| There are 4 general ways to classify a diamond: | | | | considered to be the world's chief authority in |
| Clarity, Color, Cut, and Carat. These are referred | | | | gemology. The D-Z scale put an end to many of |
| to as the 4 C's of diamonds and provide a | | | | the numerous terms that were developed to |
| standardized way of evaluating diamonds. Color, | | | | describe a diamonds color as well as many |
| or the lack of, is an extremely important and | | | | conflicting scales. |
| often times incredibly diverse characteristic of | | | | This scale assigns each diamond a character D-Z |
| diamonds. Diamonds come in a variety of colors. | | | | from the alphabet; hence it is called the D-Z Scale. |
| Among some of the natural colors found in | | | | Diamonds that are rated D-F are considered to be |
| diamonds are orange, grey, blue, red, and black. | | | | Colorless. These diamonds are extremely unusual |
| Most of the time interstitial impurities or structural | | | | and costly. Diamonds that are assigned a G-J are |
| defects in the diamond are responsible for | | | | considered to be Near Colorless. Near Colorless |
| changes in color. The exception to this are | | | | diamonds are still considered to be above |
| diamonds that, when exposed to radiation, turn | | | | average, but are usually less expensive than |
| green in color. Pure diamonds are diamonds that | | | | Colorless diamonds. These types of diamonds are |
| are structurally and chemically untainted and are | | | | a great buy and an alternative to the pricier |
| completely transparent. These types of diamonds | | | | Colorless Diamonds. |
| are very rare and incredibly expensive. | | | | Diamonds that are assigned a K-M, N-R, and S-Z |
| Nitrogen impurity is the most common cause of | | | | are considered to be faint yellow, very light |
| color in a diamond. Often this leads to a yellow or | | | | yellow, and light yellow. These types of diamonds |
| brown diamond. In much rarer cases warping of a | | | | are considered to be of lower quality and the |
| diamonds crystal's during the growth stage can | | | | imperfections are obvious to an untrained eye. |
| cause the diamonds to exhibit pink, red, or brown | | | | There is one final class of Diamonds. This is the |
| colors. | | | | Fancy Colored Diamonds. This is reserved for |
| In the early years of diamond grading there were | | | | diamonds that are very brightly colored. Fancy |
| many different and confusing methods of | | | | diamonds, like the red diamond, are extremely |
| describing a diamonds color. The Gemological | | | | rare and can be very pricey. This is not always |
| Institute of America (GIA) changed all of this | | | | the case though because it is possible to get |
| when they developed the D-Z Grading Scale. The | | | | some great deals on green, blue, or bright yellow |
| GIA, founded by Robert Shipley in 1931, is | | | | diamonds. |