Champagne diamonds are a beautiful alternative to traditional white diamonds and look just as stunning. Characterized by a rich brownish hue, champagne diamonds look beautiful either as the center stone in an engagement ring or as an accent stone.

What is a Champagne Diamond?

In order for a diamond to qualify as a champagne diamond, the diamond must be a gorgeous yellowish-brown hue. Just as with other fancy diamonds however, even champagne diamonds can vary in color.

Champagne Diamond Engagement Rings

If you plan on purchasing a champagne diamond engagement ring, you’ll have a variety of hues to choose from. From light yellow brown tones to deep cognac, each color is beautiful in its own right.

There are typically three types of champagne diamonds that you’ll likely find at jewelry stores. Since champagne diamonds are relatively rare however, it would probably be best to visit a specialty jewelry store rather than a mass retailer.

The three types of champagne diamonds are:

• Fancy: Fancy champagne diamonds have a beautiful, intense color throughout the stone and are typically much more expensive than traditional white diamonds.
• Off Colored: Don’t let the term “off-colored” scare you. Champagne diamonds that are classified this way are usually too brown or yellow to be called “fancy,” but are still just as beautiful. These diamonds are much lower in price than fancy champagne diamonds.
• Enhanced: Enhanced champagne diamonds are really champagne diamonds in the true sense of the word. Instead, these diamonds have undergone treatment to look like champagne diamonds. Oftentimes, enhanced champagne diamonds are created entirely in a lab.

Pink champagne diamonds also exist, but are exceptionally rare. As such, they are much more expensive than regular champagne diamonds.

Choosing the Perfect Champagne Diamond Ring

Because champagne diamonds are so unique, the cut and setting you choose for the ring needs to complement them. The wrong setting can make your champagne diamond look lackluster and washed out.

A solitaire setting works well with a champagne diamond. It’s simple and classic. Furthermore, it’s very difficult – if not impossible – to find several champagne diamonds that look exactly the same, so more than one in an engagement ring will make the stones look flawed.

If you are set on accenting your champagne diamond with other stones, consider tiny white diamonds surrounding the center champagne diamond for a gorgeous, sparkling look.

Whether you choose white or yellow gold or another type of metal for the setting, choose a type that complements your diamond. Intense champagne hues would look well in a white gold or platinum band, while lighter champagne diamonds will look stunning in yellow gold.

Steer clear of decorative cuts and stick with simple shapes such as rounds or squares. Fancy cuts can make a champagne diamond look imperfect.

Champagne diamonds are a gorgeous alternative to traditional white diamonds and look stunning as the center stone in an engagement ring. While more expensive than regular diamonds, the cost may be well worth the beautiful memories a champagne diamond will bring every time it sparkles.