Everybody knows we love the unconventional, the unusual, and the avant-garde, so naturally we're on board with the ever-effervescent champagne diamond. Maybe you've heard of them, maybe not, but today we're here to raise a glass to these under-hyped but incredibly gorgeous golden-hued champagne diamonds.
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Champagne diamonds are natural brown/yellow diamonds ranging from pale honey to deep cognac.
They’re more affordable than white diamonds and incredibly durable (10 on the Mohs scale).
The Argyle C1–C7 color scale is the clearest way to choose your hue.
Lighter champagne diamonds sparkle more; darker champagne diamonds show richer color.
Best metals: yellow gold, peach gold, rose gold.
Expect to pay 20–40% less than a similar white diamond.
Perfect for engagement rings thanks to durability, affordability, and one-of-a-kind warmth
WHAT ARE CHAMPAGNE DIAMONDS?
Just like our favorite celebratory drink, Champagne diamonds are named for their warm yellow-brown coloring. Also known as brown diamonds or chocolate diamonds, they range from the lightest touch of honey, to seriously sun-drenched, to deep cognac and mocha shades.
Champagne diamonds are yellowish-brown diamonds on the lower end of the GIA diamond color scale. The lightest champagne diamonds start at K on the scale and the colors get deeper and richer as you near the end. They're also called brown diamonds or chocolate diamonds. More on that below!
Any diamond that has a noticeable brown or yellow undertone to the naked eye. The GIA Diamond Color Scale says "champagne color" starts at the K,L, and M color grades. Champagne diamonds can range from a very light peachy golden hue to a dark chocolate tone.
Champagne diamond ring
While colorless diamonds consist of pure carbon, colored diamonds like champagne diamonds are made of carbon plus another element. Champagne diamonds specifically are formed from carbon and trace amounts of nitrogen. As the nitrogen level increases, the champagne hue intensifies in the chamapage diamonds. So nitrogen gives champagne diamonds their warm hue!
Besides extra elements, colored diamonds can be created by slight defects in a stone's crystal lattice. These defects cause the diamonds to transmit and absorb wavelengths of light more selectively, changing its color in the eyes of the observer.
Diamonds are rated 10 on the MOHs hardness scale – the hardest substance on earth and super durable for high-value jewelry. Colored gemstones like sapphires, rubies, or amber on the other hand, fall much lower on the hardness scale. This durability is why many color lovers still opt for diamonds.
Herein lies the appeal of colored diamonds – they marry the character of colored stones with the everlasting hardness of a diamond.
While white diamonds are prized for their crystal clear, colorless appearance, champagne diamonds are celebrated for their warm, subtly golden ambience.
And when a champagne color diamond is paired with yellow or peach gold, this bathed-in-sunlight, gilded glow vibe only intensifies.
While most of the world is still fixated on the absence of color, champagne diamonds are a more distinctive, unique choice for us lovers of the path less travelled. And the endless color variations of a champagne diamond mean each stone is a true original.
Champagne diamonds cost less than their more popular colorless cousins. And if you love their unique hue, that means more diamond for your dollar.
Plus, a lower price tag means emerging and independent designers who can't always afford the ultra-high price tag of white diamonds can create their masterpieces with more affordable, yet equally stunning, champagne diamonds.
When sourcing colorless white diamonds, mining companies only use a very small percentage of the diamonds they find, discarding the rest as waste or using them for industrial purposes.
Not so long ago, champagne diamonds would have been among these discarded stones. Now, these alternative diamonds are being celebrated instead of discarded.
This is the first step towards sustainability - reducing waste and using all the precious resources we extract from the earth. We're also all about celebrating the unusual and expanding the narrow perception of beauty that was established so long ago. We love the alternative, the interesting, and the original – that's beauty to us.
All Gem Breakfast stones are thoroughly vetted to ensure conflict-free sourcing. We have very personal relationships with all our suppliers and only work with people of the upmost ethics and quality. This applies to Champagne Diamonds and every other gem we use.
Champagne diamonds represent calm, harmony, and stability. They're a soothing stone that encourage balance and ease. Connected with nature, they give off a grounding energy just like the earth of which they're a part.
Number one in selecting a champagne diamond is color! Choose from a stunning champagne rainbow ranging from a subtle golden gleam to rich, chocolate cognac brown diamonds.
There are two accepted color grading systems for champagne diamonds: The GIA and the Argyle system (named after Australian mine that made these diamonds famous).
