Black Diamonds

Black sheep may be the outsiders in a family, but black diamonds are some of the most sought-after gems in the diamond world. Much rarer than their white counterparts, black diamonds are only found in two continents and are believed to have been formed in outer space.

Identification

The main feature that gives a black diamond away is its color. As the name suggests, it is black or dark gray in color. You can also discern a black diamond from other gemstones by its shape. Black diamonds will have several cleaved edges, either formed naturally or cut by jewelers, with sharp angles and flat surfaces. They will not be perfectly round as some other gemstones will be.

Features

Black diamonds are dark gems technically known as carbonado. These are naturally forming polycrystalline diamonds, meaning they form from a conglomeration of tiny, individual crystals. Black diamonds are generally the size of a pea or larger and more porous than regular diamonds.

Geography

While black diamonds are originally found in alluvial deposits in Brazil and Central Africa, they readily make their way around the world. They are sold side-by-side with white diamonds at jewelry stores, gem shows and online. They are often featured in conjunction with white diamonds in jewelry pieces, adding a sparkling contrast or edgy look.

Size

While the smallest black diamonds may be the size of a pea, the largest can weigh more than 300 carats, or 1/13th of a pound. This a hefty weight for a gemstone. The Spirit of de Grissogono is the world's largest cut black diamond, weighing in at 312.24 carats. Other large black diamonds include the Black Orlov, at 67 carats, and the Amsterdam Diamond, weighing 33 carats.

Considerations

Black diamonds are not formed in the same manner as white diamonds. In fact, two scientists recently proved that black diamonds formed in outer space. Florida International University scientists Stephen Haggerty and Jozsef Garai used infrared-detection instruments to analyze the hydrogen in black diamond samples. They found the amount of hydrogen in the samples proved the mineral had been created in a supernova explosion. Haggerty had long asserted that black diamonds got to Earth by raining down inside meteorites.