Color in the diamond trade usually refers to the amount of yellow
in a stone, but can also indicate brown or gray and sometimes all three. The most
treasured diamond color is actually the "colorless" grade -- one without any color
at all.
Let's take a look to cover color in detail to understand how it affects the price.
Colorless diamonds are the most desirable since they allow the most refraction of
light (sparkle). The light that enters a diamond is split into the rainbow spectrum
of colors, which are reflected throughout the gem. These colorful splashes are collectively
called fire. Entirely colorless diamonds will exhibit fire in all the colors of
the rainbow. The more color a diamond has, the lesser colors there will be in the
fire which itself will be slightly dimmed. Off white diamonds absorb light, inhibiting
brilliance.
Diamonds are also found in a variety of other colors such as blue, green, yellow,
orange, pink or, rarest of all red. Diamonds with distinct tints other than those
of the normal color range are classified as fancy colors. All such colored diamonds
are very rare and valued.
Diamonds are graded on a color scale, which ranges from D (colorless) to Z.
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D
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Absolutely colorless
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The highest color grade, which is extremely rare.
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E
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Colorless
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Only minute traces of color can be detected by an expert gemologist. A rare diamond.
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F
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Colorless
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Slight color detected by an expert gemologist, but still considered a "colorless"
grade. A high-quality diamond.
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G-H
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Near-colorless
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Color noticeable when compared to diamonds of better grades, but these grades offer
excellent value.
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I-J
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Near-colorless
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Color slightly detectable. An excellent value.
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K-M
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Faintly tinted
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Usually yellow. Tint can be seen with the naked eye.
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N-Z
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Tinted
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Usually yellow, may progress to brownish. Tint visible to the naked eye, even when
mounted.
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How it affects the price?
All other factors being equal, the more colorless a diamond, the higher its value.
The color results from the presence of certain elements in the surroundings of the
diamond crystal during its formation stages. The formation process of a diamond
ensures that only a few, rare diamonds are truly colorless. Fancy color diamonds
do not follow this rule. These diamonds, which are very rare and very expensive,
can be of any color including red, blue, and green, unlike white diamonds, the more
intense the color, the more valuable the stone.
Read about other C's
Carat |
Clarity |
Cut