Boron trapped in the crystal lattice as the diamond formed. Boron is vanishingly rare at those depths, which is why natural blue diamonds are among the scarcest stones in the trade. It also makes them semiconductive, unlike other diamonds.
What secondary hues appear in blue diamonds?
Grayish blue and greenish blue are the most common. A pure blue with no modifier is exceptionally rare and priced accordingly. Gray modifiers, which are frequent, reduce the price substantially relative to a clean blue of the same intensity.
How does a blue diamond differ from a sapphire?
Entirely different minerals. A sapphire is corundum and a diamond is carbon, and the diamond is both far harder and far rarer in blue. A fine blue sapphire is a magnificent stone; a natural blue diamond of comparable size is in a different price category altogether.
Are most blue diamonds treated?
Most blue diamonds on the wider market are treated or laboratory-grown, and both are legitimate when disclosed. A natural blue of any consequence must carry a report from a recognized laboratory confirming natural color origin — without one, assume it is not natural.
Does clarity matter in a blue diamond?
Far less than color. Blue diamonds are frequently accepted at clarity grades that would be rejected in a colorless stone, because saturation and evenness of color are what the market pays for.
What sizes are realistic in natural blue?
Most natural blues that reach the market are under a carat, and anything above two carats in good saturation is a significant stone. Expectations set by famous examples like the Hope Diamond are not a useful guide to what is available.
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