Salt and Pepper Diamonds: What Are They?

Salt and pepper diamonds are a unique and popular stone known for their distinctive black and white pinpoint mineral inclusions, giving them their color. This is what gives them their uncommon “peppered” look so many people desire.

Unlike traditional diamonds, which are desired for their clarity and lack of inclusions, salt and pepper diamonds embrace their natural imperfections and clarity inclusions. Each is more unique than the next, giving them their organic beauty – no two stones are alike. Designs featuring these stones can be more traditional or very offbeat but often highlight the inherent sparkle and natural allure of these diamonds.

Other types of diamonds like salt and pepper diamonds are:

• Gray Diamonds: the term "gray diamond" is used to describe a diamond whose mineral inclusions result in its overall gray color. These range in opacity from icy to milky and in color from light to dark. Depending on the specific minerals present in the earth’s deposit during their formation, gray diamonds can include secondary or even tertiary color undertones such as green, brown or copper. The main difference between salt and pepper diamonds and gray diamonds is the contrast between the clear parts and the “peppered” parts as opposed to a milkier look on the gray diamonds.
• Brown Sugar Diamonds: within the salt & pepper category, there is a subset of diamonds often referred to in the industry as “brown sugar" diamonds. Still with visible inclusions in varying patterns like salt & pepper diamonds, "brown sugar" refers generally to the overall color of the stone as being more honey or champagne toned than gray or black.
• Black Carbonado Diamonds: these diamonds contain a high concentration of inclusions, which is where they get their dark hue. These aggregate diamonds typically contain carbon, graphite, sulfide minerals, and other impurities and their crystals are varied and, unlike their true black diamond counterparts, are not arranged in a typical isometric crystal structure. In their rough forms, you can see their amorphous shapes. These diamonds are mysterious, alluring, and sought after in bold and contemporary jewelry design.

Gray diamonds should not be confused with fancy-colored gray diamonds, which are much rarer, and can fit into the clarity and color grades put in place by the Gemological Institute of America to characterize their value.

Fancy gray diamonds are typically very solid in their color and can be a light gray to a dark graphite gray. They’re extremely rare and typically include trapped hydrogen or boron within their crystal structure. They can also have secondary hues of blue, green or violet.

History of Salt and Pepper Diamonds

The appreciation for salt and pepper diamonds is a recent trend with roots difficult to trace.

The diamond industry is mainly focused on clarity, color, and cut, and often, overlooking stones that do not meet certain specifications for quality. This is one of the main reasons why salt and pepper stones were never widely used in jewelry making until recently.

What was once considered flawed and used as industrial diamonds in abrasives and in cutting and drilling tools. They are now cherished for their unique characteristics. Today, many brides looking for something more unique, are more open to using these diamonds for an engagement ring as opposed to a standard white diamond.

How Did Salt and Pepper Diamonds Become Popular?

Unlike the bright, glossy white of a traditional diamond, more consumers are embracing the natural beauty of the salt and pepper diamond. These alternative diamonds are a great choice for those that appreciate color, but colored gems are not appealing or lack the sparkle of a diamond.

Celebrities and social media have also helped popularize the stone. The appearance of the diamonds makes them attractive in media, and their uniqueness make them highly shareable.  These factors together make salt and pepper diamond a more coveted gem.

How Much is a Salt and Pepper Diamond?

Generally, salt and pepper diamonds tend to be more affordable than a traditional diamond. Like with any other diamond, the price of a salt and pepper diamond depends on several factors, including its carat weight, clarity, cut, setting and ultimately the jeweler’s choice of mark-up.

In other words, larger diamonds obviously carry a higher price tag, as well as the overall distribution of inclusions within a diamond. More importantly, overall craftsmanship and design will also play a major factor in the pricing of a salt and pepper diamond design.

Given the recent popularity of this stone, the prices for these stones have increased. They will never be as expensive as a white, visually flawless diamond. But like all things, they will continue to command a certain premium until the market agrees that their purchase value is no longer justified.

Where Can I Buy Salt and Pepper Diamonds?

There are many places to buy salt and pepper diamond, from brick-and-mortar retailers to online jewelers and private sellers. However, the most common is through custom jewelry. Having a custom salt and pepper diamond ring, necklace, bracelet, or earrings is a great way to create something truly one-of-a-kind – an heirloom to be treasured.

What’s Popular? Salt and Pepper Diamond Ring

The salt and pepper diamond ring is the most popular piece of jewelry that incorporates this stone. That’s not to say other jewelry can’t be made from stone, but the ideal application is a ring where the stone takes center stage.

Below is an overview of our latest collection of salt and pepper rings:

Bespoke

If you’re interested in creating your very own salt and pepper jewelry, get in touch with us today for a free consultation. We’ll help you create something beautiful and different for that perfect someone!