rings
- Best Traditional Diamond Engagement Rings
- Best Split Shank Diamond Engagement Rings
- Top 10 Square Halo Engagement Rings
- Top 10 Unusual Engagement Rings
- Black Diamond Engagement Rings
- Edwardian Engagement Rings
- Antique Style Engagement Rings
- Nature Inspired Engagement Ring
- Filigree Rings
- Art Deco Rings
- Wide Band Engagement Rings
- Infinity Engagement Rings
- Best Two Tone Diamond Engagement Rings
- Victorian Style Engagement Rings
- Minimalistic Engagement Rings
- Big Style Engagement Rings
- Cute Style Engagement Rings
- Modern Style Engagement Rings
- Past Present and Future Rings
- Thin Engagement Rings
- Pretty Style Engagement Rings
- Double Band Engagement Rings
- 1 Carat Diamond Ring
- Top Princess Cut Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Cushion Cut Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Women's Rose Gold Engagement Rings
- Top Round Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Sapphire and Diamond Engagement Rings
- Top East West Engagement Rings
- Top Pave Engagement Rings
- Top Split Shank Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Unique Halo Engagement Rings
- Rose Gold Pear Shaped Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Pear Shaped Engagement Rings
- Top Oval Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Cushion Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Engagement Rings
- Top Marquise Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Cushion Cut Engagement Rings
- Top Emerald Cut Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Bypass Engagement Rings
- Top Rose Gold Cushion Cut Engagement Rings
- Top Rose Gold Oval Engagement Rings
- Top Emerald Cut Halo Engagement Rings
- Top Yellow Gold Oval Engagement Rings
- Top Rose Gold Emerald Cut Engagement Rings
- Top Oval Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Floating Diamond Engagement Rings
- Top Cushion Cut Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Princess Cut Three Stone Engagement Rings
- Top Simple Engagement Rings
- Vintage Style Engagement Rings
- Types of Accent Diamonds
- Everything You Need to Know Before Setting Diamonds
- Engagement Ring Prong Guide
- All About Ring Resizing
- Identifying Your Ring After A Repair
- Everything You Need to Know About Milgrain
- Everything You Need to Know About Wide Band Engagement Rings
- Eternity Rings vs Infinity Rings
- When To Propose
- What Are Baguette Diamond Engagement Rings
- What to Say When You Propose
- What Are the Groom's Parents Responsible For?
Gemstone Education
Jewelry Education
- Jewelry Buying Guide
- How To Buy Jewelry Online
- Diamond: 10th Anniversary Gifts
- Ruby: 40th Anniversary Gemstone & Jewelry
- Sapphire: 5th Anniversary Gemstone & Jewelry
- Top 10 Sapphire Earrings
- Emerald: 20th Anniversary Gemstone & Jewelry
- Top 10 Push Presents
- How To Shop For Christmas Jewelry Gifts
- How To Buy An Anniversary Band
Metal Education
Black Diamond Origin and Formation
Some people love all things black. This could be black metal, black fabric, black clothes. But did you know that black diamonds or carbonados are also available? If you’re looking for a unique ring that matches the clothes you wear most or want a stunning fashion statement that’ll last forever, consider a black diamond engagement ring. Let’s talk about the stars of the show: black diamonds.
What is a black diamond?
Before we discuss what these dark gemstones are, it’s important to remember that diamonds themselves are hard, sparkling crystals of pure carbon. Natural diamonds are formed deep within the earth’s crust, where there’s a lot of heat and pressure. Carbon atoms get “squeezed” together and form the hardest substance on earth. Ideally, the resulting mineral is colorless or has a beautiful natural color, including red, pink, yellow, and blue. These are incredibly rare and expensive, and the color is achieved with impurities that don’t damage the crystal itself.
