the Brightest

One does not need to go to a museum to see something nearly as old as the planet itself. You are likely wearing it on your finger. Blasted through molten rock some 93 miles below the surface of an earth in the pangs of creation, behold the diamond.

The brightest gem on earth is the diamond, which possesses the greatest ability to refract light. And right now, the brightest diamond, in the sense of popularity, is the brown diamond. Brown diamonds, which are among the stones known as fancy colored diamonds, come in a range of shades. This range, according to the Natural Color Diamond Association, begins with the light-colored champagne diamonds, and ends with the ever-darker, rich brown cognac diamonds. Cinnamon, caramel, and chocolate diamonds fall within this scale.

Chocolate diamonds are graded just like colorless diamonds, using the four C’s: carat, clarity, color, and cut. Colored diamonds can be very expensive because of their rarity. The deeper and richer the color, the more expensive. However, brown diamonds are produced in greater abundance than other colors. They can come from mines in Africa or Russia, but most chocolate diamonds come from the world’s largest producer, the Argyle Diamond Mine in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Two other characteristics determine the value of a diamond: beauty and demand. Two diamonds may look equally valuable on paper; they may have all the right C’s. But the jewel that catches the eye is the more valuable. And of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Demand also determines value. A colorless diamond may be beautiful and costly, but not nearly as hot as the increasingly popular chocolate diamond. Because of their natural beauty and their ability to blend well with earth tones, brown diamonds are being seen more and more on the bodies of the rich and famous. Chocolate diamonds also pair beautifully with colorless diamonds. Surrounded by white diamonds, brown diamonds make a stunning centerpiece.

Value is also determined by meaning. A toy ring from a lost loved one has no market value, but its worth cannot be measured. One’s soul has more value than the wealth of the entire world. When choosing a diamond, consider the occasion, the person, and the timelessness of the gift. Chocolate diamonds, like true love, last forever!