Natural diamonds occur in at least 10 recognized color families: colorless/white, plus fancy yellow, brown, blue, pink, green, red, orange, purple, gray, and black. Each color comes from a different cause: chemical impurities, structural defects, or natural radiation exposure, covered color by color below.
Fancy-colored diamonds are genuinely rare: only about 1 in every 10,000 carats mined comes out as a natural fancy color, according to GIA. Below, we break down what causes each color, how rare it actually is, and what that means if you're shopping for one.
Quick Answer: What Colors Do Natural Diamonds Come In?
|
Color |
What Causes It |
How Rare It Is |
|
Yellow |
Nitrogen atoms absorbing blue light |
Most common fancy color, about 60% of all fancy-color diamonds |
|
Brown |
Structural defects (graining) in the crystal lattice |
Common; the second most frequent fancy color |
|
Blue |
Trace boron replacing carbon in the lattice |
Very rare |
|
Pink |
Plastic deformation of the crystal lattice |
Very rare; ~90% historically came from Australia's Argyle mine, which closed in 2020 |
|
Green |
Natural radiation exposure over thousands of years |
Rare |
|
Red |
Graining and plastic deformation (exact cause still debated) |
Rarest of all; only 20-30 gem-quality natural red diamonds are known to exist |
|
Orange |
Nitrogen combined with lattice irregularities |
Rare |
|
Purple |
Hydrogen, plastic deformation, or graining |
Extremely rare; unmodified purple is about 0.05% of the colored diamonds GIA grades |
|
Gray |
Hydrogen/nitrogen impurities, lattice defects, or inclusions |
Uncommon |
|
Black |
Graphite inclusions or radiation-driven graphitization |
Rare in gem quality; mostly seen in bold, modern jewelry design |
Yellow and Brown Diamonds
The most common naturally colored diamonds, ranging from light to deep, yellow to brown.
Nitrogen atoms scattered through the crystal lattice absorb blue light, producing the yellow hue; intensity depends on how much nitrogen is present and how it's distributed, from faint to vivid. Yellow is the most common fancy color, making up about 60% of all fancy-color diamonds. Brown comes from structural lattice defects called graining, likely involving hydrogen or plastic deformation, and it's the second most common fancy color, often marketed as "champagne" or "cognac" diamonds.
Blue Diamonds
Blue diamonds are rare and highly prized for their stunning color.
Trace boron replacing carbon in the lattice absorbs red light, producing hues that range from pale to intensely saturated blue, sometimes with gray or green undertones. Blue is among the rarest diamond colors, and only a small percentage of natural diamonds show any blue at all; the more saturated the hue, the higher the value per carat.
Pink Diamonds
Pink diamonds are rare and coveted for their delicate color; unlike blue or yellow, the exact cause isn't tied to a single impurity.
Plastic deformation, intense pressure and heat in the Earth's mantle, slightly distorts the crystal structure so it reflects pink instead of colorless light. Pink diamonds are exceptionally rare: about 90% of the world's supply historically came from Australia's Argyle mine, which closed in 2020 after 37 years, making pink stones even harder to find today. They're a favorite for high-end engagement rings, earrings, and pendants, and the most intensely saturated pinks command premium prices.
Green Diamonds
Green diamonds get their color from natural radiation exposure during formation, not from an impurity like nitrogen or boron.
Thousands of years of natural radiation exposure deep in the Earth's mantle create nickel-related defects in the crystal lattice that absorb light and reflect green, sometimes with secondary yellow or blue undertones. Green diamonds are rare compared to yellows or browns, which makes them highly prized by collectors.
Red Diamonds
Red is the rarest natural diamond color, and prices reflect it. Scientists point to a few competing theories for the cause:
- Leading theories on the cause: graining that creates color centers absorbing green and reflecting red; plastic deformation from intense heat and pressure; or trace nitrogen/hydrogen. No single cause is confirmed.
- How rare: only 20 to 30 gem-quality natural red diamonds are believed to exist worldwide, mostly held in private collections or museums rather than sold in stores.
No single cause is confirmed, but whatever the mechanism, red diamonds share the same kind of structural distortion that produces pink and purple stones, just pushed further. Only 20 to 30 gem-quality natural red diamonds are believed to exist worldwide, mostly held in private collections or museums rather than sold in stores.
Orange Diamonds
Diamonds with an orange hue are relatively rare, ranging from light to deep orange.
