Just Ask Leslie: Jewelry Tips

Dear Leslie,I always thought diamonds were clear, but recently I’ve been seeing jewelry featuring diamonds in various colors. What gives?Lindsey in San Francisco

Diamonds can appear in many colors – pink, purple, yellow, brown, blue and even black! The colors result from chemical impurities: clear diamonds are pure carbon, but in some cases other chemicals take the place of some carbon atoms and change how the diamond reflects light. There are also several chemical processes that can add color to diamonds. Generally, in the past, clear diamonds were the most prized, but jewelers today are more and more realizing the use of some of the other beautiful colors diamonds can occur in. For example, here’s a beautiful blue and white diamond ring. I absolutely love this look. Two matches rows of blue and white diamonds really sparkle in this unusual white gold setting. Add some color to your diamond collection for only $295.