Diamonds are found in nature in a wide range of colors, from completely
colorless (the most desirable trait) to slightly yellow, to brown, and
then to “fancy” colors, such as blues, greens, bright yellows,
pinks, and even reds. Most diamonds selected for wedding bands are white
(clear) or nearly white. A diamond's color is permanent, never changing
over time. To be accurately graded for color, diamonds need to be “loose” or
unmounted.
Acting as a prism, a diamond divides light into the colors of the spectrum
and reflects this light as colorful flashes called fire. Like light passing
through a clear glass window, a colorless diamond allows more light to
pass through it than a colored diamond. Because colorless diamonds give
off more sparkle and fire, whiter diamonds have a greater value.
To grade ‘whiteness’, or how clear a diamond is, GIA's color
scale begins with the highest rating of D (colorless), and ends with
Z (concentrated yellows or browns). The color difference between individual
steps such as from an F to a G, or from a G to an H, is very slight,
yet a single change in color grade can significantly affect a diamond's
value. As the chart shows, D, E, and F are considered Colorless, G, H,
I, and J are Near Colorless, and all of these top seven grades appear
colorless when the diamond is mounted. |
Although most people buy the whitest diamond they can afford, many
people actually prefer the warmer glow of lower-color diamonds such as
grades K through N. While a very faint hint of yellow may be apparent
in these diamonds, the color can often be minimized by carefully selecting
the right jewelry in which to mount them.
Fluorescence
Fluorescence is an effect that causes some diamonds to glow in the dark
when
exposed to black light. Florescence is not detectable to the naked eye
in
daylight or under most other lighting conditions and is just another
unique
identifying characteristic.
Our Take: D, E, and F colors are fabulous,
but are frequently out of the price range for many people. Don’t
hesitate to choose a diamond in the Near Colorless range (G, H, I, and
J), if doing so allows you to buy a larger stone or spend less. Most
jewelry professionals and consumers realize the excellent value of these
diamonds because they face up colorless when mounted. |
