AncientWorldArtifacts: Orange Diamonds

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The largest fancy-vivid orange diamond known to exist sold for 32.6 million Swiss francs ($36 million) at Christie’s International in Geneva in late 2013.

The 14.82-carat pear-shaped stone’s price was about $2.4 million per carat, this was a per-carat record for any colored diamond at a public sale. The "Zoe Diamond" recently sold for $ 3.3m per carat. The gem also set a record for an orange diamond of its type.

The majority of diamonds contain some nitrogen. In orange diamonds the nitrogen atoms have grouped themselves in a very specific way. This happens during and right after the diamond is formed. Nitrogen arrangements absorb light in the blue and yellow region of the spectrum producing an orange color. Orange Diamonds may contain a brown, yellow or pinkish modifying color.

The strength of colour is one of the most important factors in determining the value of a natural color diamond. The value increases exponentially with the intensity of the most prominent colour within the diamond.

Orange diamonds are typically found with a hint of other hues such as brown or yellow; diamonds with a pure vivid orange color are extremely rare and valuable.

The Pumpkin Diamond is 5.54 carats and rated as Fancy Vivid Orange by the GIA. Halle Berry wore the ring to the 2002 Oscars where she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Monster's Ball.