WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE YELLOW DIAMONDS FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT RING

Choosing an engagement ring is about finding a piece that reflects your style and personality. Once it's on your finger, you want to feel like it was destiny. For some brides-to-be, a classic white diamond is a perfect fit, but an increasing number of women are falling for yellow diamonds in engagement rings. And we can see why… We've compiled some brilliant reasons why yellow engagement rings are a perfect choice.

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THEY ARE A SOUND INVESTMENT

Some of the most famous diamonds in the world are yellow because of their rarity and value. The Cora Sun Drop, for example, is a renowned 110.3-carat, a pear-shaped yellow diamond that sold on auction for over $10 million (R150 million) in 2011. The primary reason yellow diamonds are so sought after is that they are so rare. One in 16,500 carats of diamond sold each year is yellow. They are rare, but in terms of ‘fancy colour’ diamonds they are still accessible.

Within the categorisation of yellow diamonds, there are further factors that impact the value. A Gemological Institute of America (GIA) study showed that those they have graded fall into the following categories: fancy yellow 46%, fancy light 21%, intense 24%, deep and dark 3%, and 6% vivid. To give you a sense of how the rarity affects their value as an investment, fancy vivid yellow diamonds can cost up to $18,000 (R271 364) per carat.

BUT THEY’RE ALSO AFFORDABLE

As you can see that the price of a yellow diamond is based on both the colour intensity and the size of the gem. It means that many yellow diamonds still have a beautiful sunny disposition but are affordable. It makes them a perfect choice for brides-to-be looking for a unique diamond, without blowing the budget.

YOU CAN PICK THE PERFECT HUE

With yellow diamonds, , there is a wide selection of shades to choose from. This means you can pick a colour that ‘speaks' to you, complements your skin tone, and makes a statement.

Some yellow diamonds have secondary colours. These are called ‘impure’ diamonds. The colour combinations include orange-yellow, green-yellow, and brown yellow. Think of the multiple variations for a yellow gold engagement ring when these unusual beauties are paired with other gems. If you want an engagement ring that's one in a million, this is an excellent place to start.

THEY GO BEAUTIFULLY WITH WHITE DIAMONDS

Fancy coloured diamonds come in other shades such as pink. However, if you are after a unique diamond, but don’t want anything too bright, a yellow diamond is the perfect go-to gem. Carrie Underwood’s canary yellow diamond engagement ring from Mike Fischer in 2009, is a gorgeous example of this. The round cut yellow diamond is placed in the centre of the ring, with smaller diamonds encircling it. The white diamonds throw extra light towards the yellow hero gem, giving it a glow that seems to come from within.

There’s plenty of other celebrity engagement ring inspiration out there if you are looking for a yellow diamond engagement ring. Kelly Clarkson’s ‘vintage look’ yellow canary ring from beau Brandon Blackstock also has white diamonds around the yellow centrepiece in a halo, with channel set diamonds on the band. Love it!

Let’s also take a moment to drool over the yellow diamond piece that Lady Gaga wore to the Oscars recently. The Star is Born icon wore a necklace to the event featuring The Tiffany Diamond. The gem was discovered in South Africa's Kimberley diamond mines in 1877 and scooped up by Charles Lewis Tiffany for $18,000 (R270 995). It was then cut into a rounded cushion-cut weighing 128.54 carats with 82 facets. The yellow diamond is over an inch wide, and just under an inch top-to-bottom. The vivid yellow shade has never been matched. Another famous star wore it too. Enter Audrey Hepburn who wore it for a promotional gala for the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Still, think yellow diamonds aren’t timeless? One of the most famous yellow diamond rings dates back over 500 years to Louis van Berquem's 137 carat Florentine Diamond. Half a century later, it's still renowned as one of the most beautiful pieces of jewellery in the world.

But thinking contemporary, a yellow diamond engagement ring also works well with the ‘stacking’ trend. Eternity rings of white diamonds worn on either side contrast against the yellow and give you the flexibility to layer your ring look to suit your mood or outfit.

THEY COME WITH A SPECIAL ‘ENERGY’

It’s not only the superstitious that believe yellow diamonds have positive associations. It’s commonly agreed that yellow gems represent happiness – what a beautiful sentiment to start your marriage off with! They are also associated with creative energy and inner strength. If this sounds like you, this is the gem that was made to be with you for life. Some say they also remove negative energy. But our favourite? They are said to represent ‘hope'.

THEY ARE VERSATILE

The cut chosen for a particular shade of yellow diamond can bring it to life. Multiple cuts are suitable, and it's really about choosing a cut that expresses the gem in the way you want. For example, if you want a ‘classic' yellow diamond look, then the best choices are round brilliant, princess, cushion, and radiant. The main reason for these cuts being commonly chosen is because the faceting (this refers to the flat surfaces cut into the diamond, which makes them reflect light) intensifies the colour. Let’s take a closer look at the options:

• The round, brilliant-cut yellow diamond is the best-selling shape. The circular outline is simple and constant and perfect to accompany white diamonds in a setting.
• Princess cut yellow diamonds have pointed corners and a graphic, square shape that makes them a favourite for engagement rings.
• Cushion cut yellow diamonds have a square shape with rounded corners and have an antique feel.
• Radiant cut yellow diamonds are square with cropped corners and are ideal for brighter shades of yellow diamonds such as Vivid Fancy Yellow diamonds.

YELLOW DIAMONDS MAKE MEMORABLE HEIRLOOMS

It’s a common tradition for diamond engagement rings to be passed down through generations. The taboo of having them modernized or reset has long gone (we have the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, to thank for her recent ring-spiration too).

When a yellow diamond is reset, it still retains its identity and memories attached to it. A yellow diamond engagement ring will become a part of your family history and traditions that everyone will remember.

If you've decided that a yellow diamond engagement ring is the perfect choice for your soon-to-be-married finger, here are a few things you need to look out for before you buy one:

• The metal used in the ring setting will affect the appearance of a yellow diamond engagement ring. Ask our diamond experts to find the metal that complements your gem perfectly.
• The setting matter too. The setting of your ring can make a yellow diamond look a couple of shades darker. Keep this in mind when you’re choosing your diamond. It can work to your advantage. If you want a less expensive light-yellow diamond (which rates on the lower end of the D-to-Z colour scale), it will appear to be a more costly fancy yellow diamond.
• A yellow gold setting will complement a yellow diamond. White metals and rose gold create more of a contrast.

BUY A CERTIFIED YELLOW DIAMOND

Every yellow diamond from the Shimansky Fancy Yellow Diamond Collection comes with a certificate confirming the attributes of the diamond and that it is verified natural by Gemological Institute of America. All gems sold by Shimansky are also conflict-free.