Home > Guidance & Education > Diamond Education > Color

Color

Diamonds generally increase in value as their color moves from pale yellow to an absence of color that promotes more reflection and dispersal of light. Even the slightest tinge of yellow or brown in a white diamond will decrease its value. White diamonds are graded on a scale that uses the letters of the alphabet to describe color ranging from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown).
Colorless
D - Colorless
Absolutely colorless. This is the highest color grade and these diamonds are extremely rare.
E - Colorless
Colorless. These are rare diamonds that contain only minute traces of color as detected by a gemologist.
F - Colorless
Colorless. Still considered colorless grade, these high-quality diamonds have only a slight color as detected by a gemologist.
Near Colorless
G - Near Colorless
Near colorless. These diamonds offer an excellent value and their color is mostly noticeable when compared to diamonds with better grades.
H - Near Colorless
Near colorless. These diamonds offer an excellent value and their color is noticeable when compared to diamonds with better grades.
I - Near Colorless
Near colorless. Color slightly detectable. An excellent value.
J - Near Colorless
Near colorless. Color slightly detectable. An excellent value.
Noticeable Color
K-M - Noticeable Color
Yellowish tint. This color does not show with smaller diamonds when they are mounted, but diamonds of half carat or more will show noticeable color to the untrained eye.
N-R - Noticeable Color
These diamonds show noticeable yellowish tints to the untrained eye.
S-Z - Noticeable Color
Yellow. These diamonds show increasing yellow or brownish tints and they are very off-white in color.

A note about Fluorescence

Fluorescence is a property of some diamonds to emit visible light when expose to invisible ultraviolet radiation. Fluorescence is detected by gemologist using special long wave and short wave ultraviolet lamp, and can manifest itself in daylight and some artificial lighting giving the diamond a bluish or milky appearance.

Though fluorescence lowers the value of a diamond, it can make it appear whiter and closer to colorless. Blue fluorescent coloring can actually improve the color of a diamond by a grade or two while lowering its value. Fluorescence occurs in varying degrees of color from a common blue to a rare yellow.Fluorescence is graded from None to Very Strong.

BUYER'S TIPS - Which color should you choose?
  • When it comes to diamonds, most people find it very difficult (if not impossible) to tell the difference from one color grade to another. Despite this, color has a significant impact on the price of diamonds. Though purists prefer diamonds in the D to F range, you can find tremendous value and a colorless look by selecting diamonds in the G to I range.
  • If you are shopping on a budget or trying to maximize the size of your stone, consider J diamonds that combine affordability with near colorlessness.
  • Medium or strong fluorescence actually counteracts the slight yellow body color of diamonds that are rated I color or lower. As a result, these diamonds appear to be more white or colorless than they actually are. This gives the budget-conscious buyer the opportunity to purchase a lower-color but whiter-looking diamond that offers an appearance that is comparable to a more expensive, higher color diamond.