What Is Diamond Colour?

Did you know that it’s very rare to find a diamond that doesn’t have any colour at all? In fact, diamonds are found in almost any naturally occurring colour, including grey, white, yellow, green, brown, and pink.

Some General Info About Diamond Colour

  • Part of diamond valuation is determined by the absence of colour.
  • Only certified grading professionals should determine a diamond’s colour grade.
  • The tone of a ring’s setting can affect the appearance of diamond colour.

Diamond Colour Is An Important Characteristic That Affects A Diamond’s Beauty

Like all of the 4Cs, diamond colour is an important consideration when buying a diamond. While colour affects price, there are a number of factors that can help you decide which colour grade is right for you.

The GIA White Diamonds Colour-Grade Scale Is The Industry Standard

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) colour scale is the industry standard for diamond grading. The GIA diamond colour grades range from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown). Many people ask why the GIA diamond grading scale starts at D. Arcane systems used grades of A-C, 1-3, and I-III, etc. The GIA set out to standardise these diverse systems and started their scale fresh with a grade of D.

L-Z

L-Z Colour Diamonds (Faint to Light Color)

From L colour diamonds on, a warm tint is visible to the naked eye. L colour diamonds are usually half the price of G colour diamonds.

diamonds.

 

K
J
I
H
G
F
E
D

Diamond Grades Range From D (Colorless) To K (Faintly Colored)

Colourless diamonds: The rarest and highest quality with a pure icy look.

  • D-F Colour Diamonds

Near-colourless diamonds: No discernible color; great value for the quality.

  • G-H Colour Diamonds
  • I-J Colour Diamonds

Faint colour diamonds: Budget-friendly pick; pairs beautifully with yellow gold.

  • K Colour Diamonds

Helpful Hint: Diamond prices decline or increase in alphabetical order. For example, a diamond with a G colour grade is less expensive than a diamond with a D colour grade.

Are You Wondering Which Diamond Colour Is Best? It All Starts With Your Budget.

The absence of colour in a diamond is the rarest and therefore, the most expensive. While majority of customers choose a D or E colour grade, many go with a beautiful near colourless grade to make the most of their budget and allocate more on the best cut that they can afford (which gives them more sparkle).

Deciding whether or not you want to spend more on diamond colour grade is partly related to the size and shape of the diamond that you are considering, and your setting preference. You can save by knowing how colour affects these attributes.

Colour Is More Visible In Large Diamonds

If you’re buying a diamond under 1 carat, you might consider choosing an I, J, or K colour diamond. Going over 1 carat? It is recommended a H colour-grade diamonds or higher.

Recommendations For Diamond Colour Based On Shape And Setting

Certain fancy-shaped diamonds hide colour better than others—and can cost up to 25% less than a round-cut diamond. It’s also smart to consider the colour of precious metal for your setting that best compliments the colour grade of your diamond. For example, yellow gold casts a warm glow and looks best with diamonds with faint colour. Platinum or white gold will make a near-colourless diamond look icier.

The Difference Between White Diamonds And Fancy Coloured Diamonds

When is colour a good thing? As mentioned before, diamonds occur in the natural rainbow spectrum of colors—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, pink, purple, and more. These are known as coloured diamonds. Only 1 in every 10,000 diamonds possess natural colour, and the more intense the colour, the rarer and more valuable the diamond. Fancy-coloured diamonds are graded on a separate colour scale and can be even more valuable than white diamonds.

 

 

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