From Fancy to Flawless: The Timeless Allure of the Yellow Diamond
Learn more about the yellow diamond, the most popular colored diamond.
History of the Yellow Diamond
The yellow diamond, also known as the canary diamond, is the most popular colored diamond in the luxury market. While colored diamonds make up less than 1% of the diamond market, yellow diamonds account for about 60% of colored diamonds. The first yellow diamond was discovered in South Africa in 1866. A teenager stumbled on the rough uncut stone and shared it with his neighbor. The diamond traveled throughout Europe before it was purchased by De Beers in 1967. It was named the Eureka Diamond and was donated to the people of South Africa. The yellow diamond is now on display at the Kimberly Mine Museum.
\The mystique of yellow diamonds is nothing new. They have long been recognized and prized among collectors. In 1676, French traveler and gem dealer Jean-Baptiste Tavernier mentioned seeing a large 137.27 carat yellow diamond he referred to variously as the "Florentine," the "Austrian Yellow," and the "Grand Duke of Tuscany" in descriptions of several famous diamonds he encountered during his travels in India.
Yellow diamonds remained rare in the market until the 19th century when deposits were discovered in South Africa. The South African mines popularized the yellow diamonds however, these diamonds remained rare and expensive in the global market. Yellow diamonds today are also mined in Australia, Brazil, and Russia. The yellow diamond's nickname is a “canary diamond”. The name comes from a canary bird as the color of the diamond evokes the image of the bright-colored yellow feathers. A yellow diamond is associated with happiness, joy, friends, love, and optimism. The bright color has long been cherished by royals and luxury buyers. Today yellow diamonds are associated with luxury and exclusivity and are a favorite for engagement rings.
Yellow Diamond Color Grading System
A yellow diamond is a white diamond that exhibits a yellow color primarily due to the presence of nitrogen atoms. The nitrogen atoms absorb the blue light and reflect yellow light. Each natural yellow diamond’s yellow hue is unique. The Gemological Institute Of America (GIA) has created a grading scale that determines the tone and grades it on a scale. The color grading system starts with fancy light: the lightest yellow color. At the other end of the scale is fancy vivid: the deepest yellow color. The main value factors determining the price of the diamond are the color and price grade are the hue, tone, and saturation. The most intensely colored yellow diamonds are the most rare and valuable.
Accurately describing color in diamonds is no simple task, given the wide range of possible hues. Furthermore, variations in brilliance and bright-dark contrast patterns also complicate the assessment. In 1995, GIA refined its color grading system, adding grades to better define rare depths of color that were not commonly seen in years past. With the addition of Fancy Vivid, GIA was able to highlight these rare, highly saturated diamonds in all hues. Since that time, very few diamonds passing through the Lab earn this distinction. In a 1998 sampling of yellow diamonds, GIA noted that only 4% were graded Fancy Vivid, regardless of size. Similarly, a 2003 sampling indicated that only 6% received a grade of Fancy Vivid. This already small quantity is reduced to a mere fraction as size increases.
GIA Yellow Diamond Color Grade Scale
- Fancy Light
- Fancy
- Fancy Dark
- Fancy Deep
- Fancy Intense
- Fancy Vivid
A diamond is considered a ‘Fancy’ diamond when it surpasses the D-Z on the grading scale for natural white diamonds. Yellow diamonds are less common than white diamonds but more popular than other colored diamonds like blue and pink diamonds.
Famous Yellow Diamonds
Throughout history, spectacular yellow diamonds have graced the luxury market. One of the most famous yellow diamonds is The Tiffany Yellow Diamond. The Tiffany Yellow diamond is a 128.54 carat cushion shaped fancy yellow diamond. It was discovered in the Kimberly mines of South Africa in 1877. In its rough stone form, the diamond weighed 287.42 carats. In 1878, the founder of Tiffany & Co., Charles Lewis Tiffany, purchased the stone for $18,000. The diamond was cut in Paris and then exhibited at the 1893 at the Chicago World Fair. In 1972, the loose yellow diamond was put up for auction for $5 million but went unsold. Tiffany & Co. still owns the large yellow diamond and has reset it for special occasions. Many celebrities have worn the famous diamond including Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and Audry Hepburn. Most famously, Kate Hudson wore the Tiffany Yellow Diamond in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” (2003).
The Incomparable Diamond is another famous yellow diamond. In its rough form, the diamond weighed 890 carats. The massive stone was found by a young girl playing in her backyard in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It took four years to find the best way to cut the stone. Ultimately, they opted to transform the rough into 15 finished stones. The largest of the resulting diamonds, known as the Incomparable Diamond tipped the scales at 407.48 carats and was graded by the GIA as Internally Flawless, Fancy Deep Brownish Yellow. The shield-shaped step cut, with its unusually shaped facets and small table preserved much of the shape and bulk of the original rough. It was the largest internally flawless or flawless diamond ever graded by the laboratory. The incomparable diamond holds the record as the third largest diamond in the world. The Incomparable Diamond was recut to improve its shape and color. The Incomparable Diamond was renamed The Golden Canary Diamond as a 303.10 carat pear modified brilliant diamond. Everything from the orientation of the stone, to its shape and cutting style, has been considered. As a modified brilliant, the color appearance now displays active twinkling yellow spots of light against a golden background. At 303.10 carats, the Golden Canary remains the largest internally flawless diamond in the world. The Golden Ganary Diamond sold at Sotheby’s in December 2022 for $12.3 million.
Price of Yellow Diamonds
There are many crucial factors to consider when assessing the value of a yellow diamond. The color intensity is the most significant value factor. The more intense a yellow diamond is, the more expensive it will be. The second most important factor is the cut of a yellow diamond. Each cut will significantly impact the radiance and the color of the stone. The most popular cuts for a yellow diamond are radiant and cushion because they enhance the stone's color. Other popular trending yellow diamond shapes are emerald, oval, and square. Clarity is also an important factor in determining the price. While slight inclusions are often less noticeable in a yellow diamond, it is still important to go for a high clarity like VS1 or VS2. When considering the carat weight the larger diamonds are always more valuable. However, the combination of color intensity and carat weight is crucial when it comes to yellow diamonds. Sotheby’s suggests looking for 3-carat yellow diamonds and above. The price for a lower intensity yellow diamond rated “fancy yellow” at 3 carats is around $50,000. For a high-intensity 3 carat yellow diamond ring like a 3 carat “fancy intense” yellow diamond, the price starts at $85,000. The key consideration for determining the value of a yellow diamond is always the combination of the intensity and the carat weight. High jewelry yellow diamond ring creation prices start around $150,000 on Sotheby's marketplace.
How To Buy A Yellow Diamond At Sotheby’s
Sotheby's often has impressive yellow diamond creations available at auction. Sotheby's also has a curated selection of yellow diamond rings and jewelry available for immediate purchase on marketplace. If you would like to view a yellow diamond ring, a salon specialist would be happy to assist. Sotheby's is also able to source a yellow diamond ring from its global supplier network.
- Explore upcoming jewelry at auctions in New York, London, Switzerland, Paris, and Hong Kong.
- Contact a Salon Associate in New York, Zurich or Hong Kong to schedule an appointment.
- Speak to a Jewelry Specialist about selling a yellow diamond.
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