Black Diamonds -- A Propaganda Success

Since a certain movie, people have been interested in black diamonds, especially for center stones in rings. It's never a good idea to spend lots of money on fashion trends. Rather, express them, if you must, with cheaper imitations or as accessories.  Jewelry, however, can be an expensive accessory.  You want value for your money.

The combination of black and white is a classic in clothing and interior design, so it's no surprise that black diamonds have become popular in jewelry. Many people think that a black stone surrounded by "white" diamonds and precious metal makes a stunning statement of fashion sense.

The statement one makes with black diamonds really depends on what one pays for them. Often they are as expensive as white (actually clear is the correct word) diamonds. If they are, and you buy them, then the statement is that you have been taken.

A black diamond is an unfinished stone. Mother nature has not finished the process of making the diamond. The crystal structure is weak. It is usually full of pits and fishers. The pits are often visible with the unaided eye, not attractive. The fishers may make the stone brittle and easily cracked if hit against a hard surface. For the above reasons, I cannot say strongly enough, do not buy a black diamond for a center stone in a ring. Do not pay diamond prices for a black diamond.

It's the success of a marketing ploy that so many people are interested in black diamonds. They used to be considered for industrial purposes only and not worth faceting. The cheap labor of the youth of India, China and Thailand makes even poor stones some use.

So what to do, if you really like that black and white look? Buy jewelry or stones of black spinel, black onyx or other black stone. Spinel? Yes, spinel is a hard stone, plentiful in black, and much cheaper than diamonds. If you have not heard of spinel, it's sister to sapphire, only one extra element, and in the crown jewels of some European countries. They thought the stones were rubies and sapphires, but modern testing revealed them as spinel. Spinel with not give you the pits and fishers that make black diamonds weak and ugly.  They will save you lots of money and look better.  Then your fashion statement will be that you are a smart shopper.