The Chemistry of Color in Diamonds: How Impurities Create Unique Hues

 

Cause of Color in Diamond

The color in a diamond is caused by the presence of certain impurities or structural defects in the crystal lattice of the diamond. These impurities or defects can absorb certain wavelengths of light, resulting in the diamond appearing to have a specific color.

Some common causes of color in diamonds include:

• Nitrogen: Nitrogen impurities can give diamonds a yellow or brown color.
• Boron: Boron impurities can give diamonds a blue color.
• Hydrogen: Hydrogen impurities can give diamonds a purple color.
• Structural defects: Structural defects in the diamond's crystal lattice can cause color variations such as green or pink.

The presence and concentration of these impurities or defects determine the intensity and hue of the diamond's color.