For those who have seen a red diamond in person

[thekokeshi]

What were your thoughts?

I lucked out and was able to see one at a museum a few years ago. At the time, I didn't have any real understanding of diamonds and failed to realize how much of an opportunity it was to view such a rare stone in person. The good part about not knowing this was that I was able to draw an unbiased personal opinion of the stone instead of gawking at it due to the rarity.

In all honesty, I was completely underwhelmed but the piece. It may have been the overall dark exhibition lighting, but the stones didn't showcase the fire and brilliance that I've seen with other colored diamonds. I was assuming that a red diamond would look like a "ruby but better," but was shocked to have preferred the other red gemstone pieces being shown. Granted, the red diamond was set into a jewelry piece that could've taken away some light performance if the stone was shown by itself.

Excluding their remarkable rarity, would you say that red diamonds are or aren't that special from a visual standpoint? Do you think setting a red diamond enhances or takes away from its natural beauty? Do other red gemstones "look" better to you or not? Why do you believe so?

 

[Sprinkles&Stones]

Can’t wait to see others comments!

 

[Karl_K]

A red diamond will be cut to show the most red everything else is secondary.
Also static many diamonds are kinda blah, unless they have interesting contrast patterns, its the moving of the stone and or the lighting that gives them life.

 

[Rockdiamond]

I was assuming that a red diamond would look like a "ruby but better,"

totally....based on the prices- and fact that Red is among the rarest of colors, you'd expect it to be amazing.
But my experience is that red in diamonds isn't like the Vivid Red of a Pigeon Blood Ruby.
The stone in the pics was graded "Fancy Purplish Red" by GIA. Both pics are of the same stone in different lighting
As you can see the color does contain red....but not the sort of red you'll see in a ruby.
I hope this helps!!

 

[Bron357]

Red diamonds are incredibly rare and even more incredibly expensive but I agree, they are underwhelming.
For my money, nothing is a better red than a top Burmese ruby, the red is vivid and glows, like an ember.
Next would be Spinel, glorious and then Rubellite tourmaline with copper. A similar pure and bright red.
Red Garnets are my least favourite, mostly too dark and “flat” in tone for my liking.

 

[caolsen]

totally....based on the prices- and fact that Red is among the rarest of colors, you'd expect it to be amazing.
But my experience is that red in diamonds isn't like the Vivid Red of a Pigeon Blood Ruby.
The stone in the pics was graded "Fancy Purplish Red" by GIA. Both pics are of the same stone in different lighting
As you can see the color does contain red....but not the sort of red you'll see in a ruby.
I hope this helps!!

Thanks for this. Are red diamonds generally included or are there clean species of any meaningful size out there? I have seen 2 reds (one in a museum and one in a very high end jeweler in Europe) and both were pretty included which to me was part of the ’meh’ factor.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Thanks for this. Are red diamonds generally included or are there clean species of any meaningful size out there? I have seen 2 reds (one in a museum and one in a very high end jeweler in Europe) and both were pretty included which to me was part of the ’meh’ factor.

There are so few examples that it's not possible to make accurate generalizations.....although I do not recall ever hearing of an IF....and it does seem like the ones I have seen were SI or worse....but again, so few....

 

[John Pollard]

Excluding their remarkable rarity, would you say that red diamonds are or aren't that special from a visual standpoint? Do you think setting a red diamond enhances or takes away from its natural beauty? Do other red gemstones "look" better to you or not? Why do you believe so?

+1 to @Rockdiamond and vibrant pigeon's blood rubies. That is my favorite red gemstone variety, and my birthstone is garnet.

Regarding the text in bold, it has been fascinating to watch the evolution of fancy colored lab grown diamonds (if this was only intended to be a natural thread please disregard the below - or secretly regard and enjoy )

The shape aesthetic makes this one of the coolest (orangy) red lab grown diamonds I've ever seen. It's also VS2 which is clean through the majority of the body.

Here's video, showing it to better effect.

If interested, there are a couple of Fancy Red pear shapes at the start of the video.

 

[Rockdiamond]

I've seen that cross as well....it's super cool, we agree....but red??? There are too many other modifying hues for me.
Give me John's birthstone for red, any day of the week.....and in that regard: If a ruby had purple combined with red, it's far less desirable than a true "Pigeon Blood" ( trigger warning to all the bird lovers.

I've yet to see a natural , or lab grown red diamond that really looked "red"

 

[John Pollard]

but red??? There are too many other modifying hues for me.

I have to say - a step-cut that is 26.00 mm on the long (!) lets you see pretty much everything going on inside.

I've yet to see a natural , or lab grown red diamond that really looked "red"

Pro tip: Ask Ben Hakman (Diamond DNA) to show you his most recent specimens.

 

[Rockdiamond]

Already done Sir John.....I've even got one in my possession