Bored of traditional wedding ring designs? Then a black diamond piece could be the answer to your indecision ahead of the big day.
If you’re not familiar with the ins and outs of black diamond wedding rings, read on and allow us to bring you up to speed so you can make an informed decision if you decide to go ahead with a purchase.
Black diamonds explained
Chemically identical to white diamonds, the reason that some gems in this family appear black is that they are packed with so-called ‘inclusions’.
If you are trimming your budget this year, you shouldn’t assume that the inclusions in black diamonds make them more affordable; if anything, they only add to the rarity, and thus the price you’ll pay is rarely lower than for a white diamond ring.
Production processes explored
Black diamonds can be mined in their natural form, but cheaper variants which have been subjected to a variety of intensive manufacturing processes, including extreme heats and pressures, can be turned black if they are of a lower quality when pulled from the ground.
There are even lab-grown diamonds which have risen to prominence recently, and are even more affordable, because of the lower prestige associated with them.
Color combinations examined
Black diamonds are appealing to certain buyers because they afford unique combinations with other stones and materials.
For example, if you’re planning a themed wedding and you want a non-traditional ring on a white gold or platinum band, rather than yellow gold, a black diamond piece will tick all the boxes. Mash-ups between black and white diamonds are also popular, so it’s not as limiting as you might think.
Maintenance considerations worth mentioning
With natural black diamond rings, one of the benefits you might not know about is that they are even tougher than uncolored gems of the same type.
The number of inclusions present makes them harder and more durable, which in turn means that they are easier to maintain and keep in a good condition over the decades. If you plan to wear your wedding ring every day, then if it uses black diamonds, it could survive the rigors of life more ably.
Shapes to show off
Just as the variety of material and stone combos on offer when black diamonds are chosen is extensive, you’ll also benefit from being able to pick and choose from the most popular gem shapes.
Whether you want a standard round or oval cut stone, or your tastes extend to heart-shaped, princess cut or even marquise cut black diamonds, there’s plenty of variety out there.
When it comes to picking a shape for your wedding ring’s gemstones, you need to consider your own personal style as well as how trends are likely to change over time. Timelessness is usually a better option, rather than a design that’s too of-the-moment and might end up looking old-hat in a year or two.
Settings to sort out
We touched on the ability to set black diamonds with other stones earlier, but there’s more to discuss here.
How the stones are set, or arranged, alters the impact on the eye. For a focused look, a solitaire setting where the diamond takes center stage without any other stablemates makes sense. For a bit more razzle-dazzle, a halo setting with colorless diamonds set around the circumference of a central black gem works well.
In short, the delightful array of black diamond wedding rings on the market today should suit a whole heap of budgets and stylistic preferences, so start your search to see what’s out there!