Nitrogen, similar to yellow diamonds, combines with structural irregularities in the lattice so that certain wavelengths of light are absorbed and others reflected, producing the orange hue. Orange diamonds are rare compared to yellows or browns, and prized for their warmth and uniqueness.
Purple Diamonds
Purple diamonds are rare and admired for their unique coloration.
Purple diamonds are rare and admired for their unique coloration. Researchers point to several possible contributors:
- Hydrogen: hydrogen atoms within the lattice may influence the diamond's optical properties, causing it to absorb specific wavelengths and appear purple.
- Plastic deformation: intense pressure and heat during formation can distort the crystal lattice enough to shift its color.
- Graining: irregularities in the diamond's growth process can create color centers that selectively absorb and reflect light.
- Trace elements: boron or nickel may also interact with the lattice to produce a purple tint.
No single cause is confirmed. Purple is extraordinarily rare: in a GIA study of 90,000+ pink, purple, red, and brown diamonds submitted between 2008 and 2016, unmodified purple made up just 0.05% of the group, the rarest color in the entire study.
Gray Diamonds
Also called "fancy gray" diamonds, these are less common but still found in nature. A few explanations stand out:
- Hydrogen and nitrogen: these impurities can affect how the diamond absorbs and reflects light.
- Lattice defects: structural irregularities like dislocations or vacancies can produce a gray hue.
- Multiple scattering: light bouncing repeatedly within the stone before it exits can make a diamond look gray instead of colorless.
- Inclusions: microscopic clouds or particles can scatter light and add to the gray coloration.
No single cause is confirmed. Gray diamonds are uncommon compared to colorless stones, often show secondary blue or brown undertones, and are valued for their subtle, understated look.
Black Diamonds
Also known as carbonado, black diamonds are opaque and used more often for industrial purposes than fine jewelry.
Also known as carbonado, black diamonds are opaque and used more often for industrial purposes than fine jewelry. A few theories explain the color:
- Graphitization: graphite or carbon may convert to diamond under extreme pressure, possibly during meteorite impacts, forming polycrystalline black stones.
- Inclusions and impurities: heavy concentrations of graphite, pyrite, or hematite scatter and absorb light.
- Microscopic structure: dense micro-cracks throughout the stone add to its opaque look.
- Extraterrestrial origin: some scientists believe carbonado material originated in meteorites before reaching Earth.
The exact mechanism is still debated. Black diamonds are relatively rare in gem quality and valued for their bold, distinctive look in modern jewelry design.
Making Sure Your Colored Diamond Is the Real Thing
Some colored diamonds on the market are treated or lab-grown to imitate a fancy color, not naturally colored. Before you buy:
- Ask for a grading report from an independent lab like GIA, which confirms natural origin and grades color, clarity, cut, and carat weight.
- Compare your options: see our guide on how lab-grown and natural diamonds compare.
- Don't rely on eye judgment alone; natural, treated, and lab-grown color can look identical without lab testing.
Whichever route you choose, that grading report is what protects the purchase.
Find Colored Diamond Jewellery and More with ADX
Photos only tell half the story: the way a fancy-colored diamond shifts under light is something you really have to see in person. ADX Diamonds sources ethically mined, natural diamonds, and our GIA Gemologists can walk you through real colored stones and their grading reports from our natural diamond jewellery collection.
Book a private appointment to see our colored diamonds in person.
FAQs
What color are natural diamonds? Most natural diamonds are colorless to faint yellow or brown, graded on GIA's D-to-Z scale. A small percentage grow with strong "fancy" colors instead, including yellow, brown, blue, pink, green, red, orange, purple, gray, and black. See our GIA color grading breakdown for how that scale works.
How many natural colors of diamonds are there? Natural diamonds occur in at least 10 recognized color families. Fancy-colored stones are genuinely rare: only about 1 in every 10,000 carats mined comes out as a natural fancy color, according to GIA.
What colors do natural diamonds come in? Natural diamonds can be yellow, brown, blue, pink, green, red, orange, purple, gray, or black, in addition to colorless. Yellow and brown are by far the most common; red and purple are the rarest.
What's the rarest natural diamond color? Red is the rarest natural diamond color. Only 20 to 30 gem-quality red diamonds are believed to exist worldwide, making them rarer than blue, pink, or purple stones.
How can I tell if a colored diamond is natural or treated? You can't tell by eye. Natural color, treated color, and lab-grown color can all look identical to the untrained eye, so the only reliable way to know is a grading report from an independent lab like GIA.
