If you have ever seen a real black diamond, you know that it is a truly beautiful and dazzling stone to behold. It makes a great addition to jewelry, particularly black diamond engagement rings. However, it is not just limited to rings to celebrate an engagement. You can also use them to create a custom cocktail ring, statement ring, or another piece of jewelry like a necklace or bracelet.

No matter how you plan to use black diamonds, you probably want to know a bit more about them before investing in a new piece of jewelry. So, in today’s guide, we will take a closer look at the different kinds of black diamonds, how to identify real black diamonds, and where to find the best black diamond rings on the market. But first, let’s examine what constitutes a black diamond.

What Is A Black Diamond?

A black diamond, also known as a carbonado diamond, is a naturally occurring diamond that contains diamond (of course), graphite, carbon, and sometimes tiny metal inclusions. It is the graphite and carbon that give this black precious stone its unique color. A black diamond gem is extremely dense and strong, even compared to standard diamonds. This makes it one of the toughest materials on the planet.

Consequently, black diamond jewelry is highly sought after, as it offers a unique variation from traditional diamonds and is even less likely to get damaged. Moreover, the unknown origins of black diamonds make them even more desirable to many collectors and enthusiasts. To this day, experts still have various hypotheses about how and when black diamonds came into existence, with some people suggesting that they came from a supernova that occurred billions of years ago!

Types Of Black Diamonds

Even if you know you want a black diamond or a piece of black diamond jewelry, you may not know exactly what type of black diamond to acquire. There are several different types, each with unique advantages and disadvantages. We will take a closer look at each type of black diamond below:

Natural Black Diamonds

As the name implies, natural black diamonds occur naturally in nature. They are mined from underground using traditional methods.

Treated Black Diamonds

Treated black diamonds are also found in nature, but not in their final form. When treated black diamonds or “color-enhanced” black diamonds are originally mined, they are colorless. Then, using heat or radiation treatments, they are given a black, opaque coloration. Typically, diamond procurers choose colorless diamonds with many inclusions to treat with coloration, as the black color makes the undesirable inclusions virtually impossible to see.

Lab Black Diamonds

Unlike natural or treated black diamonds, lab black diamonds cannot be found in nature. Instead, they are created in a laboratory. However, this does not mean that they are fake diamonds. On the contrary, lab-made diamonds are put under the same conditions as diamonds created in nature, ensuring that they have the exact same properties as mined diamonds.

The advantage of lab black diamonds is that they are typically less expensive because they do not require the same labor costs or risks as mined black diamonds. Additionally, lab black diamonds are a far better option if you worry about your carbon footprint. In short, if you want to save money, help the environment, and get a real black diamond, lab-made diamonds are a great option.

Are Black Diamonds Rare?

Yes, naturally occurring black diamonds are extremely rare. They are not easy to find and are often very small. However, the rarity of black diamonds depends on where they came from. Black diamonds found in meteorites from space are understandably rare. Alternatively, lab-grown black diamonds are not particularly rare, as they can be manufactured without relying on the scarcity of the natural diamond market.

How To Identify A Black Diamond

If you are concerned that a diamond is fake, you should always take it to a trusted jeweler for a close inspection. However, this is usually not necessary with black diamonds. In fact, you can usually identify a real black diamond simply by exposing it to light. Fake black diamonds will not reflect light very well, while real black diamonds will have much greater brilliance. This means that when you put the diamond under a light, it will reflect the light well, and you will usually see various colored beams of light bouncing off the surface of the gem.

However, if you do not have easy access to a jeweler and you want to be 100% sure that your diamond is real, you have a few more testing options at your disposal:

• Waterdrop Test - It is important to note that this type of test can only be done with the diamond itself, not a piece of diamond jewelry. To conduct this test, simply fill a glass with water and drop the black diamond in. If it sinks, the diamond is real. If it floats, it is fake.
• Dot Test - This is another test that only works if you have a diamond that has not been put on a piece of jewelry yet. To test it, draw a dot on a piece of paper and place the flat side of a cut diamond on top. Then, look through the pointed end of the diamond. Real diamonds refract light in multiple directions, so if the diamond is real, you will not be able to see the dot. If you can see the dot clearly, you have a fake diamond.
• Fog Test - The fog test is another easy one to do at home. Fortunately, this is also one of the few tests that you can do on pieces of diamond jewelry. All you have to do is breathe on the diamond. If the fog from your breath dissipates quickly, the diamond is likely real. If the fog lingers for a few seconds before disappearing, then it is probably a fake.
• Heat Test - Keep in mind that if your diamond is fake, you will lose it by conducting this test. All you have to do is put a lighter up to your diamond for about 20 seconds, then immediately drop it in a glass of water. A fake diamond will shatter when it is exposed to the water, but a real diamond will not.

Black Diamond Engagement Rings

As you can see, black diamonds are both unique and rare. Additionally, they are becoming more and more popular for engagement rings. You should look no further than Sex & the City for evidence, as Carrie had a black diamond engagement ring on the popular television series. In any case, these rings are frequently combined with white or black gold to create a truly stunning look. So, if you want something that strays from traditional white or colorless diamonds, you can get a genuinely beautiful piece of jewelry to celebrate your engagement with a black diamond engagement ring.

We hope you found this guide on black diamonds both useful and informative! Are you in the market for black diamond jewelry? Do you want beautiful, certified lab diamond engagement rings at competitive prices? If so, be sure to check out the luxurious products available at Liori Diamonds today!