The Complete Guide to Natural Green Diamonds (Updated 2025)

At Langerman Diamonds, we proudly showcase the world’s largest collection of natural fancy color diamonds. With over 350 hues ranging from subdued champagne to vivid canary yellow, we offer an unparalleled spectrum of enchanting gems. Among them, our natural green diamonds shine with unmatched vibrancy and allure.

Before Jennifer Lopez’s engagement to Ben Affleck made green diamonds famous, these unique gems remained largely unknown. In her announcement video, JLo revealed her green diamond engagement ring, calling green her "lucky color." Perhaps it’s yours too.

In this guide, you will discover:

• Are green diamonds real diamonds?
• What gives green diamonds their color ?
• How valuable are green diamonds?
• Famous green diamonds and their stories.
• Green diamond jewellery inspiration and custom designs.

4 Things to Know About Green Diamonds

• Green diamonds are the 2^nd rarest color of diamond.
• Green diamonds were exposed to radioactive material during their formation, but are completely safe to handle.
• Langerman classifies green diamonds using evocative names such as olive, lime, and mint to describe their diverse hues.
• Chameleon diamonds, a rare subset of green diamonds, change color when exposed to intense heat or light after a prolonged period in the dark.

What are Green Diamonds?

After red diamonds, natural green diamonds are the second rarest. Consequently, pure green diamonds are very difficult to find, and can thus command extreme prices. It is however important to remember that the mixed green colors such as olive, lime and mint, remain at more reasonable prices, and we are always here to try to help you find something that suits your budget and preferences.

• Read more about the origin of color in diamonds.

What Makes Diamonds Green?

Unlike most natural fancy color diamonds, which owe their hues to elements like hydrogen, nitrogen, or boron, green diamonds gain their color from gamma radiation. This exposure occurs deep beneath the Earth’s crust over millions of years. The radiation displaces electrons and carbon atoms in the diamond’s crystal lattice, altering how light interacts with the stone and creating its mesmerising green appearance.

Are green diamonds safe?

Yes, natural green diamonds are completely safe to wear and handle. While these diamonds were exposed to radioactive materials during formation, they are not radioactive themselves and pose no danger.

Natural Green Diamond Sitting On Top Of a Macaron.

Where do green diamonds come from?

Green diamonds have been discovered in several locations, including India, the Central African Republic, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Brazil, and Guyana. Among these, Africa remains a significant source, producing some of the most vivid and valuable green diamonds.

Two natural Olive diamonds, almost polished to heart shapes, and a pear Lime diamond.

How valuable are Green diamonds?

The value of a green diamond depends on the 4 Cs: color , cut, clarity, and carat weight. Among these, color plays the most significant role. Pure green diamonds are extremely rare and command high prices, while stones with secondary hues, such as yellow, gray, or blue, may be more accessible. The saturation and distribution of the green hue also significantly impact the diamond’s value.

Pro Tip: Choose a green diamond with a vivid and even color distribution for maximum brilliance and value. Langerman’s experts can guide you to the perfect stone.

Learn more about Green Diamonds in our Buying Guide

The Importance of Cut

This Green Diamond Reminds of a Dark Green Forest.

When describing the quality of a colorless diamond, all four 4C’s are important: Clarity, Color, Carats, and Cut. But, for natural color diamonds, Color becomes the most relevant factor.

For a Langerman Diamond, Color is top priority. But exceptional color is only achieved through a masterful cut.

For green diamonds, the cut determines how effectively the color is displayed. At Langerman, our master cutters prioritise enhancing the diamond’s natural hue. When working with rough green diamonds, they carefully evaluate the color distribution to create a cut that maximises vibrancy. Fancy shapes such as radiant, pear, marquise, and Asscher cuts are often preferred over round cuts, as they better showcase the rich color of the stone.

For diamonds with darker tones, shallow cuts may prevent the stone from appearing overly dark, ensuring a balanced and captivating look.

0.56 carat Lime Green Diamond, Fancy Bishop Hat Cut.

