Many of the first attempts to produce diamonds in a laboratory resulted in diamonds with a yellow color. Consider that one nitrogen atom per several thousand carbon atoms can impart an obvious yellow color in a diamond. Then consider that nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the air of the laboratory. It was very…

Yellow diamonds have been produced by treating brownish diamonds. These treatments include HTHP (high temperature, high pressure), irradiation, annealing and coating. Some of these treatments can be reversed or altered if the diamond is subjected to heating during jewelry repair. Coatings are often thin layers of silica applied to the surface of the stone. These…

The Incomparable is a 407.48-carat faceted, fancy brownish-yellow diamond. It is the world’s third-largest faceted diamond, after the Golden Jubilee and the Cullinan I. It measures 53.90 x 35.19 x 28.18 millimeters in size and is cut into a unique triangular shape named a “triolet.” The diamond ended up in the hands of De Beers…

In 1878 one of the largest yellow diamonds ever found was unearthed at the Kimberley Mine in the North Cape Province of South Africa. The rough diamond weighed 287.42 carats and it was purchased by Charles Tiffany, the New York jeweler who founded the world-famous firm of Tiffany and Company in 1837. Tiffany’s gemologist, George…

When buying a yellow diamond for use in jewelry, the color of the metal used in the setting can be important. The first thing to consider is the contrast or harmony of colors that will be present when the diamond is viewed in the setting. The color of the metal can contrast with the diamond…

Two common names used for yellow diamonds are “Capes” and “canaries”. The name “Cape” originated in the late 1800s when many diamonds with an obvious yellow color were being produced from mines in the Cape Province of South Africa. They were quickly noticed in the marketplace by diamond professionals who began calling them “Capes” because of…

Diamonds are composed of carbon atoms, held tightly together in a crystal lattice by strong covalent bonds. When they are composed of pure carbon and are without inclusions or structural defects, they are colorless. Nitrogen atoms are very small and have the ability to substitute for the carbon atoms in diamond’s crystal structure. Trace amounts of nitrogen…

The most desirable color for a yellow diamond is pure yellow. However, most yellow diamonds have at least traces of a secondary color. Greenish yellow and orangy yellow are common modifications of yellow color in diamonds. Although pure yellow is the favorite, many people enjoy the modified colors and are happy to get them at…

Nearly all gem-quality diamonds are graded on a color scale that most highly values the absence of color. The most widely used color scale for grading diamonds is the D-to-Z color-grading scale developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). On the GIA scale, a grade of “D” or “colorless” is the highest grade. Traces…

Yellow diamonds are diamonds that have an obvious yellow bodycolor when viewed in the “face-up” position. The yellow color is usually caused by small amounts of nitrogen contained within the diamond’s crystal structure. Yellow diamonds with a rich, pure yellow color are the world’s most valuable yellow gemstone. Many people consider them to be the most beautiful yellow…