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What is a Salt and Pepper Diamond?
A salt and pepper diamond, also known as an imperfect diamond, is a stone that contains noticeable imperfections that highlight a unique characteristic of each stone. While normal diamonds strive for the highest level of perfection in the 4 C’s, fans of salt and pepper diamonds enjoy each stone’s unique and intrinsic characteristic. Imperfections can be awesome too! No stones left behind.
Appearance
A salt and pepper diamond is unique in and of itself and comes in different shades. These gems can come in a variety of colors from dark, light, almost gray, gray/blue, silky gray, or even white with a few obvious blemished characteristics. Unlike a diamond, a salt and pepper diamond is iconic for its moderate-humble sparkle levels! Instead, the speckles of black and white inclusions are celebrated over the “brighter”, perfect shine. We can say the salt and pepper diamond is pretty “flawsome”!
The flaws that this stone contains are tiny to large black, white, or clear inclusions- hence the name, salt and pepper diamond. The amount of inclusions will vary depending on the shape and size of the stone. No two salt and pepper diamonds will ever look the same. We definitely love that!
Black inclusions are more visible to the naked eye than the white inclusions. The black inclusions consist of graphite and sulphide. To see for yourself, check out our Instagram highlights to view these daring diamonds in action.
Durability
The durability of a salt and pepper diamond varies based on a few factors. Depending on where they are positioned and how large they are, inclusions can compromise the strength of the diamond. The imperfections are positioned and depending on how large they are, the inclusion(s) can potentially compromise the strength of the diamond.
For added precaution, we highly suggest mindful wearing for all jewelry as well as all stones, including durable diamonds, as they are susceptible to chipping and damage upon direct contact or trauma.
What Makes a Salt and Pepper Diamond So Desirable?
When salt & pepper diamonds first came to market, it wasn’t as well accepted. Their appearance was very different from other well-known classic gems with optimal sparkle!
Fast forward to today’s times, salt and pepper diamonds have become trendy for brides that want to stand out from the crowd. With the growing current movement of embracing your individuality, appreciating the natural imperfections of the salt and pepper diamond is a natural fit! Being different is cool!
Since salt and pepper diamonds are naturally heavily included, no two diamonds will look the same. You know what they say, a diamond with a flaw is worth more than a pebble without imperfections!
Another appealing factor about the salt and pepper diamond is that it’s eco-friendly. Because being green and sustainable is part of Love & Promise Jewelers’ ethos, we enjoy carrying this stone! We believe that no stone should be left behind and we can find beauty in every gemstone.
Typically, the salt and pepper diamonds are sorted out because of their imperfections. Since heavily included diamonds require more care and different technique in cutting, the diamonds are usually sent to different facilities to cut versus the higher quality and purer diamonds.
After the stones are cut, they are cleaned and sold to different suppliers ready to be mounted in jewelry. At Love & Promise, we find opportunities to design products that enhance the natural beauty of the center stone’s imperfections.
Pricing
The price of the diamond depends on how large you would like the stone to be and the rarity of the cut shape. The price range could be anywhere from $150-$1500 per carat. That being said, salt and pepper diamonds are still considerably less expensive than the higher 4 C’s diamonds. We recommend finding a stone that makes your heart happy, not what makes others happy. You do you!
We hope you enjoyed learning all about salt and pepper diamonds! If you want to be in the know of all our latest discoveries and designs, follow us on our socials, subscribe to our newsletter, and check out our website for al the latest on Love & Promise. Catch you next time Rosettes!
