Extraordinary Gemstones · 08
Diamond
Carbon, perfected
Diamond is the oldest thing most people will ever touch: crystals a billion years old and more, carried to the surface in volcanic eruptions that no human witnessed. Its brilliance is not a metaphor but a measurement, no natural transparent material bends and returns light so completely.
Genesis' attention belongs chiefly to the rarer chapters of the diamond story: the fancy colours, yellows, pinks, greens, where geological accident writes in hue.
From the House
Diamond, in the house's hands
The Science
What the earth had to do
Depth and time
Diamonds crystallise 150 kilometres and more beneath the surface, in the mantle, and reach us through kimberlite pipes. Most are far older than the continents' present shapes.
The chemistry of colour
Nitrogen writes yellow; boron writes blue; lattice distortion under pressure writes pink; radiation writes green. Each fancy colour is a distinct geological accident, and saturated examples are rare in proportion to their vividness.
The grammar of grading
Colour, clarity, cut and carat order the colourless world; in fancy colours, hue and saturation govern everything, and grades like Fancy Intense and Fancy Vivid mark the summits.
Provenance
Where the finest come from
Southern Africa wrote diamond's modern history; Australia's Argyle mine, now closed, defined pink; Russia, Botswana and Canada carry today's production. For fancy colours, provenance from famous mines adds its own premium.
Collecting
How collectors judge it
Fancy colour diamonds combine portability, permanence and extreme scarcity. Pinks and blues are pursued by collectors and institutions alike; fine yellows offer the colour story at more approachable scale.
The Genesis Perspective
Fancy colour diamonds are a Genesis signature: foliate earrings descending to fancy yellow and rose drops, and a blossom of pink and yellow diamonds set in white gold.
Further Reading
From the Genesis Journal
Private Appointments
Discuss diamond with the house
Whether you are searching for an extraordinary natural gemstone, commissioning a bespoke creation or seeking expert guidance, we look forward to hearing from you.