Fancy green diamond

Any diamond with a green hue means it has spent a few million years being bombarded with a radioactive source. (Note that hydrogen may also be the cause in some yellowish-green stones.) The reason that a true green diamond is so valuable is that radiation does not usually affect the entire gem, meaning that the stone may be green only in patches or on the surface – their beauty is only skin deep. And as with all beauty, if it does not come from within, it disappears under the slightest of changes. With diamonds, this means the color may disappear during the faceting process. If, however, the diamond has been through barrages of beta and gamma rays as well as neutrons, the chances are that its green beauty comes from within. In these rare instances, it will sparkle green regardless of the cutting and polishing. Most stones in the green family come from Brazil, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

Source: The Fancy Color Diamond Book; Eden Rachminov. All Rights Reserved.  

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