A Guide to Natural Orange Diamonds

The color of optimism and spontaneity, orange is often associated with adventure and creative pursuits. Depending on the hue, orange can transport you to a summer sunset at the beach or remind you of the trees’ changing colors in the fall. It can be dynamic and cheerful or warm and uplifting. 

Fancy orange diamonds had their climb to fame when Halle Berry rocked a 5.54 carat Pumpkin Diamond to the 74th Academy Awards ceremony and took home the Oscar for Best Actress. Despite having made their red carpet debut in 2002, fancy orange diamond jewelry is still hard to come by, even at star-studded events. Pure natural orange diamonds are extremely rare, and this reflects on their hefty price tags. However, it’s not impossible to get a hold of an intense orange diamond. Natural color diamonds become more affordable when secondary colors like yellow are present.

Contact us to design your very own pumpkin orange diamond ring.

Discover what makes these gems so unique:

• What rare are fancy orange diamonds?

• What causes the orange color, and how does it influences value?

• Famous orange diamonds that made history.

• How to choose a natural fancy orange diamond.

What Are Orange Diamonds?

From Langerman’s bespoke gallery, orange diamond ring with yellow diamonds halo.

Natural color diamonds are scarce, representing less than 1% of total diamond production worldwide. Fancy-colored diamonds are sought after by jewelry designers and high jewelry houses, but they are becoming increasingly popular outside collector circles and jewelry experts. 

Things to know about natural orange diamonds.

Natural Fancy Orange diamonds owe their fiery hue to the presence of nitrogen, the same element that causes yellow diamonds to have that color. However, orange diamonds are much less common than the yellow kind. Pure orange color is extremely rare to find, but secondary hints of yellow, brown, or pink make these gems more accessible in terms of price while still presenting captivating, beautiful tones. 

Most Orange and Orangey colored diamonds come from South Africa and The Democratic Republic of Congo, although some specimens have also been found in Brazil and Angola. The Argyle mine in Australia—now exhausted and closed— was a significant producer of natural orange diamonds. With one less source available, future price increments are to be expected.

Why Color Matters in Fancy Orange Diamonds

Pumpkin, Orange and Apricot Diamonds from Langerman in various cuts.

Orange diamonds, also referred to as “fire diamonds,” come in a wonderful variety of colors. Secondary hints of yellow, red, pink, and violets create mesmerizing hues, which at Langerman, we have identified with unique, evocative names. You’ll see us refer to Apricot Diamonds, Saffron Diamonds, Amber Diamonds, or Cognac Diamonds, for example. These names make it easier to describe their unique color. 

Learn more about the origin of color in diamonds.

Pure orange diamonds are very scarce, so what other factors influence value? Clarity is a desired characteristic for most diamonds, but natural color diamonds tend to hide inclusions better. As long as the gem looks eye-clean, clarity doesn’t play such a crucial part. However, cut is much more important not only for intense orange diamonds but also for all colored diamonds.

A pear-cut yellow diamond next to an orange oval diamond.

Colorless diamonds are typically cut to improve clarity, maximize carat weight and improve brilliance. Hence the popularity of brilliant cuts, with the round brilliant being the most popular cut in modern times. Fancy shapes are the standard for natural orange diamonds and other colored diamonds. The goal when cutting these gems is to achieve the best color possible. Which usually means saturated and evenly distributed. 

Pear-shaped intense orange diamond resting on top of a macaroon.

Generally, elongated, pointy cuts like the pear or marquise favor color the most. Shapes with bigger windows like the emerald and Asscher cuts are also popular. They regulate the amount of fire and scintillation, allowing a clearer appreciation of the stone’s color.

Explore our orange diamonds

Famous Intense Orange Diamonds

The Orange Diamond (14.82 carat) is the largest orange diamond ever graded by GIA.

1. The Orange
   Considered a once-in-a-lifetime discovery, “The Orange” is a 14.82 carat fancy vivid diamond of VS1 clarity auctioned by Christie’s Geneva in 2013. The pear-shaped stone was sold at the incredible price of $35.5 million, or $2.4 million per carat. But, what makes this diamond so extraordinary? “The Orange” is the largest fancy vivid orange diamond ever graded by GIA. Diamonds with such a strong orange hue usually don’t exceed three or four carats after being cut and polished. Meaning “The Orange” is nearly four times larger than the average orange diamond. Christie’s international jewelry director David Warren noted the stone being “over 14 carats is exceptional” and added “colored diamonds are real freaks of nature.” in reference to how the presence of an accidental coloring agent in the ground will result in exceptional diamonds with fantastic colors.
   
   

The famous Pumpkin Diamond, a 5.54 carat, cushion cut, orange diamond.

2. The Pumpkin Diamond
   It could be said this is the gem responsible for putting orange diamonds on the map. Mined in the Central African Republic, it was cut and later auctioned at Sotheby’s, selling for the price of $1.3 million. The Pumpkin owes its name to its Fancy Vivid Orange color and to the fact it was sold one day before Halloween. The cushion-cut, 5.54 carat diamond was set in a ring, which Halle Berry wore to the Oscars, thus sparking the public’s interest in orange diamonds.

How to Style Natural Fancy Orange Diamonds

Combine With Yellow Gold and White Diamonds

This pendant necklace from Langerman’s bespoke archives is an excellent example of how yellow gold compliments the warmth of fire diamonds. A white diamond halo creates enough contrast to accentuate the diamond’s bright sunny color.

Make That Cognac Pear Diamond Pop

In this custom-made ring, gray diamonds were set in white gold to frame the orange gem and draw all the attention to it.

Mimic The Cut’s Shape

Orange diamonds are rare, fun, and full of personality. Let it shine with a bespoke design that follows the diamond’s dynamic shape. This Langerman’s custom ring features an intense orange pear shaped diamond of 3 carat set in an embellished, tapered band that mimics the diamond’s tip.

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Find the orange diamond of your dreams at Langerman Diamonds.