AncientWorldArtifacts: Yellow Diamonds

The Sun-Drop Diamond is the largest known Fancy Vivid Yellow pear-shaped diamond at 110.03 carats. It sold in November 2011 for $12.4m.

For centuries the most prized diamonds have been pure white or deep coloured blue, red, pink, or green. Yellow diamonds have not been highly prized, and have been seen as inferior white diamonds.

Yellow diamonds are rare and are much more appreciated today, as celebrities sport the gems regularly. The term “canary” diamonds has been incorporated into the modern term “Fancy Yellow”. The GIA grades natural Fancy Yellow diamonds into 4 main qualities, Fancy Light Yellow (the lightest grade), Fancy Yellow (a medium grade), Fancy Intense Yellow (a strong grade) and Fancy Vivid Yellow (the rarest and strongest).

Yellow diamonds range from a pale delicate yellow to a pure rich canary or sunflower yellow. Yellow diamonds may also have secondary shades, primarily orange or brownish, which affect the clarity of the color. Greenish or pinkish secondary shades are extremely rare and extremely valuable. Yellow diamonds are graded similarly to white diamonds, with the exception of color and cut.

Unlike white diamonds, which are prized on the lack of color, yellow diamonds are graded for clarity of color. Fancy Vivid Yellow grades are extremely rare.

The Incomparable is the largest yellow diamond and third largest diamond in the world. The 407.48-carat gemstone is described as a golden-coloured kite-shaped diamond, graded as flawless and fancy deep brownish-yellow by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). It’s the largest flawless diamond ever graded by the GIA.

The De Beers diamond (Patiala Necklace). Weighing 234.65 carats, the De Beers is the seventh largest faceted diamond in the world. After its display in Paris the Maharaja of Patiala bought the stone. In 1928 Cartier of Paris set it as the centerpiece of a ceremonial necklace that came to be known as the Patiala Necklace.

The Florentine Diamond is almost 140 carats, light yellow with green undertone diamond, this diamond belonged to the Medicis, one of the most powerful families in Europe. In 1743, it was in the hands of the Hapsburgs, and the Emperor Francis I wore the Florentine in his crown. In 1918, following the fall of the Hapsburgs, the stone followed the family to exile in Switzerland and vanished.

The Tiffany Yellow Diamond 287.42 carat (at discovery) fancy yellow diamond, is one of the largest yellow diamonds ever discovered. It was cut to 128.54 carats in a cushion shape with 90 facets to bring out the brilliance of the stone.

The Diamond Shah is a 88.7 carat clear yellow diamond, found in Central India in 1450. This diamond over its history has three inscriptions carved on its facets. The first inscription was carved in 1591 and reads “Burhan-Nizam-Shah Second. Year 1000″. In 1641 after it changed hands, the second inscription was carved: “The son of Jehangir-Shah Jehan-Shah. Year 1051″. In 1824, after the diamond was seized by Persia, the third inscription was carved: “The ruler of the Kadgar-Fath ali-shah Sultan. Year 1242″.

The Moon of Baroda is a 24 carat pear shaped yellow diamond and was worn by Marilyn Monroe to the opening of the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The diamond had been owned by the Maharajas of Baroda for almost 500 years before passing into the hands of the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.

The Allnatt yellow diamond was found in South Africa. It is a fancy vivid yellow diamond, 101.29-carat cushion cut. Its color having been certified by the GIA as Fancy Vivid Yellow, VS2.