Throughout the history, the diamond has been an enduring symbol of the powerful bond of love. Its strength, brilliance and value are as ...
Throughout the
history, the diamond has been an enduring symbol of the powerful bond of love.
Its strength, brilliance and value are as unique as the individuals who wear
them. A diamond's worth is evaluated on four levels. We call these criteria the
4 C's — cut, carat weight, color and clarity.
In previous post
you would have read about Diamond cut, in this post we are going to discuss
about diamond color. It is interesting to note that diamonds actually come in
the widest variety of colors of any gem material. Most gem quality diamonds
however are desired for their lack of color. In fact, diamond which is colourless,
the more rare and valuable it is. On the other hand, diamonds are also sought
after by collectors in their extremely rare "fancy colors" including
(from highest value), Reds (Pinks), Blues, Greens, and Fancy Intense Yellow.
The standard
grading systems for color were developed by the GIA and it’s widely used by
everyone in the diamond industry. The GIA grading system is based on a scale of
D (colorless) to Z (light color).
Colorless (D-F)
These color
grades are the most desirable because of their lack of color. Certified
Gemologists can detect the subtle differences between D, E and F by evaluating
the diamond while it is un-mounted and through the back to give the clearest
impression of its actual body color. A colorless diamond is truly a stunning
sight to behold, and sure to make any piece look extraordinary.
Near Colorless
(G-J)
Diamonds that
fall into the near colorless category contain small traces of color, but the
color is still somewhat difficult to detect to the naked eye. Still considered
above average, diamonds in this range are often found as accent diamonds in
finished jewelry and as center diamonds in rings.
Faint Color
(K-M)
When reaching
the K color grade it becomes easier to detect color with the naked eye. These
diamonds will have a more noticeable warm tint than diamonds in higher grades.
Very Light Color
(N-R)
Diamonds that
carry a grade between N and R contain visible color with a yellow or brown tint
that can be easily seen. These lower grades are not to be mistaken with fancy
yellow color.
Light Color
(S-Z)
With a grade
between S and Z, these diamonds have an obvious visible color.
Fancy Colored Diamonds
Fancy Colored
diamonds are graded on a completely different scale. At a certain color level,
diamonds become desirable for yellow to shine through. There is a distinct
difference visually between a “yellow” diamond in the S-Z range and a yellow
diamond that is considered a ‘Fancy’ color. GIA has developed a specific set of
parameters to help gemologist determine one from the other.
