- Jennifer Lopez is re-engaged to Ben Affleck. In 2002, her ring was a pink diamond. This year it is a green diamond, the second rarest diamond in the world.
- Insiders say the demand for colored stones, unique settings and cuts appears to be on the rise, which can be attributed to the “J-Lo effect”.
Call it the J-Lo effect if you will, but Rayon’s Jenny seems to have an inexplicable ability to affect just about anything – even gems.
In case you missed it, Jennifer Lopez has rekindled her romance with Ben Affleck. The couple first met in the early 2000s and were engaged in 2002. Then Affleck proposed with a very rare 6.10 carat fancy hot pink diamond ring from Harry Winston, which started a new trend in engagement rings. Then in 2004 they broke up.
The couple reunited in July 2021. In April 2022, Lopez revealed that they were engaged again.
- Ring? An impressive natural green diamond weighing 8.5 carats, the second rarest diamond in the world after a bright red, adorns the singer’s engagement ring.
Sotheby’s sold a 5.29 carat Fancy Vivid Green Diamond at auction in October 2021 for US$3 million.
The rarity of the stone makes it incredibly desirable. In November 2009, a 2.52 carat Fancy Vivid Green Diamond sold at Sotheby’s in Geneva for US$3.1 million, at the time the world record auction price per carat for a Vivid Green diamond. Sotheby’s also sold a 5.29 carat Fancy Vivid Green Diamond at auction in October 2021 for US$3 million.
So it’s no surprise that Lopez has been compared to Elizabeth Taylor for her taste in jewelry and love (Taylor has been married six times, twice to Richard Burton, while Lopez has been engaged five times, twice to Ben Affleck).
According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), a green diamond gets its color when exposed to radiation. While natural green diamonds typically come from South America or Africa, they can be found elsewhere.
Zena K’dor, creative director of diamond jewelry house House of K’dor, says there are very few green diamonds on the market.
“Unlike natural white diamonds, natural green diamonds are extremely rare, with only a small number entering the jewelry market each year,” she says. “This, of course, greatly affects the price you pay for a natural green diamond. Although few in number, like all diamonds, green diamonds are also individually graded based on parameters used by top gemologists. They are defined by common characteristics: the beauty of their color, carat, clarity and cut.”
Zena K’dor is the creative director of House of K’dor, a diamond jewelry house.
The specialist adds that it is important to understand that the intensity of the green color reflects the rarity and value of the diamond.
The intensity scale starts at low, then very light, light, fantasy light, fantasy, fantasy intense, fantasy bright, fantasy deep, and fantasy dark. “Pale represents a bright and pastel shade, while Fancy Deep represents a strong, deep green, making it the most desirable diamond to add to your jewelry collection.”
Lopez has previously spoken about her association with the color green – and anyone who remembers that Versace green dress she wore to the 2000 Grammy Awards (she famously re-worn it for Versace’s spring-summer 2020 show) , can confirm this.
“I always say that green is my lucky color. Maybe you remember the green dress (Versace, Grammy 2000). I realized that there were many moments in my life when amazing things happened to me when I was wearing green. Maybe a coincidence, maybe not. But, looking closer, I realized that there are no coincidences. Lopez wrote in her newsletter.
K’dor agrees that the green diamond is particularly meaningful.
“Green diamonds symbolize abundance, long life, prosperity and strength. Unlike other green gems and semi-precious stones, their hardness is on the Mohs scale of 10, so they are durable and ideal for everyday wear.”
Lopez’s famous Versace green dress, which she wore to the Grammys in 2000. Photo: Shutterstock
K’dor says that the demand for rare and uncommon gems, and even unusually cut gems, has skyrocketed.
“As fashion has become more adventurous and expressive, the demand for colored stones, unique settings and cuts has definitely increased,” she says.
“Engagement is a deeply personal event in people’s lives, so it’s important to choose a stone that has meaning for each person. While many still choose the path of traditional diamonds for their timeless elegance and beauty, colored stones allow couples to express their love in a bold, vibrant and unique way.”
As for the JLo effect and its effect on green diamonds? K’dor says that we can expect some influence and inspiration to leak out to the public.
“I think we naturally gravitate towards people who inspire us, so yes, I think we will see an increase in interest in colored diamonds in engagement rings,” she says.
“Men seem to prefer classic diamond engagement rings, whether oblong or round, while our guests prefer brighter, more colorful stones.”
K’dor says we may see people turning to more affordable alternatives than green diamond, such as emerald, chrysolite and green tourmaline. But, ultimately, when it comes to choosing a stone, especially for an engagement, you have to listen to your heart.