A chocolate diamond is a brown diamond, one of various types of colored diamonds. Other decorated diamonds, also called fancy diamonds, include pink, yellow, blue, green, purple, black, red and orange. Although colored diamonds were once considered undesirable, chocolate diamonds became more popular and are worn by those looking for an alternative to conventional white diamonds.

Most chocolate diamonds arrive from diamond mines in Australia. The natural happening brown color is thought to be created by the earth's pressure on the diamonds deep in the earth. The shades of a chocolate diamond vary, but the color is moderately dark. The Gemology Institute of America (GIA) rates the color strength of colored diamonds based on a scale from one to nine. Colored diamonds have the same hardness and other properties of white diamonds; only the color is dissimilar.

Additional shades of brown diamonds include cognac, cinnamon, honey, clove and champagne. Champagne colored diamonds are light in color with somewhat reddish cast. Cinnamon diamonds are a reddish-brown, while the cognac variety of brown diamond is a warm reddish golden-brown. Clove colored diamonds are a dark olive. Honey diamonds are yellow-orange.

Chocolate diamond jewelry is made in a wide variety of styles and types. It is existing in yellow gold or white gold settings. Several pieces of chocolate diamond jewelry feature white diamonds as well. The contrast between light and dark sparkling gems can look very gorgeous. Turquoise or chocolate pearls are other striking additions to jewelry made with chocolate diamonds.