Color
What is diamond color?
Diamond color is a grading system that determines the level of color present in a diamond. In fact, color grade determines the absence of color in a diamond.
White diamonds are graded from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow), a classification scale created by the Gemological Institute of America. As you go from D – Z, the diamond will go from having an icy, colorless appearance to exhibiting a brown or yellow tint.
With standardized grading, diamond buyers can make more informed purchases.
At Taylor & Hart, we only use GIA-graded center diamonds in our designs. Each diamond comes with an accompanying certificate stating its color, clarity, carat as well as a cut grade for round diamonds.
Grades D – F are colorless and icy white. These are the rarest color grades and therefore, carry the highest price.
Grade G – J are nearly colorless, with distinctions so subtle most are indistinguishable to the untrained eye. Diamonds in the near colorless scale won’t exhibit a noticeable tint in most cases.
The color grade system goes all the way to Z, however we recommend, and only sell, a color grade M and above. You can browse diamonds with a color grade D-J on our diamond search. Speak directly with one of our consultants if you’re looking for a diamond with a color grade K-M.
What diamond color grade is the best?
When it comes to diamond color grading, a colorless diamond is incredibly rare and carries a premium because of this. The higher the color grade, the less color there is present in the diamond. The lower the grade, the diamond will likely exhibit a very slight yellow or brown tint.
Similarly to most diamond characteristics, choosing your diamond color really does depend on your personal preference.
If having the highest diamond quality is important to you, we’d recommend choosing a color D, E or F diamond that is in the colorless. These diamonds are incredibly rare, which is reflected in the premium price point of diamonds in the colorless category.
If you’d prefer to spread your budget and balance the 4 Cs of diamond quality across other elements, it would mean you could select a color grade G-J. The color difference between these grades and the colorless category is minor and not visible to the untrained eye. This would allow you to choose a diamond with a greater clarity grade or carat weight, striking a great balance between value and overall aesthetic.
Expert Advice
If your diamond is going to be set in 18 karat yellow or rose gold, you can choose a diamond with a slightly lower color grade. The warmer color tones present in the metal will accentuate the bright white appearance of the diamond.
For the best overall value, a G-H diamond from the near colorless category is a great choice. The visible difference between these grades and grades in the colorless category is minor, but you could make huge savings.
Kate Earlam-Charnley, Design Director
What diamond color is the most popular?
The most frequent diamond color we see amongst our customers is F. This is closely followed by E and G.
E and F colors are in the colorless category while G is in the near colorless category – all diamonds in the colorless and near colorless category will appear bright and white in appearance.
How does fluorescence impact diamond color?
Another aspect of diamond color is fluorescence, a blue glow that appears when you expose a diamond to UV light.
According to the GIA, fewer than 0.2% of diamonds with extremely strong fluorescence may appear hazy or oily in natural daylight. When choosing a diamond, consider fluorescence last.