The Diamond Color Chart

What does diamond color mean as it applies to colorless diamonds? It may seem like an oxymoron—mentioning color when discussing colorless diamonds. But it’s an important part of the 4Cs in GIA’s diamond grading protocol. 

This particular 4C, referred to as Diamond Color is a concise method of establishing a rank given to the stone being graded. It describes how colorless—or how much body color the stone has according to the standardized diamond color chart established by GIA. 

How Color Ranking Works with Diamonds

The higher-ranked diamonds according to this chart will be closer to colorless, while lower-rated stones often exhibit an increasingly apparent coloration.  The ratings move along the color diamond scale chart from absolutely no body color ---a rare occurrence in nature to very noticeable body color. At the lowest end of the color chart, the stones appear yellow, grayish or brownish. A colorless diamond appears completely clear as ice while diamonds on the lower end of the color scale exhibit what definitely looks like an overall warm tint. 

It is a very rare occurrence to see a diamond that doesn't exhibit any color at all.  Most gem-quality diamonds will display faint hues in an otherwise clear crystal, due to a naturally occurring introduction of trace elements that happened during the stone’s formation.

Diamond Color Chart (GIA Scale) 

• D – Colorless (highest grade, extremely rare)
• E – Colorless (very slight traces of color, rare)
• F – Colorless (minor traces of color, still considered colorless)
• G – Near Colorless (faint color, excellent value)
• H – Near Colorless (slight warmth, good balance of quality and price)
• I – Near Colorless (slightly more noticeable color)
• J – Near Colorless (faint yellow or brown tint visible to the naked eye)
• K – Faint (noticeable color, still attractive in certain settings)
• L – Faint (more obvious color tint, often used in vintage styles)
• M-Z – Noticeable Color (increasingly visible yellow or brown hues)
  
  

GIA Set the Standard for Color Grading 

GIA, or the Gemological Institute of America’s color scale set the industry standard for grading diamond color. The universally accepted GIA diamond color chart begins at D (the highest of colorless designations) and ends with Z (light yellow or brown). 

Some may ask why the GIA diamond grading scale starts at D—instead of the first letter of the alphabet, A. The truth is that there were arcane systems used in decades prior to this standardized system. But they were faulty and didn’t produce the consistent results that our modern GIA color grading scale provides. So GIA set out to establish a uniform standardized system that would not confuse anyone into thinking they were still using outmoded grading systems. Today it is the most used, standardized guide for diamond color expression accepted the world over.

How To Choose The Right Diamond Color

Is there one ‘right’ diamond color for you? Well, of course, that depends on the consumer’s preference and budget. Few diamonds are found to be void of any slight body color. This absence of color in the crystal makes it the rarest and therefore, it will always be the most expensive. While many consumers set their sights on a D or E color grade, it’d also reasonable to select a beautiful “near colorless” stone to make the most of a budget. This leaves more of the budget to look for a larger stone, or one with higher clarity, or even the best cut affordable. Superb cuts simply gives greater sparkle.

Setting your preferences prior to purchasing a diamond hinges on what’s most important to you personally. While the jeweler can show you many options, in the end, you decide what’s best for you. Your decisions may help you save in areas less important to you, so you get the perfect stone of your dreams. It boils down to simply understanding how color affects the stone’s attributes and what your budget allows.

Good to Know Tips For Buying a Diamond

Here are some things to consider before buying. The body color a stone has is more apparent in the larger stones.  So let’s say you’re buying a diamond under 1 carat, you may select a stone in the I, J, or K color category. But larger stones over 1 carat? That’s when you may want to go up some grades in color, since it’s much more visible. You could look at stones around the H color grade or higher. 

But don’t forget this key point. The setting impacts the appearance of your diamond’s color. It works this way. For really white diamonds, go ahead and select a white metal to show it off. Whether you’re opting for 14K 18K gold, or platinum, the diamond will look icy white in any of those metals. But if your diamond has a visible yellowish or brownish tinge because it’s lower on the color chart, you will want to consider using yellow or rose gold. Those metal colors will actually make the diamond in its setting appear whiter. Those slightly yellowish diamonds benefit from yellow or rose gold. The faint tinge of these diamonds is dispersed by these warm hued metals,

The Shape of The Diamond Affect Its Color

Now this may seem we’re getting more technical, but it’s important to mention. Some fancy-shaped diamonds mask body color more effectively than others. So even if you had not considered certain shapes of diamonds prior to shopping, it’s worth a look. Round brilliant diamonds are often the priciest. This is because the round shape may utilize more of the rough stone, delivering a higher carat weight yield. Also some of the other diamond shapes, because they are less called for, can cost up to 25% less than a round-cut diamond. That makes a big difference in anyone’s budget no matter how much they have allocated for their bridal jewelry. Radiant, cushion, and princess cut and  diamonds as an example are known for masking diamond body color very well, because of their facet arrangement and extreme sparkle.

Fancy Color Diamonds are Completely Different 

These are separate from the diamonds classified as natural fancy color diamonds. This group can appear as almost any color you can imagine. Their color is pronounced and is the result of certain trace elements that appear in such density that it changes the color of the diamond. Diamonds have been found in almost any natural hue, including yellow, gray, white, green, pink, violet, blue, plus black diamonds and brown.

But for our purposes, we’re focusing on colorless diamonds, and how they are classified. With regard to colorless diamonds its color ranking is a vital trait that affects the stone’s beauty. This is good to know, however, when the ranking is closer to the top of the chart, the slight changes are often imperceptible to the unaided eye. And while the slightly lower grading is more affordable, it may not even be noticeable as being lower on the chart---and its’ beauty is unhampered. Shoppers might consider this fact when looking at diamonds they want to buy while keeping track of their budget.

You’re Ready to Shop

Now we know that the color grading scale covers a lot of details. There’s so much to learn, and even more to implement. So look over the GIA diamond color chart well before you head out to make your diamond jewelry purchase. Consider each point that impacts the color and beauty of the stone. And by considering the tips too, you are sure to land the diamond of your dreams and cherish your diamond for the rest of your life.