1. What are Enhanced Blue Diamonds?
If you're looking for a truly unique diamond, you enhanced blue diamond in enhanced blue diamonds. These diamonds have been treated to intensify or alter their natural blue color, and the results can be stunning. Here's a closer look at enhanced blue diamonds, including how they're made and what you should know before purchasing one.
Naturally occurring blue diamonds are extremely rare, and as a result, they can be quite expensive. Enhanced blue diamonds offer a more budget-friendly alternative that still offers the same beautiful blue hue.
The enhancement process begins with a blue diamond that has a faint or light blue color. The diamond is then placed in a solution of boron and heated to a very high temperature. This process increases the concentration of boron in the diamond, intensifying the blue color.
Enhanced blue diamonds are not to be confused with treated blue diamonds. Treated blue diamonds have been exposed to irradiation, which alters the color of the diamond. Enhanced blue diamonds, on the other hand, have had their color intensified through a process that does not alter the atomic structure of the diamond.
If you're considering purchasing an enhanced blue diamond, it's important to do your research. Make sure you're working with a reputable jeweler who can provide you with all the necessary information about the diamond, including a certificate of authenticity.
Enhanced blue diamonds are a beautiful and unique alternative to traditional diamonds. If you're looking for something truly special, an enhanced blue diamond may be the perfect choice for you.
2. How are they made?
A blue diamond gets its color from trace amounts of boron impurities in the crystal lattice. The boron atoms replace some of the carbon atoms in the lattice, and when the diamond is cut and polished, the boron atoms scatter blue light more effectively than carbon atoms.
The vast majority of blue diamonds on the market today are artificially enhanced. The most common method is called High Pressure, High Temperature (HPHT) treatment. In this process, the diamond is heated to a very high temperature and exposed to a controlled atmosphere of chemicals. The HPHT treatment rearranges the atoms in the diamond lattice, and the result is a diamond with a more intense blue color.
Other methods of artificial enhancement include irradiation and coating. Irradiation involves exposing the diamond to high-energy particles, which can also rearrange the atoms in the diamond lattice and produce a blue color. Coating is a less common method, and it involves applying a thin layer of a different material (usually a metal) to the surface of the diamond. This coating can enhance the blue color of the diamond, but it can also affect the diamond's durability.
Whether natural or enhanced, blue diamonds are some of the rarest and most valuable diamonds on the market. If you're considering purchasing a blue diamond, be sure to do your research and work with a reputable jeweler to ensure that you're getting a quality stone.