What Is the Rarest Color of Diamond?

Diamond rings come in a variety of colors.

Red Diamonds

Red diamonds are extremely rare, with less than 20 certified specimens of "natural" red diamonds in the world. It seems the deeper the coloring, the more rare it becomes. The "Halphen Red" was the first to be found in the 18th century, and since then, red diamonds have sold for more than $1 million per carat.

Green Diamonds

"Natural" green diamonds, caused by exposure over millions of years to atomic radiation, are so rare that most jewelers have never even seen one. The most famous green diamond is the "Dresden Green Diamond," which weighs 40.70 carats and has a pure even color. Green diamonds sell for more than $500,000 per carat because of their rarity.

Bottom Line

Although both red and green diamonds are exceptional, red ones are generally seen to be rarer. This is probably because they are found only in Australia, Brazil and South Africa, whereas green diamonds may also be found in places such as India, the Congo, Ghana and Siberia.

References

• All About Gemstones: Fancy Colored Diamonds
• Welcome to Green Diamonds: Green Diamonds - The Very Highest Quality Diamonds
• Diamond Source of Virginia, Inc.: Fancy Colored Red Diamonds

Resources

• Costellos: Types of Diamonds