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What Is Diamond Color?
Diamonds can be found in almost every color and hue you can imagine; gray, white, yellow, red, green, pink, and brown. Diamonds without color are actually scarce, despite popular belief.In terms of color grading, GIA uses letters from D (colorless) to Z (light brown or yellow) to describe diamonds in the normal range. Diamonds with solid color intensity are graded using the fancy color grading system instead of Z.
Diamond Color Grading
The color of a diamond, as well as other characteristics, can affect the price of the diamond, as diamonds are traditionally believed to be white.
Diamonds come in a range of colors that range from pure white, the most valuable ‘color’, to deep yellow tinted colors. Diamonds of this type are not to be confused with colored diamonds, which belong to a separate category.
Diamond Color Grades
| Diamond Color Grades | Color Visibility |
|---|---|
| D | Colorless |
| E | Colorless |
| F | Colorless |
| G | Near Colorless |
| H | Near Colorless |
| I | Near Colorless |
| J | Near Colorless |
| K | Faint Yellow |
| L | Faint Yellow |
Identifying each diamond color grade
Which diamond color do you want? You might not know how to get the best look within your budget. Learn more about each specific diamond color below, including what sets them apart and what you should know before buying a diamond of that color.
How does Diamond Color Affect Price?
It is important to note that when diamonds arrive in retail stores, small color variations can have a significant impact on their price, especially if they are visible to the naked eye. There are more diamonds with subtle bits of color than diamonds that are completely colorless. Because colorless diamonds reflect more color, have more brilliance, and are rarer, they are more valuable. Variations in color can affect the value by 10% or more, even within the same grading scale. There are times when a tiny color flaw can affect the price of a diamond by hundreds or thousands of dollars, especially when the carat, cut, and clarity is taken into account.
D
Colorless
D color diamond possess the highest color purity and symbolize perfection. The stone is extremely rare and does not have any discernible shades of color. A diamond of E or F color can also appear similar to one of D color when viewed with the naked eye. White gold and platinum best showcase D color diamonds, as their white color, emphasizes their colorless nature. D color diamonds can also look beautiful in rose and yellow gold, but some of the colors from the setting will show through.
E
Colorless
An E color diamond has a very high color purity and is visually stunning. There is almost no recognizable color shading in it, making it extremely rare. E color diamonds do not show yellow tinges to the naked eye or under 10X magnification.
F
Colorless
Untrained eyes cannot detect the subtle shade of color in an F color diamond. High color purity is also considered to be one of its characteristics. An F color diamond will not show yellow to the naked eye and is more affordable than a D or E color diamond.
G
Near Colorless
G color diamond are exquisite and have traces of color that can only be detected by diamond professionals. A diamond of this color is considered to be the most beautiful and most valuable color. When set in platinum or white gold, yellow color traces can be hidden, however, rose gold and yellow gold look great with G color diamonds. Untrained eyes cannot detect the subtle shade of color in an F color diamond. High color purity is also considered to be one of its characteristics. An F color diamond will not show yellow to the naked eye and is more affordable than a D or E color diamond.
H
Near Colorless
The brilliance of an H color diamond is not diminished by its slight shade of color. Due to its visual appeal and value, it is a popular color. It’s a good balance between these factors and can be a great option if you’re trying to maximize carats or clarity.
I
Near Colorless
I color diamond delivers excellent brilliance, even though some shading of color can be identified by a gemologist. Color is still unrecognizable to the untrained eye and provides excellent value. A diamond with an I rating can be wise since the yellow color isn’t too noticeable. A gemologist can assist you in finding a stone that faces up white before making your purchase.
J
Near Colorless
J color diamond have exquisite sparkle and are highly valuable. A trained professional can only detect its shade of color. This allows for a larger size or higher clarity that may be more palatable to your budget. A gemologist will be able to help you find a stone that faces up white, as some diamond shapes amplify the color.
K
Faint Yellow
The K color diamond does not compromise the stone’s sparkle and is considered a white diamond. Untrained eyes may not recognize the color grade because some shades of color may reflect light. K color diamonds can appear yellow to the naked eye, especially larger diamond sizes over 1.50 carats.
L
Faint Yellow
L color diamond is scintillating and is considered white diamonds because they do not distract from their sparkle. Untrained eyes may detect slight color, especially when viewed from the side. The diamond looks stunning in yellow gold settings, which minimizes the contrast between it and the setting. To ensure that an L color diamond is a right color for you, consult a gemologist.
M
Faint Yellow
A diamond with M color has a yellow tint that can be seen with the naked eye. When compared to nearly colorless and colorless diamonds, M color diamonds provide excellent value for money. Typically, online diamond vendors offer M color grades as their lowest color grades. Despite their warmth and beauty when set in antique yellow gold settings, M color diamonds are quite easy to notice by the naked eye.
N-R
Very Light Yellow
It is noticeable that diamonds in the N to R range have a yellow or brown tint. The price of these diamonds is much lower than that of faintly tinted or nearly colorless diamonds. N-R grade diamonds are not recommended.
S-Z
Light Yellow
S-Z diamonds have noticeable yellow or brown tints. As a result, we do not recommend S-Z diamonds.