Black Diamond Formation
Carbonados are also made of hard crystallized carbon. However, unlike their counterparts, the color is formed very differently. Natural black diamonds are the result of graphite inclusions: flaws that are pitch black. If there are enough of these inclusions, it makes the whole crystal black. This results in a unique gem that has only recently become popular. Unfortunately, these are harder to set into that stunning black diamond ring, because the stone is fragile. After all, the graphite makes the stone “weaker” in some ways. With other diamond colors, the coloring impurity is part of the crystal itself.
How are lab-treated or lab black diamonds made?
Unlike their natural counterparts, color-enhanced black gems are produced by a very different process. Often, they are heated with low pressure, or exposed to radiation. In the case of heated stones, they are often weaker in their crystal structure than natural black diamonds. This is because of the way in which the carbon rearranges itself.
Remember, in the case of heat treatment they essentially “create” graphite inclusions. No matter which treatment method is used, a black diamond promise ring is a beautiful alternative to the traditional white diamonds. If the recipient is asked “are black diamonds real,” you can confidently say “yes” even if it’s a heat-treated stone.
Black Diamond Origins
Like other types of colored diamonds, the black stones are much rarer than colorless gems. Unlike some other minerals, you can think of colorless or nearly colorless as the “default” for diamonds. Anything else is harder to obtain. It’s also worth mentioning that black diamonds are different from the other colors in that the stone becomes opaque and absorbs light.
Black carbonados are geological oddities. Remember, they’re a combination of two different forms of crystallized carbon. Graphite doesn’t require as much pressure to form as diamonds do. It’s almost as if the crystal doesn’t “finish” compacting into a diamond. Also, many of these diamonds are expelled from volcanoes. Generally speaking, there are three locations where most natural black diamonds are found: Brazil, the Central African Republic, and Kamchatka, Russia. While there are many diamonds mined in big pits, most black diamonds are actually found in riverbeds and other alluvial deposits.
Black Diamond Uses
Like poor-quality colorless diamonds, many black diamonds are used for industrial purposes. While larger crystals are more fragile, the smaller pieces are actually quite tough. For years, black gemstones were usually crushed or ground into small pieces and used as industrial abrasives.
Diamonds, in general, are also used for coating drill bits, as heat sinks for small electronics, and in other situations where durability is key. These purposes for diamonds are usually applied to diamonds that can’t be made into jewelry, but most black diamonds historically have met this fate.
Black Diamond Popularity
After all, they weren’t very popular in jewelry, and small black diamonds wouldn’t have even been worth faceting. Now, however, black diamond white gold engagement rings have become popular, even trendy.
Black Diamond Grading
Black diamonds are unique, not simply due to their geological rarity, but also because they have different properties than their colorless counterparts and the more “traditional” colored varieties. As we’ve said before, black diamonds are mostly opaque, so clarity isn’t a question at all.
Instead, people buy black stones because of the uniqueness of their opaque appearance. In jewelry, this can be highlighted by mounting them to make a stunning rose gold black diamond ring (like this classic six-prong style below). This pink metal contrasts with the black colored stone to make something special.

Color
First, the intensity of color in a black diamond is viewed differently. You can’t really have “dark” black, but color needs to be uniform throughout. Another important factor in the valuation is the overall quality of the stone. In this case, structural integrity is the main factor: you don’t want a stone so fragile it’ll fall apart. Especially if you’re considering a carbonado wedding ring for her, it’s important to remember that she’ll ideally wear this ring every day for the rest of her life.
Cut
The cut is always an important consideration with any diamond. After all, nobody wants a misshapen stone which looks awful when made into a black diamond solitaire ring. You’re buying something unique, so you want it to look good on the wearer’s hand. At the same time, they’re economical. We offer white gold black diamond engagement rings starting at $500.00. This price is for a half-carat oval cut diamond in a solitaire setting.
Carat
Want to wow her with a two-carat stone? The same natural black diamond engagement ring would then cost $1500. You can also get a great deal on a princess cut black diamond ring if that’s what she’d prefer.
Interested in gemstone rings?
Design something special today.
Fill out our form below -- Our experts will find three personalized gemstone ring suggestions that fit your tastes and budget.