Diamond Color

Diamond Color

Every genuine, natural diamond color has a basic standard grading system.  The Diamond color spectrum starts with D and ends with Z.   Diamond color beginning the highest color.  Z, is the lowest diamond color on the spectrum.  The higher the grade, the whiter the diamond.  The lower the grade, the more imperfections of color it contains resulting in a yellow or brownish tint. D, E, and F are “colorless.” Furthermore, the most desired by customers, which ranks them as the highest grade. G and H are “near-colorless,” with slight hints of color tint present throughout the diamond. Diamonds graded I through Z are not specifically categorized and are defined rather generally as diamonds with “color,” and therefore, the most amount of color imperfections. In terms of price, the higher the grade of the diamond, the more expensive it becomes because it is rated as having the minimal imperfections in terms of color.

Natural Diamond Color

Most natural diamonds contain small quantities of nitrogen atoms that displace the carbon atoms within the crystal's lattice structure.  Thereby making the diamond appear yellow, creating the yellowish/brownish tint mentioned above. The higher a number of nitrogen atoms, the yellower the stone will appear, and the lower the grade will be.

Diamond Color and Fluorescence

Approximately 1/3 of all diamonds have a tendency to fluoresce when exposed to ultra-violet (UV) light.  This fluorescent effect can be beneficial to a diamond that has a yellow tint, as the blue fluorescence will cancel out some of the yellow, making the diamond appear "colorless," but the diamond will have a dull, murky appearance when compared to a non-fluorescing diamond. A common misconception regarding the fluorescence of a diamond is that any fluorescence detected within the stone will significantly lower its value. However, not all fluorescence is a negative quality in all diamonds. Some fluorescence may be beneficial in terms of increasing brilliance or eliminating the yellow tint in a more murky diamond.  However, it is important to remember that each stone is a case by case dilemma, and generalizations in terms of fluorescence will result in inaccurate grading. Fancy Color Diamonds Diamonds