Large loose cognac diamond C6, deep amber-orange with internal fire, backlit on dark reflective surface — natural fancy color diamond, Cognac Diamond Guide by Black Pearl of Queens

Our Diamonds

Where our stones come from, how they're graded, and how we work with them — in plain language.

Most jewelry brands hide their sourcing behind vague language. We don't, because vague language has a cost: customers can't make informed choices, and we can't stand behind what we sell.

This page tells you exactly what's in our work — where the stones come from, how we grade them, and how we use them. If you have a question this page doesn't answer, ask us directly.

— Dimitrios Koukoulis, Founder
Loose champagne diamond C3, golden honey tone with brilliant facets, resting in soft cream velvet folds — natural fancy color diamond, Champagne Diamond Guide by Black Pearl of Queens

Natural Diamonds in the Brownstone Collection

The Brownstone Collection is the only line at Black Pearl of Queens that features natural diamonds. Every Brownstone piece is set with a natural cognac or champagne diamond — earth-formed, with the warm amber and golden tones that give the collection its name.

Our natural diamonds are sourced primarily from four countries:

  • Canada
  • South Africa
  • Botswana
  • Namibia

These are the countries where the rough diamonds in our supply originate before they're cut and polished. Cognac and champagne diamonds are naturally occurring fancy-color diamonds — their color comes from nitrogen trapped in the crystal lattice during formation, not from treatment.
Woman's collarbone and neck wearing a small round cognac diamond solitaire pendant on a fine 14K yellow gold chain, NYC brownstone building visible through window — Brownstone Pendants by Black Pearl of Queens

Lab-Grown Diamonds in Our Other Collections

Every diamond in our catalog that isn't part of the Brownstone Collection is laboratory-grown.

Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds. They are real diamonds — same crystal structure, same hardness, same refractive properties. The difference is origin: lab-grown stones are created in controlled conditions over weeks rather than formed in the earth's mantle over millions of years.

We use lab-grown diamonds for our engagement rings, diamond wedding bands, eternity bands, signet rings, pendants, and earrings (outside the Brownstone Collection) for two reasons:

  1. Larger, higher-clarity stones at accessible prices. A 1ct lab-grown stone of strong color and clarity costs significantly less than its natural equivalent, which means you can choose better stones in larger sizes within the same budget.
  2. Consistent supply. Because we work made-to-order, we need to reliably source stones to the specifications a customer chooses. Lab-grown supply is more predictable than natural fancy-color supply.

Lab-grown stones are graded by the same independent labs that grade natural diamonds — primarily IGI for the stones we work with.
IGI diamond certiicate

IGI Certification Policy

Every diamond at or above 1.00 carat in our work — natural or lab-grown — comes with an independent grading certificate from the International Gemological Institute (IGI). The certificate reports the diamond's measurements, color, clarity, cut grade, and (for lab-grown stones) growth method.

For stones under 1ct, we work with reputable suppliers who provide quality verification, but we do not commission individual IGI certificates for every smaller stone. This is a deliberate threshold — 1ct is the size at which an individual certificate becomes a meaningful part of the purchase, both for resale documentation and for buyer confidence in the specific stone.

We are reviewing this policy on an ongoing basis and may extend certification to smaller stones in the future.

How Our Diamonds Reach You — Made to Order

We don't carry inventory. Every piece at Black Pearl of Queens is made to order, which means your diamond is selected, set, and finished after you place your order — not pulled from a back-room safe.

What that means for you:

  • Each stone is chosen for your specific piece, not pre-set into a display item
  • For Brownstone Collection orders, we select the cognac or champagne color tone you've requested from the available natural diamonds we can source at that size
  • For lab-grown orders, we select stones meeting the color, clarity, and cut grade specifications of the piece
  • Production typically takes 2–4 weeks depending on complexity

This is slower than buying a ring off a shelf. It's also how every piece ends up actually fitting the person it was made for.
Raw cast gold initial signet rings before polishing, displayed on a jeweler’s bench to show the hand-crafted production process.

How Diamonds Are Graded

Every diamond — natural or lab-grown — is graded on the same four characteristics, known as the 4Cs:

  • Carat — the diamond's weight, not its size (though size correlates)
  • Color — graded D (colorless) through Z (light yellow/brown) for white diamonds; fancy-color diamonds like cognac and champagne are graded on a separate scale
  • Clarity — the presence or absence of internal inclusions and surface blemishes, graded from FL (flawless) to I3 (heavily included)
  • Cut — the proportions, symmetry, and polish of the finished stone, which determines how it interacts with light

When you see an IGI certificate for one of our diamonds, these are the four core measurements it reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are lab-grown diamonds real diamonds?

Yes. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds. The difference is origin — they are created in controlled laboratory conditions rather than formed in the earth. They are graded by the same independent labs (IGI, GIA) using the same 4Cs.

Why natural diamonds in Brownstone but lab-grown everywhere else?

The Brownstone Collection is built around naturally occurring cognac and champagne fancy-color diamonds — their color is part of what makes them distinctive. For our other collections, lab-grown white diamonds give our customers access to larger and higher-clarity stones than the same budget would buy in natural.

Should I think of a diamond as an investment?

No. We don't sell diamonds — natural or lab-grown — as financial investments, and we don't recommend buying them with that expectation. Lab-grown diamond prices have been relatively stable in recent years, but the long-term trajectory depends on factors no jeweler can predict: production volume, market demand, and how many labs enter the space. Buy a diamond because you want the piece, not because you expect it to appreciate.

Where exactly do your natural diamonds come from?

The rough diamonds in our natural supply originate primarily from Canada, South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia. They are cut, polished, and graded before reaching our workshop.

Do all your diamonds come with certificates?

Diamonds at or above 1ct come with an independent IGI grading certificate. Smaller stones do not receive individual certificates, though they are sourced from suppliers who provide quality verification.

Can I see the certificate before I buy?

For made-to-order pieces with stones at or above 1ct, yes — the IGI certificate accompanies the finished piece, and we can share details about the specific stone before finalizing your order.

From the Workshop

This page exists because I think you deserve to know what you're buying. Most luxury jewelry brands won't tell you where their diamonds come from, whether stones are graded, or how the work actually gets made. That's a choice, and it's one I disagree with.

If you have a question about a specific stone, a specific piece, or anything else this page didn't cover — message us. We answer.

— Dimitrios Koukoulis
Founder, Black Pearl of Queens
Woodside, Queens, NYC