Why choose a blue diamond ring

A blue diamond ring is one of the most striking choices in fine jewellery, cool, confident and unmistakably modern. Blue is a colour of real depth and presence, and a blue diamond engagement ring stands apart from anything traditional without losing the brilliance that makes a diamond so appealing. The colour ranges from a soft sky blue through to a deep, ocean like tone, with lighter blues feeling airy and contemporary and deeper blues carrying drama and richness.

The most famous blue diamonds

No blue diamond is more famous than the Hope Diamond, a 45.52 carat deep grayish blue stone that traces back to the Golconda mines of India. It was once the French Blue owned by Louis XIV, was stolen during the French Revolution, resurfaced in London, and eventually passed to the banker Henry Philip Hope whose name it carries. Its supposed curse was largely a marketing invention by the jeweller Pierre Cartier, and the stone has sat in the Smithsonian since 1958. One of its odder traits is that it glows red under ultraviolet light.

More recently the Oppenheimer Blue sold for record sums, and the fictional Heart of the Ocean in Titanic was inspired by the Hope. Blue is one of the rarest of all natural diamond colours, making up a tiny fraction of a percent of stones. These famous blues are mined and priceless, but they are the reason blue carries such mystique, and that colour is now achievable as a lab grown stone.

What gives a blue diamond its colour

A blue diamond owes its colour to boron. As the stone forms, traces of boron in the crystal structure absorb red, yellow and green light and reflect the blue we see. Boron is almost never present at diamond forming depths, which is part of why natural blue is so rare. The same colour is achieved in a lab grown blue diamond during the controlled growth of the stone, giving a clean, even blue.

Why lab grown makes sense for blue

Mined blue diamonds are among the rarest of all, and the finest are some of the most expensive stones ever sold. A natural blue of any real colour is far beyond the reach of almost every buyer. A lab grown blue diamond ring gives you that same depth of colour and brilliance, with a clear and traceable origin, at a price that makes it a realistic choice. Lab grown diamonds are created in advanced laboratories using the same processes that form diamonds within the earth. The result is a real diamond, with the same chemical, physical and optical properties as a mined stone, the only difference being its origin. Each diamond is grown under controlled conditions, which makes it fully traceable and conflict free, and removes the environmental impact of mining.

Choosing the shape

Larger faceted shapes such as cushion, radiant and emerald cuts tend to hold and show a blue colour well, giving a deep, even tone. Round and oval brilliants keep the emphasis on sparkle while carrying the colour clearly. The colour is graded for how strong and even the blue reads, alongside cut, clarity and carat weight.

Settings and metals for a blue diamond

Blue diamonds are at their most striking in cool metals, and many blue diamond ring designs use platinum or white gold so the metal complements rather than competes with the colour. A halo of colourless diamonds frames a blue centre and intensifies the colour, while adding brilliance and making the stone appear larger. A plain solitaire in platinum keeps the focus entirely on the blue.

Shoulder set and trilogy designs add sparkle along the band, either echoing the centre with further blue accents or balancing it with colourless stones. Warmer metals such as yellow or rose gold can also be used for a deliberate contrast, the warm band setting off the cool colour of the stone. A blue diamond wedding ring or eternity ring makes a bold partner to the engagement ring.

Buying a blue diamond ring from Lily Arkwright

This collection can be viewed by appointment at the London and Manchester showrooms, where a consultant can talk through colour, shape and setting in person. WhatsApp video and virtual consultations are available for anyone who would rather start from home.

Each ring is made to order in platinum or 18ct gold, with free and insured global shipping.