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