The Luxury Guide to Buying a Yellow Diamond Engagement Ring
How to select the best luxury yellow diamond engagement ring.
History of Yellow Diamond Engagement Rings
Yellow diamonds or canary diamonds first became popular as engagement rings after being discovered in South Africa in the 19th century. The Tiffany Yellow Diamond acquired by Charles Lewis Tiffany in 1887 also helped popularize yellow diamonds. The name canary diamond originates from the canary bird, as the diamond's color resembles the vibrant yellow feathers of the bird. Yellow diamonds are often linked to happiness, joy, friendship, love, and optimism which makes it a natural choice as an engagement ring. A yellow diamond engagement ring is a popular choice with celebrities and luxury buyers looking to make a statement.
Celebrity Yellow Diamond Engagement Rings
A yellow diamond is a striking alternative to the traditional colorless diamond engagement ring. The rarity, multiple hues of yellow, and uniqueness draw many celebrities to choose a yellow diamond engagement ring. In 2019 Colin Jost proposed to Scarlett Johansson with an 11 carat pear shaped yellow diamond. Heidi Klum received a 10 carat yellow diamond engagement ring from Seal in 2004. Among the 15 engagement rings given to Victoria Beckham, two of the rings feature large yellow diamonds. The country singer, Carrie Underwood, has a 5 carat round yellow diamond engagement ring surrounded by smaller white diamonds. Paris Hilton received a 24 carat emerald cut yellow diamond engagement ring in 2005 from Paris Lastis but quickly ended the relationship that same year.
The 4 Cs: Carat, Clarity, Color, and Cut
When purchasing a yellow diamond engagement ring it is always important to consider the 4C’s. The 4C’s are a comprehensive guide to determine the quality and value of a diamond, helping you make the most informed decision. Carat weight and color are the two most significant factors determining the value of a yellow diamond, however, all factors should be evaluated.
- Carat: Yellow diamond engagement rings come in all different sizes. The larger the gemstone, the brighter the stone will shine. Luxury buyers generally start at 3 carats so the quality and color of the yellow diamond is visible regardless of the setting. A high jewelry canary diamond engagement ring starts around 5 carats and can go up to 20+ carats.
- Color: Yellow diamonds come in a variety of shades ranging from fancy light to fancy vivid. In general the more intense and vivid the yellow diamond, the higher the price. But as with all diamonds, the preferred yellow is a personal style preference. The yellow diamond color grading scale was invented by the Gemological Institute of America in the 1950s. The scale has been consistently revised to create an identifiable worldwide system. The color is determined by the hue, saturation, and tone. GIA Yellow Diamond Color Grade Scale:
- Fancy Light
- Fancy
- Fancy Dark
- Fancy Deep
- Fancy Intense
- Fancy Vivid
- Clarity: Clarity is the presence of internal visible flaws within a natural diamond. Yellow diamonds tend to have higher levels of clarity than colorless diamonds. This is because the yellow color masks the imperfections. Starting at VS2 or higher ensures no inclusions will be visible to the naked eye.
- Cut: The best cut options for a yellow diamond are fancy shapes including cushion, radiant, oval and pear. While emerald cut is less common for a yellow diamond, it is another alternative to consider. For yellow diamonds, round is the least popular shape for luxury buyers looking for a 3 carat or larger diamond. Round brilliant cut tends to dilute the yellow color.
Popular Shapes For Yellow Diamond Engagement Rings
Choosing the right shape is always an important decision that influences both the style and brilliance of the ring. Especially, when shopping for a canary diamond ring, understanding what shapes will highlight the color best is an important factor. Each shape has a different and unique way of enhancing the color and sparkle of the diamond.
Oval: Oval diamond engagement rings are currently the most popular diamond shape for luxury buyers. Oval is also one of the most popular shapes for yellow diamonds since it enhances the color of the diamond. The oval shape elongates the finger and reflects light that enhances the brilliance of the diamond. Oval diamonds also appear larger than other comparable carat weight shapes which also makes this shape appealing to buyers. An oval yellow diamond balances the brilliance of allowing white light but colored light dispersion allowing the diamond to sparkle without overshadowing the yellow color.
Emerald Cut: The sophisticated and polished look of an emerald cut diamond never goes of out of style. When it comes to color, an emerald cut with its open facet design highlights the true natural yellow tones. While emerald cut yellow diamonds aren't as popular as other shapes, the overall popularity of emerald cut diamonds with luxury buyers means this diamond cut is often sought after in a yellow diamond.
Cushion Cut: The cushion cut is one of the most popular diamond shapes for yellow diamonds. The rounded corners and larger facets enhances the yellow color making it appear more vivid and rich in tone. Additionally, the vintage appeal of a cushion cut yellow diamond is another important factor making this shape popular for a yellow diamond.
Radiant Cut: This rectangular and square-shaped trimmed edge design maximizes the yellow diamond color and sparkle creating the most spectacular display of light.
Pear shaped: The pear shaped diamond is less common for yellow diamonds but is attractive to buyers of large High Jewelry yellow diamond engagement rings. The pear shape can make the color more concentrated at the point which can add to the diamond's visual appeal.
Round Brilliant Cut: The round brilliant cut is the least popular shape for larger yellow diamonds over 3 carats. The round shape often dilutes the yellow diamond color which makes this shape less appealing to buyers that want a vivid yellow diamond.
Yellow Diamond Engagement Ring Settings
When it comes to a yellow diamond engagement ring the setting is another important consideration. Yellow diamond engagement rings often mix metal colors with yellow gold prongs and white gold or platinum band. If the yellow diamond is set as a solitaire, yellow gold is often the preferred metal color. As with all diamond engagement rings, there are limitless options to create unique and one of kind settings but the most popular are a threes stone setting with diamonds or a micro pave halo of white diamonds. Yellow diamonds that are larger than 3 carats also allow more white diamond shape options without detracting from the center stone.
Price of a Yellow Diamond Engagement Ring
The price of a yellow diamond engagement ring depends on many different factors. Generally, the more color the diamond has, the more valuable the yellow diamond. Within the luxury market, yellow diamonds will usually fall on the fancy deep and fancy vivid end of the scale. The tone is also an important attribute influencing the value. If the tone is too dark and contains modifier colors like orange yellow or greenish yellow the diamond is less valuable. 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. Sotheby's recommends only purchasing a yellow diamond engagement ring with a GIA certificate.
Buying a Yellow Diamond Engagement Ring at Sotheby's
Sotheby's often has impressive yellow diamond engagement rings available at auction. Sotheby's also sells natural yellow diamond engagement rings on its marketplace, available for immediate shipping. Sotheby's also sells yellow diamond engagement rings from top luxury brands including Harry Winston, Tiffany, Cartier, Graff and more. Sotheby's salon specialists are also happy to assist with a yellow diamond engagement ring purchase. Sotheby's is able to source a special yellow diamond engagement ring from its global supplier network.
- Explore upcoming jewelry at auctions in New York, London, Switzerland, Paris, and Hong Kong.
- Speak to a Salon Associate in New York, Zurich or Hong Kong to schedule an appointment.
- Speak to Jewelry Specialist about selling a yellow diamond engagement ring.
Trust our worldwide network of leading jewelry specialists from a globally renowned auction house with a 280-year history.
