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What You Need to Know About A Diamond’s Color

How Important is the Cut of my Diamond?
April 11, 2018
What Makes Up a Carat?
April 11, 2018

What You Need to Know About A Diamond’s Color

Most people know the 4 Cs of diamonds: cut, color, clarity, and carat. All of these aspects indicate the quality of the diamond, and they are directly related to the price of a diamond. It may be hard to determine the highest quality diamond if you don’t know much about the 4 Cs, but we are here to help! Here is a look at a diamond’s color, including what colors are available, what colors are ideal, and how color affects the overall sparkle, quality, and price of a diamond.

Colorless Diamonds
After cut, shape, and clarity the color of a stone is the final important factor determining its price and quality. Colorless diamonds are extremely rare and, for this reason, the most expensive color option available. A colored diamond has just a slight, yellow coloration which is part of most diamonds. Very often, color or colorlessness is difficult to see without a trained professional eye.

Balance of the 4 Cs
It is best practice if you balance the colorlessness with the other 4 Cs to not inflate the price of a diamond. While a colorless diamond is rare and ideal, a slight color is not going to ruin the sparkle and shine of the diamond. It does not make a big difference when the grading for color is not the highest. You won ́t be able to spot the difference in most cases, and it won’t make a big difference in the quality of the stone. However, the price can vary a lot depending on the color.

Diamond Grades
A diamond that is D grade (blue white) is the best possible quality and therefore the most expensive. Grades that are still uncolored are E (ice white) and F (fine white). These grades are less expensive than a D grade diamond. D grade diamonds are very costly, and many people cannot afford them. The next following grades of G, H, and I are nearly colorless. When you view those grades against a white background, they will show a bit of a yellow complexion. But if you have the diamond worked into a ring or bracelet, especially one made from gold, the coloration is invisible to the eye. The lowest quality grades are J, K, L, and M.

Fluorescence
When a diamond looks milky or oily, ask the jeweler about the diamond ́s fluorescence. It appears under ultraviolet light but not under normal light conditions. Fluorescence can change the appearance of a diamond ́s color. Though you may not want the lower quality color, you can often find discounted diamonds with a higher fluorescence, even though they often don’t appear very different to the naked eye.

Color is, of course, very important when it comes to selecting a diamond, as it will contribute a great deal to the shine and brilliance of the diamond. If you’re unsure about what color grade you prefer, be sure to talk to a diamond expert and do your research to determine what color quality and price point you prefer.