What is a Salt and Pepper Diamond?
Salt and pepper diamonds achieve their unique look due to the natural occurrence of inclusions in their crystal structure. Inclusions play an important role in all diamonds. For salt and pepper diamonds, there isn’t one single inclusion that is responsible for their unique look. Instead, a myriad of different types of inclusions can be present, creating a countless variety of looks in a salt and pepper diamond.
Depending on these inclusions, salt and pepper diamonds will vary quite a bit from one to the other. Spanning the spectrum, they can be close to black, dark or light gray, milky, and even almost colorless. In some instances, they can even have green, yellow, orange, or red hues. But to be a salt and pepper diamond, inclusions must be a key, prominent feature.
The cut of a galaxy diamond is the other unique aspect. Gem cutters most often cut salt and pepper diamonds in a rose cut, which has a flat bottom, since retention of carat weight is not usually a concern. For galaxy diamonds, they are cut exactly like a traditional diamond, so the stone has a culet, the term for the bottom part of the diamond where the facets come together in a point. This type of culet allows for less light to escape, enhancing the diamond’s brilliance.
Salt & Pepper Colour Chart
Since all diamonds are made from carbon, the black spots are pieces of carbon that didn’t fully crystallize during the diamond’s formation. Salt n pepper diamonds just have more of them! Because Mother Nature is so unpredicable, some diamonds have a light speckling, and others have A LOT! Take the beauty mark diamonds for example, they tend to have a larger than average carbon spot surrounded by smaller inclusions. Others have an equal amount of white and black inclusions giving a more blanket grey hue, and we especially love the ones with mostly white inclusions that look like ice!
How are Salt and Pepper Diamonds Made?
Salt and pepper diamonds are a mesmerizing category of diamonds characterized by their intriguing blend of black, white and gray inclusions. Unlike traditional diamonds known for their crystal-clear appearance, salt and pepper diamonds showcase a picturesque, natural tapestry of inclusions that resemble salt and pepper sprinkled across a canvas. These inclusions, also known as “carbon spots,” lend each stone its distinctive personality, mak- ing it a truly one-of-a-kind gem.
Are Salt and Pepper Diamonds actual diamonds?
From a purely statistical view, salt and pepper diamonds are considered lower quality since they’re on the lowest end of the clarity scale. Having said that, these measures come from an outdated view that only clear, white diamonds are desirable. Beauty standards have evolved, and diamond-lovers are recognizing the magic in previously overlooked diamonds like salt and pepper diamonds and champagne diamonds. Anyone who’s seen a salt and pepper diamond up close can appreciate their cosmic, night sky magic – the patterns of inclusion created deep in the earth’s crust that tell the story of that stone’s history.
Salt & Pepper Diamond
White Diamond
Salt & Pepper diamond VS. White Diamond
What is the clarity of a salt and pepper diamond?
Salt and pepper diamonds would be rated a L2 or L3 on the GIA clarity scale, however salt and pepper diamonds are not graded by the GIA and the inclusions are what make them beautiful.
What is the clarity of a salt and pepper diamond?
Salt and pepper diamonds look amazing as rose cut diamonds – the domed top and larger facets really show the inclusions in their full cosmic, night-sky glory.
What are the cons of salt and pepper diamonds?
The main disadvantage of a salt and pepper diamond is it sparkles less than a traditional white diamond. You also want to ensure that the inclusions are not surface reaching which can affect the durability of the stone.
Does GIA certify salt and pepper diamonds?
No, the GIA does not certify salt and pepper diamonds.
Browse our full selection of loose salt and pepper diamonds + our other favorite alternative stones from Misfit Diamonds here! Shop salt and pepper diamond rings & salt and pepper engagement rings here!
