Vintage and antique yellow diamond jewelry fulfills the almost universal desire for cheerful and optimistic accessories and clothes. And yellow diamonds, which are commonly called canary diamonds or canaries, are white-hot right now — these sunny stones have attracted fans on and off the red carpet.
High-quality natural yellow diamonds are rare — and expensive. Unlike the fast-fashion brands who quickly serve up look-alike gowns based on celebrity finery, even major jewelry houses cannot create a collection overnight. Gems have to be sourced, designs created and jewels manufactured. It also takes time for clients to budget for such a purchase. When people decide they are going to buy a piece with a gem like a yellow diamond, they often wait for a special occasion to make the acquisition.
Natural diamonds come in a rainbow of hues. Non-white ones are called fancy color diamonds. The chemical element nitrogen makes a diamond yellow. The more nitrogen in a gem, the stronger the saturation and the rarer and more costly the gem. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) grades the color of yellow diamonds as Fancy Light, Fancy, Fancy Dark, Fancy Deep, Fancy Intense and Fancy Vivid. The most desirable are the last two grades: Fancy Intense and Fancy Vivid.
The Tiffany Yellow Diamond, purchased by Tiffany & Co. cofounder Charles Lewis Tiffany during the 19th century, is the best-known yellow diamond but impressive yellow diamonds have graced many of the world’s most celebrated jewelry collections. From Zendaya coordinating a $6 million Bulgari necklace centering on a yellow diamond with a yellow Valentino gown, to Iman rocking a 13-carat yellow diamond ring from Kwiat with her monumental headdress and gown, red-carpet treasures show that jewelers have been working to incorporate more yellow diamonds into their collections.
Find a range of antique and vintage yellow diamond necklaces, yellow diamond rings and other yellow diamond jewelry today on 1stDibs.
