Education
Diamond Education
- Diamond Buying Guide
- 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 Carat
- Diamond Color
- 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 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
- Diamond Symmetry
- Diamond Polish
- Diamond Girdle
- Diamond Culet
- Diamond Pricing
- Diamond Sourcing
- Diamond Size Chart Carat & MM
- Natural vs Synthetic Diamonds
- History Of Lab Grown Diamonds
- How Diamonds Are Formed
- Diamond 4 C's
- Fancy Colored Diamonds
- Engraved Rings
- NY Diamond District
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
- Most Expensive Celebrity Engagement Rings
- Noteworthy Celebrity Engagements (and Rings) of 2017
- 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
Metal Education
Black Diamond Grading
Black diamonds are beautiful gems that can be used in many stunning pieces of jewelry. Black diamonds, or carbonados, are known for their dark, rich color, and can be both natural or lab created. When purchasing a black diamond, it's very important to understand how these gems are graded. Understanding grading helps ensure you are getting the best possible quality gem.
Important Factors in Black Diamond Grading
Much like other gems, black diamonds are graded based on a variety of factors. If you are purchasing a gemstone from a professional, reputable source, the gems will be graded based on the following criteria: color, cut, and clarity.
Color
One of the most important aspects of a black diamond or any colored gemstone, is color. These gems are known for their unique hue, and selecting a carbonado with a high color grade is essential for purchasing the highest quality stone.
The color of black diamonds is actually due to the high number of inclusions found in the stone. Moreover, these gemstones should be a rich, lustrous, black (sometimes dark green) hue and the tone should be dark throughout the gem. In terms of color, black diamonds are graded on the following single grade term fancy black.
Natural AAAA
Natural AAAA grade gemstones make up less than 1%, and are the epitome of perfection. Gemstones with this grading are extremely rare and expensive. These types of gemstones are museum-collection worthy.
Natural AAA
Natural AAA carbonados are on the higher part of the grading scale. Black diamonds with this rating are evenly hued throughout. Moreover, this grading score is rare, with only 1% of gemstones meet this grading standard.
Natural AA
Natural AA black diamonds are the third highest quality stones in terms of color grading. This grading bracket represents the top 10% of gemstones, making them great choices for fine jewelry pieces.
Natural A
Though the color quality of Natural A gems is not as impressive as some stones, gems that receive this grade still represent the top 20% of gems worldwide, meaning they can still be practical choices for jewelry.
Natural B
Black diamonds that are categorized as Natural B on the grading scale are not as coveted as those with higher ratings and represent about 50% of gems worldwide.

Clarity
Inclusions
The grade black diamonds receive for their clarity is based on the amount and variety of inclusions found within the stone. Although inclusions are what give carbonados their unique look, some inclusions are undesirable and reduce the value and structure of the gem. Below are the most common kinds of inclusions found for these dark gems:
Pinpoint
The name pinpoint accurately describes this type of inclusion, which are small black dots within a diamond that work to contribute to the overall color of the gem.

Natural inclusions
Are left at the corner girdles of the diamond after it has been cut, and some jewelers purposely leave them to show they didn’t cut too much off of the original gem.
Indented Natural
These inclusions are small chips on the gem’s edges and are extremely common.

Chip
These inclusions are chips on the surface of the stone and can usually be fixed by a professional jeweler.

Feather
These inclusions are feather-like cracks on the inside of the stone. These can be damaging since they compromise the internal structure of the stone.

Cavity
Cavities are small holes inside a black diamond. Stones with these inclusions are generally of low quality and should be avoided.

Etch Channel
These inclusions are the result of the black diamond being exposed to high heat and are essentially channels that run throughout the stone.
Black Diamond Clarity Scale
When purchasing a carbonado, you do not need to pay attention to the diamond clarity scale, which runs from Flawless (FL) to Included (I). This scale is not applicable for both natural and lab-created black diamonds because their color is opaque and are usually heavily included. Black diamonds on the market were either heavily included white diamonds that got treated to turn black, or they were found in nature with plenty of graphite inclusions.
How to Choose the Grade
When purchasing a black diamond it’s important to take into account all of the grading factors listed above.
Black diamonds with a flawless clarity grade and a Natural AAAA rating represent the highest quality gem but are often too rare and too expensive. Selecting black diamonds that are slightly lower on the black diamond grading scale, such as those which receive Natural AAA-AA color ratings can provide a great balance of value and quality.
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