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Author Topic: What is the definition of a Canary Diamond  (Read 2095 times)
Diamondsbylauren
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« on: May 02, 2008, 08:37:10 PM »
The term "Canary" does not have a specific gemological definition. Many people use the term to describe any yellow diamond, while others use it only to describe a really deep yellow diamond.

A case could be made for calling only vivid yellow diamonds "Canary"- but at the side time, you could make that case for U-V color!


I suppose the most important thing is what we think of our diamonds. But when it comes to specifically defining what constitutes a "Canary"...that is going to remain a matter of opinion.

What's your opinion on the subject?
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Mrs Mitchell
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« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2008, 03:21:23 AM »
I think it's a nice descrtiption, but open to abuse by less scrupulous dealers maybe. It's a term that implies a colour grade and perhaps therefore a premium value. If someone I didn't trust 100% offered a 'canary diamond' for sale, the first thing I'd wonder is what colour is this stone?  Unless or untill there is an industry standard, I think it's just a pretty description.

I would assume it meant a vivid yellow - the actual colour of a little canary. My grandfather kept a canary and it was a sweet little thing.  Smiley

Jen
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Awestruck
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« Reply #2 on: May 03, 2008, 06:09:44 AM »
If I was buying a stone offline or from a shop I wouldn`t like to hear the term " canary ", firstly because I feel the sales staff should be able to emphasise one grade of yellow from another, secondly, to anybody buying a yellow diamond for the first time they could be misled into thinking every yellow stone is a canary colour, thirdly what colour exactly is a canary ( mine was green ! ) and lastly it just don`t sound right, well not to me anyway.
If you use terms such as faint, intense or vivid, then even a dumbo such as myself can understand the difference from one yellow stone to another.
Just my thought for what they`re worth.
Lynne
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« Reply #3 on: May 03, 2008, 06:40:38 AM »
Quote from: Diamondsbylauren on May 02, 2008, 08:37:10 PM
The term "Canary" does not have a specific gemological definition. Many people use the term to describe any yellow diamond, while others use it only to describe a really deep yellow diamond.

A case could be made for calling only vivid yellow diamonds "Canary"- but at the side time, you could make that case for U-V color!



So let me see if I got this right. What you are saying D is that since there is no real gemological basis for the term, it's use has no boundaries as a descriptor for yellow diamonds? I always thought that it was used only for the vivid yellows as well. I guess there are no rules then. Gee, I wonder who started this whole canary thing...hehehe.

Speaking of yellows, is it true that a vivid yellow is more expensive and rare than a D colorless? I remember your "U graph" you posted before and I believe they were on the same level so I'm not sure what this means.  I also read somewhere that there are 10,000 colorless diamonds for every yellow.
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Cockneysparrow
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« Reply #4 on: May 03, 2008, 07:36:57 PM »
For me, the term "canary" denotes a highly saturated, vivid yellow diamond.  Interestingly the GIA say that only type 1b diamonds have historically been called canary, whilst type 1A are capes:

Diamond’s chemical composition is pure carbon. However, most gem-quality diamonds contain a number of impurities or defects, which may affect their physical properties and color. Basically, the differences between type I and type II diamonds lie in the amount of nitrogen present in the crystal structure and their characteristic infrared spectra. In this issue of the Insider we will cover the classifications and criteria for defining type Ia and Ib diamonds. Type IIa and IIb will be discussed in the next issue.
 
Type Ia diamonds (relatively abundant) feature various nitrogen aggregates. These aggregates give the diamond its yellow color and the characteristic infrared spectrum. The best-known aggregates are the clusters composed of three nitrogen atoms in neighboring sites in the atomic lattice, which create N3 color centers. The N3 centers produce the Cape line, a dark absorption line at 415 nm (nanometers) in the visible light spectrum. The more N3 centers, the more saturated the yellow color and the wider this absorption band. The amount of nitrogen can be from 1000 to 3000 parts per million (ppm). Type Ia diamonds are also opaque to short-wave ultra-violet radiation. That means a type Ia diamond will not let short-wave ultraviolet radiation pass through the diamond. Historically, these diamonds have been called Cape diamonds, after early diamonds from Cape Province, South Africa.
 
Type Ib diamonds (relatively rare) contain mostly single isolated nitrogen atoms. Type Ib diamonds tend to be a more saturated yellow than the type Ia yellow diamonds colored by N3 centers. The yellow of Ib diamonds may also be just slightly greenish or orangy. Their visible light absorption spectra tend to show a general darkening through the violet and blue wavelengths and they are opaque to short-wave ultraviolet radiation. Historically, these very saturated yellow diamonds have been termed canary diamonds. It should be noted that many brownish-yellow colored synthetic diamonds are type Ib. The synthetic growth environment prevents the nitrogen forming into aggregates during the short period of crystal growth.

This is what I'd class as a fabulous canary yellow:

http://rockdiamond.c...p;action=show_detail
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GracefulLion
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« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2008, 12:05:54 AM »
Wow, CS.  That made my head spin!!

I know I have mainly heard the term from friends who have never really seen or learned about yellow diamonds.  I also see it used pretty freely in fashion magazines when describing jewlery worn by celebrities or socialites.  Actually, when I first started looking for a yellow diamond on ebay, I kept typing in "canary diamond" as my search term until I started to learn about color grading (thanks in HUGE part to David's charts that are linked to in his listings). 