Another singularity of cutting natural color diamonds is the selection of the shape. For colorless stones, the round brilliant cut is the most sought-after shape as it maximizes the beautiful sparkling effect diamonds are loved for. However, the round cut is not always the most flattering shape for colored diamonds. Fancy cuts like the radiant, pear, Asscher, and marquise are often better choices to showcase a diamond’s color.

Famous Fancy Green Diamonds 

The Dresden Green Diamond

The Dresden Green

Weighing 41 carats, The Dresden Green Diamond is the largest polished green diamond in the world. This rare pear-cut Type IIa diamond boasts VS1 clarity and a remarkably uniform green hue. Believed to have been mined in India, the diamond first appeared in historical records in 1772. Today, it remains one of the most iconic green diamonds in existence.

The Aurora Green Diamond Set in a Ring with Pink Diamonds.

The Aurora Green Diamond

This diamond is a 5.03-carat Fancy Vivid Green diamond that broke records in 2016 when it sold at Christie’s for $16.8 million—$3.3 million per carat. This exceptional gem set a new standard for the value of green diamonds.

The 25 carat Gruosi Green Diamond.

The Gruosi Green

Named after its owner, jeweller Fawaz Gruosi, this 25-carat cushion-cut green diamond is the second-largest polished green diamond. The original rough stone weighed nearly 100 carats, with over 70% sacrificed to achieve its stunning near-flawless finish.

Chopard’s Chameleon Diamond.

The Chopard Chameleon

The Chopard Chameleon Diamond, weighing 31 carats, is the largest known chameleon diamond. These rare diamonds exhibit a fascinating colour-changing property, shifting from green to brownish or orangey yellow when exposed to light or heat. The reason behind this phenomenon remains a mystery.

Fascinating pear-cut Chameleon Diamond 

Green Diamond Jewelry Inspiration

Oval Olive Green Solitaire Engagement Ring

18Kt Yellow Gold Ring with an Olive Green Diamond and a White Diamond Eternity Band.

This elegant bridal set features an oval-cut olive green diamond paired with a delicate eternity band of white diamonds. Set in 18Kt yellow gold, this piece exudes warmth and sophistication.

Lime Green Diamond Necklace with Pink Double Halo

Natural Green Diamond with Pink Diamond Double Halo Necklace

A brilliant Lime diamond is set in warm 18Kt rose gold and surrounded by two rows of shimmering pink diamonds. This exceptional piece combines complementary colors—a creative way of designing with color diamonds.

Fancy Green Diamond Engagement Ring

Lime Green Brilliant Diamond Solitaire Ring with Channel-set Diamonds.

A brilliant lime green diamond takes centre stage in this bespoke necklace. Set in 18Kt rose gold and surrounded by two rows of shimmering pink diamonds, the design creates a striking contrast and celebrates the unique beauty of green diamonds.

Marquise Green Diamond in Tension Setting Ring

Marquise Cut Green Diamond Engagement Ring.

This solitaire ring features a lime green diamond in a six-prong setting. The 18Kt yellow gold band, adorned with channel-set white diamonds, adds a touch of classic elegance to this one-of-a-kind piece.

 —

For a bold and contemporary look, this ring features a horizontally set marquise-cut green diamond in a tension setting. The split shank design adds a modern edge, making it a standout choice for an engagement ring.

Contact us to create your custom green diamond jewellery piece.

Green Diamonds FAQs

Are green diamonds real diamonds?

Yes, green diamonds are natural diamonds. Their color results from exposure to gamma radiation during their formation.

Are green diamonds safe to wear?

Yes, green diamonds are completely safe to wear. Although they were exposed to radioactive materials during formation, they are not radioactive.

How rare are green diamonds?

Green diamonds are incredibly rare, especially those with pure green hues and no secondary colors .

What is a chameleon diamond?

Chameleon diamonds are a unique type of green diamond that change color when exposed to light or heat, shifting between green and brownish or orangey yellow tones.

Browse our natural chameleon diamonds.

Can green diamonds be used in engagement rings?

Absolutely! Green diamonds make unique and striking choices for engagement rings, offering a bold alternative to traditional white diamonds.

Explore Langerman’s exclusive collection of natural green diamonds and design a bespoke piece that reflects your unique style