dark and different: all about black diamonds
One glance at a black diamond and you’ll immediately feel the pull that this bold, dark stone draws. The colorless, crystal clear white diamond just doesn’t do it for some people. If that’s you, we have jewelry that is every bit as beautiful as traditional fine jewelry, but with a darker, more expressive twist.
Black diamonds are a cornerstone of Til Death World designs—ushering in the alternative spirit of the wearer while maintaining the sparkle that draws them to jewelry in the first place. Ever growing in popularity, these diamonds are something you’ll want in your collection too.
Want to know more? Here’s the rundown on everything black diamond.
what are black diamonds, really?
Diamonds.
Black diamonds are cut from the same stone as white diamonds with the same hardness—10 on the Mohs scale. They’re made from the same carbon through the same billion-year-long process happening deep underground. They’re real diamonds with the same origin story, but they look quite different.
Instead of sparkling and reflecting light, black diamonds absorb it, giving them an opaque, almost metallic luster rather than a bright sparkle. They might be dark, but they’re still highly reflective and anything but dull.
what makes them black?
With natural white diamonds, the less inclusions (i.e., higher clarity) the better. But for black diamonds, those inclusions are how they get their color.
A dense concentration of microscopic inclusions—usually of graphite, iron, or other minerals—absorb light, giving the stone its dark, opaque color. The more inclusions it has, the darker the black hue will be, so in contrast to white diamonds, a more heavily included stone tends to be more valuable.
There are two ways a black diamond can get its color: natural or treated.
With natural black diamonds, the color primarily comes from the fractures in the stone and inclusion of minerals. Natural black diamonds have more variation in appearance, sometimes looking more translucent or smoky-gray and other times looking more opaque, but always appearing mostly black to the naked eye. Since it takes specific conditions to create these natural black diamonds, they are much more rare than treated black diamonds.
Treated black diamonds often begin with dark gray or brown diamonds—ones that are heavily included and fractured, which would typically render them low-quality gemstones. Their appearance is then enhanced through a process called high-temperature annealing, where the stone is heated to a level that graphitizes the inclusions, giving it that distinctive opaque, black color. Diamonds can also be treated by irradiation, which alters the diamond’s crystal structure resulting in a deep green color that appears black.
Treated black diamonds tend to be more affordable and the color more bold than untreated black diamonds, but these treatments affect the stone’s value. At Til Death World, all the black diamonds we source are untreated natural black diamonds.
how are black diamonds graded?
White diamonds are graded according to the 4Cs: color, clarity, cut, carat weight. It’s a little different for black diamonds.
Color — A bold, opaque, and uniform black color tends to be more rare and more desirable than a diamond that has secondary gray or greenish hues.
Clarity — For white diamonds the gold standard is the stone with the fewest inclusions, but it’s the opposite for black. The more inclusions, the darker and more opaque the stone is, so more inclusions typically mean a higher value.
Cut — Black diamonds are specifically cut to enhance their bold color, typically creating a sleek, mirror-like surface and symmetrical facets. The stones are finished with a polish that enhances the diamonds’ shiny, metallic luster.
Carat weight — Whereas for white diamonds the size of the stone is important for determining value, for black diamonds the color matters more. When determining their value, carat weight is a secondary consideration to the quality of the cut and evenness of the color.
black diamonds vs. black onyx
Black diamonds and black onyx look very similar, but have a few key differences that you should be aware of.
Black onyx is a much softer stone than diamond, ranking around 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, making it much more prone to scratches and general wear-and-tear. For an engagement ring that you’re wearing everyday, it might be worth it to upgrade to a black diamond.
Black onyx also has a different finish than black diamonds: they’re more matte to semi-glossy compared to black diamonds’ metallic shine.
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, black onyx gives you that same deep black hue at a more affordable price point.
For the bride who doesn't want to do what's expected, or for the person who wants bold everyday jewelry, black diamonds are the answer. It's a departure from the "right" choice—the colorless stone—toward something that actually feels like you.
They’re far from the standard choice, but they’re getting the attention they deserve. Worn by Beyonce and Lady Gaga on the red carpet, and chosen as an engagement ring by tattoo artist Kat Von D and fictional Sex in the City character Carrie Bradshaw, black diamonds are the perfect stone for someone who doesn’t care what everyone else is going.
That's the whole point of building a stack around one: bold and dark, built for people who never wanted the traditional option in the first place.
the black diamond collection
