Back in the day, the myth that diamonds were extremely rare (and hence, expensive) circulated heavily. Today, a good portion of the populace knows that even natural pure gold is rarer than conventional white diamonds.
Then why are they so expensive? The answer to this lies in the simple dynamics of demand and supply. As diamond mines reach the end of their productive lives, these gemstones are tougher to supply (in their finest quality). Contrast that with the rising demand for diamonds, and you understand why they are so precious and costly.
However, there is one particular color of diamond that is truly rare – the red diamond. The International Gem Society states that only 20 to 30 pure red diamonds exist worldwide. Their intense crimson color is mesmerizing, to say the least.
In this article, we will talk about this rare diamond in detail and its most famous kinds across the world.
The Beauty of Red Diamonds: Different Cuts, Shapes, and Sizes
It is widely believed that the red color of the diamond is imparted through a process called lattice defect. Chemical impurities due to traces of nitrogen and boron change the way light passes through the stone.
This deformation is so rare that most red diamonds are only half a carat to a carat in size. These diamonds are predominantly mined across Brazil, Africa, and Australia. Their value is also based upon the 4Cs of Clarity, Color, Cut, and Carat.
However, the color is said to be the most important criterion (the richer the red color, the costlier the diamond). It also determines the cut as the cutter aims to maximize the stone’s intensity and color (especially under natural light). Some of the most popular shapes can be explored here – https://www.leibish.com/red-diamonds.
Red diamonds often have secondary hues. For instance – red with undertones of brown or purple. According to Leibish, pure red diamonds are nearly impossible to find, with only a handful available worldwide. Their rarity gives them a separate class from other diamond varieties.
Also, red diamonds are mostly purchased for investment purposes. However, their beautiful shapes also afford them a prominent position in terms of wedding jewelry.
Three Most Famous Red Diamonds
Just like every other rule, red diamonds also come with their unique exceptions. As nature creates these marvels through intense heat and pressure, each diamond emerges in a class of its own. Let’s look at the three red diamonds that are widely known among gemstone enthusiasts (and otherwise).
The Moussaieff Red Diamond
This red diamond is the largest of its kind to date. At the time of its discovery in the mid-90s by a Brazilian farmer, the stone weighed an impressive 13.90 carats. Once under the custody of the William Goldberg Diamond Corporation of New York, it was given its characteristic triangle (trilliant) cut.
This process pulled down the diamond’s size to 8.79 carats. Brilliant in appearance and intensity, the red stone was later purchased by the Moussaieff Jewelers for a whopping $8 million. Even Michael Hing (an expert gemologist) was taken aback by the diamond’s dazzling beauty.
Called the Red Shield, the Moussaieff Red Diamond has a juicy cranberry color. It was displayed in Washington D.C.’s Natural History Museum of the Smithsonian Institution twice. Some sources suggest that this red diamond would easily cost $20 million today.
The Hancock Red Diamond
If there is one red diamond superior to its counterparts in terms of the hue, it’s the Hancock Red Diamond. Besides the striking blood-red color, this diamond is renowned for exceptional clarity. With a distinct round shape, this red diamond is 0.96 carats in size.
It is believed that its origin is Brazil since the diamond was found with a Brazilian diamond cutter’s son in 1956. Later, Arnold Baron, a stone dealer from Montana, purchased the stone from the unnamed Brazilian.
At the time, the dealer priced the Hancock diamond at $13,500, which was quite high for the times. Also, colored diamonds were not so popular among folks in the 1950s. Fortunately, Baron found a customer in 1956 called Warren Hancock.
Hancock was a keen diamond collector and held onto this stone until his death. But it was later auctioned off by Hancock’s family to
Theodore Horovitz of Geneva due to financial issues in 1981. The gentleman bought the stone for a massive $880,000. He was even willing to bid up to a million if needs be.
The Supreme Purple Star
In a sense, the Supreme Purple Star diamond may be called a rarity in red because it has purple undertones. No, this is not what makes it so unique. It is the fact that two of the rarest diamond colors appear separately in the same stone.
Weighing around 2 to 5 carats, this diamond is a brilliant round cut. When viewed from one angle, it appears to have a distinctly purple color. However, the same turns into crimson when gradually rotated under direct light.
Some people even call it the diamond that changes color, truly the first of its kind. Though no early mining history is available, it is believed that the Supreme Purple Star belonged to the Amazon Basin just 25 years ago. The diamond came into public light only in 2002, when its anonymous owner opted for laboratory testing in London.
It is rightfully the rarity of all rarities since it features two of the least easily available diamond colors.
A Final Word
Most gemstone collectors and enthusiasts know that for every 10,000 clear diamonds, there’s just one colored diamond. Even among those, the red diamond is rarer. This is why many are willing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to acquire one.
These rare stones also stand as symbols of power and passion. Some buyers may incorporate the stone into a ring or locket as a keepsake. It can also become the focal point of an unconventional wedding ceremony. At the least, red diamonds are among the best investments in the world.
