Know more about colored diamonds and how important it is in considering to buy your next dream 4 carat diamond ring on hand. While color has an impact on price, there are a few factors to consider when deciding which color grade is best for you.
What makes us your trusted partner
With over 40 years of expertise, Diamond Registry’s CEO and owner, Nissan Perla, is your trusted guide in the diamond-buying world. Recognized by prestigious publications like The Washington Post and Chicago Tribune, Nissan’s extensive knowledge and experience in evaluating, buying, and selling diamonds are unparalleled. Our commitment to integrity, transparency, and delivering exceptional value ensures that you make an informed decision when acquiring your timeless treasure. Choose Diamond Registry for personalized guidance, education, and a curated selection of the finest quality diamonds, backed by decades of industry expertise and dedication to your satisfaction.
THE GIA DIAMOND COLOR SCALE
The color spectrum for white or colorless diamonds is graded from D to Z by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The “normal color range” encompasses all stones within that range.
The less colored diamonds are the ones to be considered highly-priced. As a result, the lower the grade, the more color (yellow or brown). Yellow and brown diamonds that pass the Z grade, on the other hand, immediately increase in value. Along with pink, green, and blue diamonds, such diamonds have enough color to be deemed “fancy diamond.” (These diamonds are automatically classified as a fancy diamond when their saturation is high enough to reveal these hues.)
Diamond value rises exponentially with each grade increase, as it does with other diamond grading schemes. (On the other hand, when the color grade lowers, value reduces exponentially.) Diamonds of any carat size have value and are used in jewelry, however, diamonds with color grades of L and V are less common. And, because of the varying degrees of hue that you may come across when shopping for diamonds, it’s a good idea to get a GIA certificate for each diamond you look at.
The GIA Diamond Color Guide D-Z scale is divided into five categories:
- Colorless — D, E, F.
- Near Colorless — G, H, I, J.
- Faint — K, L, M.
- Very Light — N, O, P, Q, R.
- Light — S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.
WHY DOES THE GIA COLOR GRADING SYSTEM START AT D?
A variety of different schemes were informally adopted until GIA established the D-Z Color Grading Scale. Letters of the alphabet (A, B, and C, with multiple As for the greatest stones), Arabic (0, 1, 2, 3) and Roman (I, II, III) numbers, and descriptors like “gem blue” and “blue white” were among them. All of these grading methods resulted in inconsistency and inaccuracy. Because the developers of the GIA Color Scale intended to start from scratch, without any ties to previous systems, they picked the letter D as the starting point—a letter grade that isn’t generally associated with high quality.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WHITE DIAMOND AND A FANCY DIAMOND?
When is color a good thing? Diamonds come in a variety of hues, including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, pink, purple, and more, as previously noted. Colored diamonds are what we call them. Natural color is found in just one out of every 10,000 diamonds, and the more vivid the color, the more expensive the diamond. A fancy diamond is rated on a different scale than a white diamond, and it can be much more precious.
WHAT IS THE BEST COLOR DIAMONDS?
The D color grade is the highest quality color grade a diamond can achieve, and it is sometimes referred to as a diamond’s “best color.”
It’s a little more difficult than that, though. While a D color diamond has the greatest color, the price difference between a D color diamond and a diamond with a lesser color grade but the almost comparable look can be significant.
Overall, the ideal color diamond is the one that best suits one’s personal likes and preferences, the diamond’s form, the setting metal, and your budget.
BUYING TIP
Look for G-J diamonds for the best value in what seems to be less of a color diamond to the human eye. Choose G-H in diamonds over 1 carat and I-J in diamonds under 1 carat since color is easier to notice in bigger stones. These diamonds will seem to be better color grade diamonds if set in a ring. Invest in better cut, the most significant aspect in a diamond’s brilliance, rather than higher color.
