A girl’s best friend sparkles in a darker way
White and chocolate diamond starfish brooch is set in 18k
white gold. It was custom-made for a local couple at Jewelry Artisans.
Photos by Tim Stepien
By Paula Detwiller
Here’s some Valentine’s Day logic (listen up, guys): Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Women love chocolate. Therefore,
women ought to love chocolate diamonds, right?
Well … yes and no.
First, a little background.
“Chocolate diamonds” refers to brown-colored diamonds, mined mainly in Australia, but also found in Russia, Africa and Canada. For years, brown diamonds were seen as inferior — a byproduct used in sandpaper, sparkly ceiling tiles and industrial cutting equipment.
Then, a brilliant idea emerged in the diamond industry: Let’s turn these lowly brown gemstones into a sought-after, high-end commodity. In 2000, the world-renowned Le Vian jewelry company coined the now-trademarked name “chocolate diamonds,” and a fashion trend was born.
“Brown diamond doesn’t sound nearly as yummy as chocolate diamond,” acknowledges Gemological Institute of America graduate Emi Ebben, manager of Manalapan’s Jewelry Artisans Inc. She says diamonds are naturally formed in a variety of colors, including blue, pink, yellow, green and black. But until recently, there wasn’t a mass market for colored diamonds.
Harry Bhagia, owner of Harry’s Designer Jewels in Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Place, says exotic color names can make all the difference.
“Fifty years ago, if you gave someone a yellow diamond, they wouldn’t want it,” Bhagia said. “Then the industry started calling them Canary Diamonds, and women looked at them in a whole new light.”
Of course, our celebrity culture also influences trends.
“If Angelina Jolie is seen on TV tomorrow wearing a chocolate diamond ring, it will triple the sales,” Bhagia said.
That’s partly why, local jewelers say, it’s the younger women who are most interested in chocolate diamonds today. Another reason: the lower price point. Large stones in the chocolate color are a rarity in nature, so much of the jewelry is made with pavé settings, using many small, brilliant-cut stones. Such pieces occupy the niche known as fashion jewelry, which is usually less expensive than fine jewelry.
Ella Riggs, owner of Lake Worth Jewelers, has mostly older, wealthy customers who buy diamonds for their investment value. “My customers aren’t asking for chocolate diamonds, nor have they ever,” Riggs said. “In my opinion, it’s the poorest investment anyone could ever make.”
That opinion is not deterring the fashion jewelry sector, which continues to concoct new commercial names for brown diamonds.
This 1 carat diamond leaf ring, which contains both white and chocolate
stones, is $1,479 at Harry’s Designer Jewels in Boca Raton.
Designer Charles Krypell, whose jewelry is represented at Kientzy Jewelers in coastal Delray Beach, has a new line of “mocha” diamond pieces. And to distinguish between varying shades of brown diamonds, gemologists refer to champagne (light brown), clove (greenish brown), cinnamon (reddish brown), and cognac (orangey brown) diamonds. It’s easy to forget we’re talking about the world’s hardest rock and not a dessert menu.
Whether the diamond is white or brown(ish), the “4 Cs” grading system still applies: carat weight, color, clarity, cut. Ebben of Jewelry Artisans says a good-sized brown diamond with an intense color and a beautiful cut would be very valuable.
“Chocolate diamonds can be stunning,” Ebben said. “They have such a warm tone, especially when paired with rose gold and white diamond accents.”
And now we’ve gotten to the heart of the matter. The desire for chocolate diamonds, like chocolate itself, all boils down to taste.
This 1 carat chocolate diamond pendant sells for $5,700 at Harry’s Designer Jewels.
Where to find chocolate diamonds
Altier Jewelers
701 S. Federal Highway
Boca Raton
395-3462
Harry’s Designer Jewels
300 Esplanade,
Royal Palm Place
Boca Raton
393-9899
www.harrysdesigner
jewels.com
ZO Diamonds East
4251 N. Federal Highway
Boca Raton
353-3278
Kientzy & Co. Fine Jewelers
1053 E. Atlantic Ave.
Delray Beach
272-4545
Jewelry Artisans Inc.
Plaza Del Mar
247 S. Ocean Blvd.
Manalapan
586-8687
www.jewelryartisans
palmbeach.com
Crab is made with chocolate, cinnamon and clove diamonds
in a pavé setting. It can be worn as a pin or a pendant.
It is $4,250 at Jewelry Artisans in Manalapan.
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