Champagne Diamonds

What Are Champagne Diamonds?

Champagne diamonds are natural diamonds with a warm yellow-to-brown coloration. With their sparkling qualities, they have earned the ‘champagne’ label and are considered both luxurious and earthy. 

Champagne diamonds gain their coloration from nitrogen impurities and distortions in the crystal lattice during formation. These distortions absorb blue light, leaving the champagne-like tint. 

They’ve been present in jewelry collections since ancient times, but it wasn’t until the 1960s-80s that they gained true popularity. The marketing of the name ‘champagne’ instead of ‘brown’ did a lot of heavy lifting in opening people’s eyes to the stone’s beauty, and they are now considered vintage-inspired pieces. 

Both lab-made and natural champagne diamonds are today a slightly unusual and bold choice, but a versatile one for daily wear. 

Champagne Diamonds Color Grading

The GIA grades fancy colored champagne diamonds as ‘brown’. Unlike colorless diamonds, they’re not graded on the usual D-Z chart. Instead, you’ll see them use descriptors: 

• Fancy Light Brown

• Fancy Brown

• Fancy Dark Brown

• Fancy Deep Brown

• Fancy Orangey Brown

• Fancy Yellowish Brown

You may also see jewelers use labels from C1 to C4, but this is a marketing scale, not recognized by GIA.

The deeper the coloration, the more likely the value is to increase, but it is often a matter of personal preference which saturation level is best. 

Champagne Diamond Cuts and Shapes

Radiant Cut

If you want to bring some sparkling life to ‘wake up’ the earthy champagne tone, then go for a radiant cut. Its brilliant-style facet pattern can produce fiery sparkles, while retaining color for that lively look. 

• Recommended: 1.24 Champagne IF Fancy Color Radiant Diamond

Cushion Cut

The soft, rounded corners of the cushion-cut diamond deepen the color, for a rich, almost glow-like quality. If you want a romantic, deep aesthetic, we recommend a cushion cut. 

• Recommended: 1.03 Champagne VS2 Fancy Color Cushion Diamond

Emerald Cut

Emerald-cut diamonds feature a step-cut, with broad, open facets. This creates a ‘hall of mirrors’ look that many people prefer, as it’s more about clarity than sparkle. If you like the idea of a minimalist yet gorgeous champagne stone, consider an emerald cut.

• Recommended: 0.39 Champagne VS1 Fancy Color Emerald Diamond

Why Choose a Champagne Diamond?

Champagne diamonds are the perfect choice for anyone longing for a statement stone that provides a warm, vintage feel. Flattering a wide range of skin tones, they’re also very versatile and suit almost any outfit or occasion. You can also pair them well with rose gold, white gold, or yellow gold engagement ring settings. 

Considering the level of understated luxury they offer, they’re also more affordable than many other fancy colored diamonds, such as pink or canary yellow diamonds. In fact, often you can get a larger or better cut natural brown diamond for less than a smaller one of a different color. 

FAQs: Champagne Diamonds

Are champagne diamonds real diamonds?

Yes. Champagne diamonds are absolutely real. Even lab-made diamonds are considered ‘real’, but have been formed under human-made conditions. 

What makes a diamond champagne-colored?

Champagne (or brown) colored diamonds gain their coloration from nitrogen impurities and deformation during their formation underground. It is the brown tone that makes them categorised as champagne-colored.

What's the difference between champagne and cognac diamonds?

Cognac and champagne diamonds are both ‘brown diamonds’. The difference in naming is a marketing tool that helps buyers visualise the stone. Cognac stones are richer in color than champagne. 

Do champagne diamonds sparkle?

Yes, but their sparkle is affected by cut, clarity, and shape. Precision cutting, such as that used by Brian Gavin Diamonds, maximizes the return of light through facets. 

What metal works best with champagne diamonds?

We recommend rose and yellow gold to bring out the warm golden-brown tones for maximum warmth and glow. However, white gold or platinum is also a lovely choice for a striking contrast. 

Can champagne diamonds be used in engagement rings?

Of course! If you believe your pattern would be fond of a warm, vintage-inspired color, then a champagne diamond ring is a great choice.

Can I customize a champagne diamond engagement ring?

Yes. We welcome you to contact us today if you’d like to make your vision for a customized champagne diamond engagement ring a reality. We’ll provide expert advice on stones, settings, metal choice, and side stones before drafting a design and crafting it to exceptional standards.