Last updated on December 27, 2022
The Ocean Dream Diamond is one of the most incredible diamonds known to men despite its relatively small size. Its exceptional blue-green colour is so rare that many gemologists would assume it was artificially coloured since there is no record of any other diamond of this hue and size in nature.
Origin of the Ocean Dream Diamond
The Ocean Dream Diamond was cut from an 11.17-carat rough mined in Central Africa in 2002. The rough crystal was polished into a 5.50-carat modified triangular brilliant diamond measuring 11.49 x 11.46 x 6.49 mm in New York by Cora Diamond Corporation and named the Ocean Dream due to its uniquely deep and saturated blue-green colour, reminiscent of the colour of the deep blue ocean.
Although the other relevant information such as the mine of origin, the date and circumstances of discovery are not available, the Ocean Dream Diamond is one of the most breathtaking diamonds known to men due to its exceptionally rare colour.
In general, deep blue-green diamonds are extremely rare in nature, and most professionals in the diamond industry associate this colour with an artificial colour treatment using irradiation. In addition to the rare colour, natural blue-green diamonds have never been this large. Thus despite its relatively small size of 5.50 carats (1.1002 g), compared to other famous diamonds, the Ocean Dream earns the distinction of being one of the most beautiful and rare diamonds on earth.
In 2003, the Ocean Dream Diamond was displayed at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. The gem was included in “The Splendour of Diamonds” exhibition and dazzled thousands of visitors with its unrivalled colour and unique shape. It was displayed alongside such beauties as the Millennium Star, the Heart of Eternity, the Pumpkin Diamond, the Allnatt Diamond, the Steinmetz Pink and the Moussaieff Red Diamond.
On May 14, 2014, the gem came up for auction at Christie’s in Geneva and was sold for $8.6 million to an anonymous private collector.
Colour Origin of the Ocean Dream Diamond
In 2003 the Ocean Dream was subjected to detailed evaluation and colour determination by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
In general, the blue-green to green colour in diamonds is the result of exposure to radiation in the earth which forms radiation-induced colour centres. Natural radiation is typically two types: alpha or betta, and they have a limited penetrating ability, which is the reason most green diamonds have only a thin “skin” of colour. Saturated green body colour can only be produced by highly-penetrating radiation such as gamma or neutron, which is very rare in nature.
For a diamond to get a saturated blue-green or green body colour, it must remain close to a gamma or neutron source for millions of years without being exposed to excessive heat. These are very rare conditions, meaning the colour of the Ocean Dream Diamond is truly unique.
The colour origin of the gem was confirmed to be natural by numerous examinations throughout the cutting process from rough crystal to the finished stone. When graded by GIA in 2003, the diamond was classified as fancy deep blue-green. However, according to a coloured diamond grading report issued by GIA in 2014, the Ocean Dream got a grade of fancy vivid blue-green.
Featured image: Dimitri at Gemmology Obsession. A derivative work by Diamond Buzz.
