Black Diamond Engagement Rings

An antique or vintage black diamond engagement ring is an edgy, dramatic choice. Just keep in mind that with diamonds, it’s all about sparkle, and the darkness of a black stone obscures its fire and brilliance.

“Typically, natural black diamonds are completely opaque, but they have a high luster, which gives the stone an almost metallic appearance,” says Brenda Harwick, senior manager of on-campus instruction at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

These stones, whose gemological name is carbonado, tend to vary little or not at all in terms of tone or saturation, and light dispersion is all but irrelevant. Accordingly, the GIA does not grade them by the 4Cs. Instead, it issues a colored diamond identification and origin report in which the black color’s origin is noted as either natural or treated.

If the inky opacity of a black diamond seems a bit extreme and you’d like a little light to shine through, consider a gray diamond, which can be cut for maximum brilliance. Brides with a taste for the cool and unusual might also consider salt-and-pepper diamonds, which have white and black inclusions that produce a silvery gray, speckled look. These visible flaws hint at the stone’s natural origins — and that’s the whole point.

On 1stDibs, browse antique, new and vintage black diamond engagement rings set in white gold, yellow gold and more. Explore our buying guides for a close look at antique engagement rings, Art Deco engagement rings and vintage engagement rings.