The Argyle Mine Champagne Diamond Grading System (what you'll see on our product pages)
C1 - C2: Light champagne
C3-C4: Medium champagne
C5 - C6: Dark champagne
C7: Cognac
The GIA Champagne Diamond Grading System
Faint Champagne -K to M or 'Faint Brown'
Light Champagne - N to R or ‘Very Light Brown'
Medium Champagne - S to Z or ‘Light Brown'
Dark Champagne or Cognac -The GIA grades these diamonds according to scales for fancy brown diamonds or fancy dark brown colored diamonds.
The bottom line: choose the hue of Champage Diamond you love!
Not to be confused with diamond shape, ‘cut' refers to how a diamond is cut from the rough and polished. By far our favorite of the 4Cs, a diamond's cut determines its sparkle factor. The better the cut, the sparklier and more brilliant the diamond.
Just like white diamonds, champagne diamonds can be graded for cut by the GIA, however it's less likely in the lower color grades. If the diamond is graded, we recommend ‘Very Good' cut grades and above.
One thing to keep in mind with any diamond: what's most important is how it looks to you – is it shimmering, sparkly, and catching the light from every angle? That's the sign of a truly great cut. And of course, an expert jeweler can inspect the diamond for those hard-to-see aspects like symmetry, polish, and proportion that together create the most beautiful diamond.
A poorly cut champagne diamond will look dull and lifeless, without the telltale sparkle and lustre that makes a diamond, well a diamond.
To learn more about Diamond Cut, visit our blog.
Clarity refers to the level of blemishes or inclusions in the stone. Of course, the fewer the flaws, the more valuable the stone. With champagne diamonds, we recommend opting for ‘eye clean' – meaning there are no flaws visible to the naked eye.
Just like colorless diamonds, champagne diamonds are graded by the GIA for clarity according to this scale:
Flawless - FL
Internally Flawless - IF
Very, Very Slightly Included - VVS1 and VVS2
Very Slightly Included - VS1 and VS2
Slightly Included - SI1 and SI2
Included - I1, I2, I3
Honey Champagne Diamond Ring (Sold, reach out to commission something similar)
Stella Champagne Diamond Ring (Sold, reach out to commission a Stella of your own!)
There are very few flawless champagne diamonds, and the highest clarity grades are generally not worth the splurge. After all, it's significantly pricier, and you won't be looking at your stone through a loupe all day anyways!
Depending on the shape, you can usually find an eye-clean diamond in the VS to SI1 range. And with brilliant cuts, you can even find eye-clean diamonds in the SI range. Keep in mind though, grading varies between labs – the look is more important than the grade! And cut is much more important than clarity.
Carat is the C that totally depends on your preference and budget. One thing to keep in mind: champagne diamonds cost much less than colorless diamonds so you'll get a larger diamond for less!
And remember, carat weight refers to the weightof a diamond rather than the size of the diamond. Two 1 carat diamonds can appear very different in size depending on their cut.
Also, setting can play a big part in maximizing the face-up size of your stone. Generally, a pronged solitaire setting will make your stone appear its largest.
Champagne diamonds are generally more affordable than traditional white diamonds, but pricing varies widely depending on a few key factors:
• Color intensity — Lighter champagne hues typically cost more than deeper cognac tones because they show more brilliance.
• Cut quality — A beautifully cut champagne diamond will sparkle more and therefore command a higher price.
• Clarity — Eye-clean stones sit at a higher price point, especially in larger sizes.
• Shape — Fancy shapes like ovals, pears, and cushions can range more widely in price based on demand and yield.
• Origin & rarity — With the closure of the Argyle Mine, certain champagne tones and shapes have become harder to find.
Bottom line: You’ll usually get more diamond for your budget with champagne diamonds compared to white diamonds, while still choosing something rare, warm, and wonderfully one-of-a-kind.
While we're not about rules, we're suckers for a champagne diamond set in yellow, peach, or rose gold. The pairing accentuates that golden, sun-drenched warmth we love so much in champagne stones.
For more on choosing the perfect precious metal for your ring, read our 'Ultimate Guide to Gold & Precious Metals'.
Champagne diamonds are found all around the world, but most come from the Argyle Diamond Mine in Australia which closed in 2021.
With the closure of the arygle mine, colored and champagne diamonds are expected to raise in price in the near future thanks to the reduced supply.
