This article from The Engagement Ring Checklist dives into what salt & pepper diamonds are.
Salt and Pepper diamonds are a type of diamond that have exploded in popularity in recent years. Traditionally, these diamonds were considered “dirty” or “ugly” by the diamond trade due to their heavy inclusions. Take a look at some of these salt and pepper diamonds and you’ll understand the reference.
Salt and Pepper Diamonds are Diamonds with Heavy Inclusions
As you can see from the reference above, salt and pepper diamonds are just diamonds that are heavily included. As the trend began to take off with consumers who liked and appreciated the aesthetic qualities of salt and pepper diamonds, manufacturers realized that there was significant demand for this type of diamond and began treating this once-derided gemstone with a little more care and began cutting salt and pepper diamonds into interesting shapes that were most often rose cut diamonds.
This pear shaped salt and pepper diamond is a great example of how manufacturers are cutting salt and pepper diamonds: this particular diamond is cut into a pear shape and has what’s called a rose cut: this means that there are no facets on the underside of the diamond, just the top.
How Much Do Salt & Pepper Diamonds Cost?
There was a time when salt and pepper diamonds could be bought at rock bottom prices (no pun intended) because manufacturers hadn’t caught up on the consumer demand-side of things yet. But now that there are considerable engagement rings that incorporate salt and pepper diamonds as their center stones, the price for this once undervalued gemstone has risen significantly.
At The Engagement Ring Checklist, we maintain a roster of vendors we know and trust, so if you’re looking for a salt and pepper diamond, particularly in the Los Angeles, New York or Southern California Areas, contact us and we can connect you with a reputable dealer who will give you a fair price.
Our more than a decade’s worth of experience in the diamond industry and in particular in the Los Angeles Diamond District allowed us to foster these relationships.
Can You Purchase Lab Grown Salt & Pepper Diamonds?
Though the popularity of lab grown diamonds has exploded over the last few years, there is NOT a lab grown salt and pepper diamond option available. The main reason for this is that manufacturers do not see a cost benefit to producing heavily included diamonds and therefore do not wish to create substantial inventory that they may or may not sell to a client.
They therefore rely on a supply of naturally included salt and pepper diamonds which have been ethically sourced and adhere to the Kimberly Act.
Do Salt & Pepper Diamonds Come with a Diamond Certificate or Grading Report? What About a Report of Origin?
Clients will be disappointed to know that salt and pepper diamonds do NOT come with a standard GIA, EGL USA or other diamond grading report. Why not? The answer is simple: grading a diamond at a reputable lab (like GIA or EGL USA) adds considerable expense to the diamond.
The other reason is that these diamonds are not valued on what determines the cost of a white diamond: the set of values knowns as THE FOUR C’S.
The Four C’s of diamonds are: color, clarity, cut and carat weight.
Let’s pick apart the Four C’s of salt and pepper diamonds.
As these diamonds are already heavily included, you cannot grade them on clarity.
Most of these diamonds are rose cuts, as explained above, so you cannot grade them on cut.
These diamonds also intentionally have a gray, brown or black appearance, so you cannot grade them on color either.
The only property then remaining to price a salt and pepper diamond is CARAT WEIGHT, so this is the determining factor that dictates the cost of a salt and pepper diamond.
Of course, there are other things that impact the cost of a salt and pepper diamond, such as shipping costs, vendor markup etc. This is why it’s important for you to work with a trusted professional in the industry who can help you source a salt and pepper diamond at a fair price. To be put in touch with a reputable salt and pepper diamond dealer that we know will deal with you fairly, contact us and we’ll broker a selection.
Types of Salt and Pepper Diamond Engagement Rings
There are many styles of engagement rings that go well with salt and pepper diamonds, but the most popular are vintage style engagement rings made with upcycled or recycled yellow gold. That’s not to say you can’t have an engagement ring made with white gold or platinum, but the most consistent designs pair the salt and pepper diamond center stones with yellow gold.
Check back soon for our curated selection of the Best Salt & Pepper Diamond Engagement Rings.
