Guide on Lab Grown Champagne Diamond And What are Cognac Diamonds

You must’ve heard of different diamond names—cushion cut diamond, pink diamond, Argyle diamonds, princess diamond, etc. But have you heard of champagne diamonds?

These are brownish-yellowish hued diamonds. And you guessed it right! They get their name from champagne owing to the color.

If you want a unique lab diamond that’s affordable and appealing, a champagne diamond is worth considering. Let’s read why!

What are champagne diamonds? 

A champagne diamond, also known as cognac diamond, is naturally brown with a yellow hue. Champagne diamonds can be of different colors—from lighter hues of brown (champagne) to deeper browns (cognac). The vibrant brown of these diamonds gives it a distinctive look that accentuates jewelry pieces—a reason it attracts diamond lovers. They are available in many different diamond shapes.

A quick history of Champagne Diamond

Although champagne diamonds have been used in jewelry since the early Roman era, in recent years, these diamonds have been mostly used for industrial purposes.

The terms ‘champagne diamond’ and ‘cognac diamond’ were coined by Rio Tinto at the Argyle Diamond Mine in Australia in the 1980s.

Champagne diamonds can be found all across the world, not just at the Argyle Diamond Mine. But Argyle Diamond Mine was the biggest resource of these diamonds. However, the mine closed in 2021. But that doesn’t mean it’s the end of these brown-yellow gemstones.

Lab grown diamonds are the best alternative to mined diamonds, including champagne diamonds. Lab created diamonds are available in many different colors, including different shades of brown with yellow tints.

Lab grown champagne diamonds are much cheaper compared to the mined diamonds. As mines get saturated with champagne diamonds, the prices of mined diamonds go up. And that’s where the lab diamonds come in.

Lab grown champagne diamonds are not only more affordable, they are more sustainable, ethical, and environment-friendly—reasons why consumers are choosing lab created diamonds.

How do champagne diamonds get their color? 

Diamonds without any color are made up of pure carbon. Colored diamonds are made up of carbon and another element. Champagne diamonds have a brown-yellow color and are made of carbon and nitrogen. When nitrogen levels are higher, the color of champagne diamonds is darker. It is nitrogen that gives cognac diamonds the warm, earthy, brown, yellow hue. Lab grown champagne diamonds are made up of these elements through processing in the laboratories.

Factors to consider when you buy lab grown champagne diamonds

Choose the color

Champagne diamonds are available in a range of colors. So, you’ll have to put some effort in selecting the color of your choice. There are two grading systems for these diamonds.

The Argyle Diamond grading system

C1 – C2: Light champagne
C3 – C4: Medium champagne
C5 – C6: Dark champagne
C7: Cognac

GIA diamond grading system

K – M: Faint champagne
N – R: Light champagne
S – Z: Medium champagne
The GIA grades dark champagne diamonds according to scales for fancy brown and dark brown diamonds.

Champagne diamond cut

The cut of a diamond is not much to do with diamond shapes but with the quality or finesse of the way the diamond is cut. Cut gives diamonds its sparkle. When analyzing the cut of a champagne diamond, diamonds graded ‘Very Good’ and above are ideal. If the diamond has sparkle under different types of light, it’s good to go.

Champagne diamond clarity

The clarity of champagne diamonds refers to the absence of inclusions or blemishes. The more flawless a diamond, the better its clarity. Here’s how diamonds are graded for clarity:

• Flawless – FL
• Internally Flawless – IF
• Very, Very Slightly Included – VVS1 and VVS2
• Very Slightly Included – VS1 and VS2
• Slightly Included – SI1 and SI2
• Included – I1, I2, I3

Carat weight of champagne diamond

The carat of a diamond refers to its weight and not to its size, as is wrongly understood by many. Champagne diamonds cost much less than colorless diamonds and hence, you can get a bigger diamond at a lesser cost.

Should you buy lab grown champagne diamonds?

Champagne diamonds are colored diamonds and hence cheaper than colorless diamonds. Moreover, since lab diamonds are cheaper than mined diamonds, you can buy a large lab created diamond at a much lesser cost.

If you find colored diamonds appealing, if you’re looking for a unique diamond, and if you’re looking for an affordable diamond, you must definitely consider a lab grown champagne diamond.