So often a friend or stranger will see my ring and say "Is that a canary diamond?"    I just say yes, it is a yellow diamond.  I don't bother talking about what grade it is or anything like that unless they start asking specific questions or if they mention they are thinking of getting one.

So to me, since it is not a technical term, any diamond that is obviously yellow (not tinted) could be referred to as a canary diamond.  I would only have a problem with that if a seller was deliberately using the term to try and mislead a potential buyer into thinking all shades of yellow diamond are equal in value and therefore in price in order to get them to pay more for a piece they are selling.
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Trinkette
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« Reply #6 on: May 04, 2008, 09:00:28 AM »
Good Stuff CS.

For me, a "canary" diamond has always been just a casual, or marketing, term for some sort of yellow diamond.  Just as "champagne" is a general, "pretty" term for a brown diamond. I know that the champagne term was part of an organized and deliberate marketing strategy.  I don't know when people actually began using canary to describe a yellow diamond. Regardless, for some reason, the general public seems to attach more caché to canary and champagne, over yellow and brown.  Just like purchasing lipstick... most women would choose "poppy" over "red."  dontknow
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« Reply #7 on: May 04, 2008, 12:11:05 PM »
 goodpost Trinkette!
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Diamondsbylauren
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« Reply #8 on: May 04, 2008, 07:45:02 PM »
Quote from: GracefulLion on May 04, 2008, 12:05:54 AM
Wow, GG.  That made my head spin!!

I know I have mainly heard the term from friends who have never really seen or learned about yellow diamonds.  I also see it used pretty freely in fashion magazines when describing jewlery worn by celebrities or socialites.  Actually, when I first started looking for a yellow diamond on ebay, I kept typing in "canary diamond" as my search term until I started to learn about color grading (thanks in HUGE part to David's charts that are linked to in his listings). 

So often a friend or stranger will see my ring and say "Is that a canary diamond?"    I just say yes, it is a yellow diamond.  I don't bother talking about what grade it is or anything like that unless they start asking specific questions or if they mention they are thinking of getting one.

So to me, since it is not a technical term, any diamond that is obviously yellow (not tinted) could be referred to as a canary diamond.  I would only have a problem with that if a seller was deliberately using the term to try and mislead a potential buyer into thinking all shades of yellow diamond are equal in value and therefore in price in order to get them to pay more for a piece they are selling.

Great post gl!

That really makes a lot of sense. If your friend asks- Hell yes, It's a Canary.
If a seller is using the term without qualification.......questionable for sure.


CS- great post as well!


Trinkette- that's another good point!
Champagne is a perfect analogy.
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« Reply #9 on: May 04, 2008, 08:26:16 PM »
Let's not forget "Chocolate" Diamonds--I heard that one on the radio today while driving.
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GIAGirl
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« Reply #10 on: May 04, 2008, 11:06:30 PM »
Here is a Fancy Intense Orangy Yellow Canary
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GIAGirl
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« Reply #11 on: May 04, 2008, 11:07:44 PM »
And here is a Fancy light canary...
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GIAGirl
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« Reply #12 on: May 04, 2008, 11:21:15 PM »
Ms. Fancy Pants said she would be mad if I did not show this canary as well.


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GIAGirl
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« Reply #13 on: May 04, 2008, 11:23:56 PM »
She thinks she looks just as pretty as those canaries perched on things. 
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« Reply #14 on: May 04, 2008, 11:54:35 PM »
She most certainly does GG! But I don't think you should tell her.

I told ChiChi I was going to search for a Fancy Brownish Yellow Canary in her honor and she just sniffed and looked away. She's such a diva.

Anyway, here's the best representation of the FBY Diva Canary I could locate.
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« Reply #15 on: May 05, 2008, 12:00:12 AM »
See the resemblance?
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GIAGirl
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« Reply #16 on: May 05, 2008, 12:22:06 AM »
WOOOOAAAAH!   That totally is a diva canary.  GOOD LAWD!   CHI CHI has every right to have a bad attitude. 
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« Reply #17 on: May 05, 2008, 12:26:44 AM »

Who does this one represent? 
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« Reply #18 on: May 05, 2008, 12:29:48 AM »
This one could be Chopper...
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Trinkette
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« Reply #19 on: May 05, 2008, 07:25:53 AM »
 duckie  You guys are hilarious!  rotflmao
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« Reply #20 on: May 05, 2008, 09:13:54 AM »
OMG!!  That is great stuff!!!
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« Reply #21 on: May 05, 2008, 02:38:28 PM »
Quote from: GIAGirl on May 05, 2008, 12:26:44 AM

Who does this one represent? 

Canary with seriously bad hair transplant .................... Elton John?   Grin
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« Reply #22 on: May 05, 2008, 03:27:45 PM »
Quote from: Cockneysparrow on May 05, 2008, 02:38:28 PM
Quote from: GIAGirl on May 05, 2008, 12:26:44 AM

Who does this one represent? 

Canary with seriously bad hair transplant .................... Elton John?   Grin

I thought perhaps it was a canary who'd just been to the Kentucky Derby race, with her special edition brown canary feather hat...
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« Reply #23 on: May 05, 2008, 09:29:44 PM »
For sure...she is one of those 70 year old wealthy socialite wearing her feather hat to the Kentucky Derby. 
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« Reply #24 on: May 26, 2008, 12:13:28 PM »
OK, I had missed this when it happened, but I just have to say that you ladies are hilarious. 

IHADP - that bird really looks like Chi Chi!
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