Why are salt and pepper diamonds rose cut?

When evaluating the quality of a diamond, most people are familiar with the term ‘the 4Cs.’ This term describes the attributes on which a diamond is judged for quality: clarity, color, cut, and carat. For salt and pepper diamonds though, the 4Cs play a different role in determining value. These diamonds are evaluated based on the inclusions being a standout feature of the gemstone. Since most colorless diamonds have clarity evaluated on the basis of lack of inclusions, this is the exact opposite.

The clarity in salt and pepper diamonds is not a concern in the traditional sense because the presence of inclusions is the main appeal. Subtle distributions of black and white inclusions give the stone its unique look. They usually consist of opaque minerals like graphite, hematite, and pyrite. And the larger the number of black inclusions, the more gray or dark the stone will appear.

The color of the body of the diamond itself will also have an affect on the overall look of a salt and pepper diamond. Acting almost like a colored diamond, the body color of this particular diamond ranges from being colorless to milky, to having hints of yellow or green, to gray. So a darker body color combined with darker inclusions will result in a darker overall diamond appearance, and vice versa.

The cut of salt and pepper diamonds will differ from traditional diamonds as well. The standard practice is to cut to enhance a diamond’s brilliance. However, the high number of inclusions in salt and pepper diamonds means that the brilliance is naturally quite reduced. To enhance this diamond’s beauty, stones are cut to highlight the unique patterns and inclusions in the stones. For this reason, fancy cuts are quite common, including step cuts, rose cuts, and geometric shapes like hexagons, kites, pears, and triangles.

The carat size of salt and pepper diamonds has quite the range. These stones are affordable and available, and can easily be found in larger sizes. They also differ from traditional diamonds in how the price increases with the increase in carat weight. Whereas pricing for traditional diamonds follow an exponential scale, salt and pepper diamonds will stay more even as carat size and cost both increase.

So... what are salt and pepper diamonds? Besides absolutely breathtaking!

Salt and pepper diamonds are naturally occurring diamonds that are full of inclusions and natural color markings, making them extremely unique and one of a kind. Salt and pepper diamonds have recently become very popular. In fact, they are one of our most sought-after gemstones here at Melissa Tyson Designs!

One reason brides love them is because they are beautiful and unique. We are in an age where people have realized that they are special and should be celebrated. And we agree!! With a salt and pepper diamond, you will be getting a diamond that is unique to your personality in shape, color, cut, and pattern. You’ll be getting a diamond that is like no other.

Salt and pepper diamonds maintain a diamond's hardness of a 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale and have the added advantage of being more budget friendly. Want to know an amazing fact? Many salt and pepper diamonds are rose cut! This means you’ll get a lot of surface area with them, meaning a larger-looking diamond than a traditional cut as a rose cut is flat on the back with all of the faceting on the top of the diamond, creating a very low profile.

"To me, Salt and Pepper Diamonds are like a tiny masterpiece, one of a kind, a work of art, like a tiny painting inside of a diamond." Melissa Tyson, Goldsmith Jewelry Designer.

So, What Is a Salt and Pepper Diamond?

A salt and pepper diamond is a diamond that has inclusions. These inclusions appear black and white. This means that no two salt and pepper diamonds are alike. Some are dark, others are bright, and some look almost gray.

Clarity is one feature that closely relates with brilliant cut white diamonds. With salt and pepper diamonds, we refer to it as translucency, meaning the clearer areas where you can see through the diamond. The more opaque the diamond is the less expensive, the more translucency, the more expensive. These are determining factors in pricing salt and pepper diamonds.

When diamonds form in nature, they might be exposed to high temperatures and pressures deep in the earth. The rocks and minerals that they get exposed to leave lasting marks which are known as imperfections, a true geological wonder. With salt and pepper diamonds, these beautiful imperfections are more noticeable and give them their unique appearances. There could be more in some diamonds and fewer in others illustrating that no two salt and pepper diamonds are the same. These imperfections give character to your ring, making sure that you are the only one with that type of diamond ring in the world!

Why Should You Choose a Salt and Pepper Engagement Ring?

There are many reasons why you should consider choosing a salt and pepper diamond for your love story!

Your engagement ring is a symbol of your love. You and your partner have a unique story and getting a ring that represents that is special. Salt and pepper rings are a unique alternative to traditional white diamond rings. They’ll set you apart from the crowd while remaining gorgeous and distinctive. They come in a range of colors from icy white, milky, or silvery gray to a darker gray/black variety that we jewelers refer to as "galaxy" because they look like the beautiful night sky.

The symbolism of salt and pepper diamonds having imperfections is a testament to the fact that, as humans, your relationship has its imperfections yet it is still beautifully and wonderfully made. This ring will hopefully remind you that imperfections add character and can be such an interesting part of your story! So, a salt and pepper diamond is not only beautiful, but has meaning too!

Salt and pepper diamonds are also less costly than a traditional brilliant cut white diamond. The demand for the traditional white diamond dictates the market price; however, you’ll find a salt and pepper alternative at a much lower cost. Why is this so? Up until about 20 years ago, these diamonds were basically regarded as throw away diamonds. But with the rise of indy jewelry designers falling in love with these unique diamonds, they have come into the spotlight. So, if you’re a couple on a budget, there is no need to go into debt just to get engaged! You could opt for a salt and pepper diamond to help stretch your budget further while still getting the looks of complete awe and wonder when people see your engagement ring.

So,  what do you say?

Cheers to bringing your love story to life! 

Hello, I am Melissa of Melissa Tyson Designs and I’ve been happily making jewelry for the past 20 years. I have a passion for unique and timeless design and believe that together, we can help you choose an engagement ring that perfectly represents your love. Ready to get started? Head on over to the homepage and check out our shop or request a custom design. We would love to design for you.

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