| Diamonds can be found in every color of the | | | | generally reduces its value with higher |
| rainbow from clear, colorless (white) to | | | | levels of fluorescence reducing the value the |
| black as coal. Some colors like blue, red, | | | | greatest. |
| and green are extremely rare and very | | | | |
| valuable. Brown is the most common color of | | | | There are some processes, like High Pressure |
| diamond with about 80% of diamonds used for | | | | High Temperature (HPHT) or irradiation, which |
| industrial purposes like drill bits and saw | | | | can alter the color of a diamond. With |
| blades. For most diamond shoppers, their goal | | | | certain types of brown diamonds, the HPHT |
| is to find a diamond as white (colorless) as | | | | process can produce Colorless or Near |
| their budget will allow. | | | | Colorless color. With HPHT, other types of |
| | | | brown diamonds can be converted to fancy |
| Most diamonds suitable for gem use have trace | | | | colors like yellowish-green, greenish-yellow, |
| elements of nitrogen that causes some level | | | | and even shades of pink or blue. Irradiation |
| of yellow tint. The diamond industry uses a | | | | can result in a variety of fancy colors, even |
| color grading system developed by the | | | | though they are often visibly different |
| Gemological Institute of America (GIA) that | | | | shades than natural colored diamonds. |
| ranges from D (completely colorless) to Z | | | | |
| (fancy yellow color). Each letter grade | | | | Yellow is the most common and affordable of |
| corresponds to a small range of color and the | | | | the colored gem diamonds. There are four |
| color grade of a diamond is determined by | | | | color-grades of yellow diamonds with enough |
| comparing it to a set of master stones whose | | | | saturation to be rated Fancy Yellow; Fancy |
| color grade has been determined by a grading | | | | Light Yellow, Fancy Yellow, Fancy Intense |
| laboratory like the GIA. | | | | Yellow and Fancy Vivid Yellow. Each deeper |
| | | | shade brings a higher price. |
| The top three color-grades D, E and F are | | | | |
| considered Colorless. Color-grades G, H, I, | | | | What do these color grades, fluorescence, and |
| and J are known as the Near Colorless and | | | | color treatments mean to the diamond shopper? |
| color grades K, L and M are labeled Faint | | | | There are many color grades between the top D |
| Yellow. It is important to have the color | | | | color and J, which is the bottom of the Near |
| grade designated by one of the top diamond | | | | Colorless range, with the price of a D being |
| grading laboratories such as the GIA | | | | about double that of J color. Most of the |
| (Gemological Institute of America) or AGS | | | | difference in price is at the lower color |
| (American Gem Society). Color grades on other | | | | grades where there is also the most visible |
| documentation can be exaggerated and not | | | | difference to the eye. The price increase |
| accurate relative to industry standards. | | | | from a J to I can be about 20% while from an |
| | | | E to D is closer to 2%. Diamond shoppers need |
| The bigger the diamond, the more obvious its | | | | to examine diamonds with their own eyes so |
| color will be, just as a carafe of wine shows | | | | they can determine what color they will be |
| more color than a glassful. Some shapes of | | | | happy with relative to the price. |
| diamonds show more color than others do. | | | | |
| Shapes like the princess cut are relatively | | | | Most shoppers find that for well cut round |
| bottom heavy and have more diamond material | | | | diamonds, I color provides a nice, white |
| to look through. Individuals see shades of | | | | color and a good value. Fancy shaped diamonds |
| yellow differently and some shoppers prefer | | | | tend not to be as brightly faceted as the |
| the warm look of the Near Colorless range | | | | round brilliant cut so H color is an |
| rather than the cold, whiteness of the | | | | excellent choice for value and beauty. |
| Colorless grades. | | | | However, some shoppers will prefer and can |
| | | | afford higher colors and other shoppers will |
| Another factor that influences diamond color | | | | choose lower colors based on what they find |
| is fluorescence. About a fourth of diamonds | | | | appealing to their eye and their budget. |
| have a characteristic that when exposed to | | | | |
| ultraviolet light, they glow a color, usually | | | | Avoid diamonds with high levels of |
| blue. The fluorescence is no longer visible | | | | fluorescence or any kind of color enhancement |
| once the light source is removed. The | | | | unless you specifically want that, have been |
| intensity of the fluorescence can vary from | | | | properly advised, and are paying the lower |
| Faint, which is barely visible to Very | | | | corresponding price. Beware of jewelry stores |
| Strong, which is easily visible in a brightly | | | | who stock larger number of diamonds with |
| lighted room. A little blue fluorescence can | | | | fluorescence or will not show you the GIA |
| sometimes make Near Colorless diamonds appear | | | | grading report before you purchase. A |
| even whiter than their true color. Some very | | | | merchant who is hiding these factors from you |
| strong fluorescent diamonds appear milky or | | | | is certainly not someone you want to trust |
| oily in appearance and thus not as clear. The | | | | with your important diamond purchase. |
| presence of fluorescence in a diamond | | | | |