This is a great time to invest in a honey-hued diamond if it's something you love.
To shop ethically sourced loose champagne diamonds, click here .
Champagne hues look especially gorgeous in shapes with lots of facets (hello, sparkle):
Most Brilliant:
Oval
Radiant
Cushion
Pear
Round brilliant
Most Dramatic:
Emerald cut
Asscher cut
Elongated hexagon
Most Unique:
Antique cuts
Modified brilliant cuts
Shield cuts
Because champagne diamonds have warm tones, shapes with larger facets (emerald, asscher) will show more color. Shapes with many facets (oval, radiant) will show more sparkle.
What's the difference between champagne diamonds and white diamonds? The biggest difference: champagne diamonds or brown diamonds are warmer in hue than traditional white diamonds.
More affordable than white diamonds
One-of-a-kind hues
10/10 durability
Warm glow that pairs beautifully with yellow, rose, and peach gold
Extremely photogenic (perfect for GB recipes!)
Darker colors sparkle less
Grading can be confusing (Argyle vs GIA)
Limited supply post-Argyle mine closure
Champagne diamonds and brown diamonds are one and the same. "Champagne" is simply a ritzier name for a brown diamond with a subtle yellow tint. Like all fancy color diamonds, the colors range from light to dark, pale to vibrant. Champagne diamonds range from the lightest golden brown (like our favorite bubbly drink) to a rich deep chocolate brown. Brown fancy color diamonds are sometimes known as cognac diamonds or chocolate diamonds as well.
Fancy yellow diamonds, aka canary diamonds are generally a much brighter and purer shade of yellow than the brownish/yellow hue of champagne diamonds. They're also much more expensive and have their own color grading system for fancy colored diamonds that doesn't apply to champagne diamonds.
Fancy yellow diamonds are very rare and can be significantly more expensive than white diamonds depending on their quality.
Champgne diamonds or brown diamonds are a stunning, unique stone with the most beautiful warm, golden tones that feel like sunshine or you know, champagne! They're less expensive than traditional white diamonds and stand out from the crowd of white diamond sameness.
Even though champagne diamonds fall on the lower end of the color scale, they're still natural diamonds and therefore are very valuable. As they have risen in popularity, their value has only increased, making them a great investment. Also, as lab-created diamonds flood the market, all natural diamonds continue to rise in value.
Connected with the crown chakra, champagne diamonds help to clear the constant chaotic dialogue in the mind so guidance from the intution can be heard and understood. It helps the wearer take decisive action from a place of calm, grounded clarity.
Champagne diamonds sparkle shamelessly - the amount and tone of the sparkle depends on the cut and color of the diamond. The lighter champagne diamond will sparkle the most and the darker champagne diamonds still sparkle but it's less noticeable with their deep color. When compared with a white diamond, champagne diamonds have a warmer, more golden sparkle - think sunlight energy.
No, champagne diamonds are not man-made. They are simply natural diamonds that fall lower on the lower end of the color scale! They're formed when nitrogen atoms mix with carbon - more nitrogen equals a darker champagne hue.
Clarity is less important for champagne diamonds - the darker coloring helps to mask imperfections.
Yes! We absolutely love creating champagne diamond engagement rings at Gem Breakfast! We have made many champagne diamond rings and are here to answer any questions you may have about them.
The warm hues are delicious, you have all the durability of a diamond, and are more affordable than a traditional white diamond. Champagne diamonds are a great intersection of all things wonderful about diamonds.c
Talk to a Gem Breakfast Chef about making your own champagne diamond engagement ring here and shop for loose champagne diamonds here .
First up, maybe the cutest celebrity couple to ever be: Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard. Dax proposed with a unique 3-carat emerald cut cognac diamond ring with white diamond accents. To make things even more adorable, Dax has a tattoo of a bell on his finger to honor his amor's maiden name.
Kate Hudson said yes to her now-husband, Danny Fujikawa with a champagne colored 7-carat cushion cut diamond engagement ring with a pavé diamond band. The diamond is set east-west for a unique twist that we love.
And the most distinctive ring of them all belongs to Scarlett Johansson who married Comedian, Colin Jost with an 11-carat champagne elongated oval diamond set on a black ceramic band.
If you have any questions on champagne stones or want to consider creating your own champagne-centered sparkler, book a virtual consultation with us anytime! Browse our full selection of loose champagne diamonds here and peruse every unique diamond we have here!