Brown diamonds, often marketed as champagne, cognac, or chocolate diamonds, are becoming a hot alternative to traditional white diamonds in engagement rings. They are unique, stylish and can be a bang for your buck compared to the traditional white diamond, depending on your preference. I have always been a fan of 'fancy diamonds' aka. colored stones. Lets dive in...

🔸Why is it brown (in ref to natural diamonds): Diamonds are formed under extreme heat and pressure deep in the earth. Most diamonds are clear, but brown diamonds get their color because something disrupts their internal crystal structure during formation, (when nitrogen atoms are incorporated into the crystal lattice during formation, they can cause distortions and affect how light passes through the diamond, thus influencing the diamond color).

To simplify, picture the earth squeezing the precious stone really hard during formation. This can bend or twist the diamond’s inside (called its structure). When the inside is bent, light cannot bounce the same way, resulting in the diamond looking brown or a variation of brown depending on the pressure, instead of clear or white. Think of it like a glass window; if it's perfectly smooth, it’s clear. If it’s warped or scratched, it has a variation of cloudiness.

This explains why brown diamonds come in different shades because of the natural variations in how they form deep inside the Earth. These distortions happen due to high pressure and temperature. The more distortion, the darker or richer the brown shade. Common Shades of Brown Diamonds are, Light Brown, Champagne, Cognac, Chocolate, Deep or Rich Brown. Generally, the stronger and richer the brown hue, the more expensive the diamond will be, this is because darker, vivid colored diamonds are considered rarer and therefore more valuable.

⃟🞛Squeezing by Earth + Variation of twists inside diamond (structure) = Brown color variation!

🔸Grading: Brown diamonds are usually graded by GIA (Gemological Institute of America), there are other Graders but GIA is my personal preference. They are graded against/compared to a set of 'master stones' (stones in consistent shades of brown, aka. what would be considered 'perfect' per category). The GIA Diamond Grading Reports include a comment describing the color for grades K to Z (e.g. 'K' Faint Brown) etc.

🔸What's the Hype about:

◇ Warm, Romantic Aesthetic - color ranges from light champagne to deep mocha

◇ Emotional Appeal - earthy hues symbolize grounded love, stability, natural beauty

◇ Uniqueness - Rare, individuality, non-traditional

◇ Affordability - usually less than white diamonds of the same size

🔸Ring-Savvy Advice:

◇ Color Grading - brown diamonds are graded less strictly than white. Focus on the tone and saturation you love.

◇ Clarity/Cut: choose a round brilliant cut to enhance sparkle, especially for darker stones.

◇ Certification: Look for GIA certification to ensure quality.

◇ Sustainability: I prefer natural diamonds (more $$$) personally but you can opt for lab-grown (less $) for ethical and budget-conscious options.

🔸Ready to Snag: I personally prefer working with Custom Jewelers directly; creative freedom, personalized design, better value for your budget. Or you can opt for a Retailer such as Tiffany's, Blue Nile; huge selection, competitive pricing, return policy, upgrade program, lifetime warranty etc. All up to you and what's convenient for you. Whichever method you choose please ensure your precious stone is GIA certified and you are issued a GIA certificate.

Below are a few design options, in ref to metals or settings great for brown diamonds.