Basic 4C's
	Introduction
	Diamond Grading Report
	Diamond Carat Weight
	Diamond Cut
	Diamond Clarity
	Diamond Color
	Diamond Anatomy
	What to buy?
Fancy Cut Diamonds
	Fancy Shapes
	Princess Cut Diamond
	Radiant Cut Diamonds
	Emerald Cut Diamonds
	Asscher Cut Diamonds
	Cushion Cut Diamonds
	Oval Cut Diamonds
	Marquise Cut Diamond
	Pear Cut Diamonds
	Heart Cut Diamonds
	Trillion Cut Diamonds
Advanced Info
	Tolkowsky Ideal Cut
	Crown and Pavilion
	Holloway Cut Adviser
	AGS Ideal Cut
	Firescope & Ideal-Scope
	Hearts and Arrows Diamonds
	Table Size
	Fish-eye
	60:60
	Spread
	Diamond Girdle Thickness
	Diamond Culet
	Diamond Symmetry
	Diamond Polish
	Diamond Fluorescence
	Proportion Scanners
	Brilliance, Fire and Scintillation
	Diamond Glare
	Pricing & Lab's
	Treatments & Synthetics
	Investment
AGA Cut Grading
	Round Brilliant
	Princess
	Emerald & Radiant
	Marquise, Pear, Oval, Heart
	Glossary
	References
	Disclaimer
Further Reading
	Diamond Prices
	Engagement rings
	Diamonds :)

Diamond Color

Most diamonds have a hint of yellow or brown. The rarest and most expensive are D or Icy white - on a scale that goes to Z and is yellowish (or brownish). (More color than Z is graded as a 'fancy' color).

Below 1ct about half the people in my "blind Pepsi taste tests" can tell the difference between D and H colored diamonds, at I and lower, most people can see the faint tint of yellow. But diamonds over 5ct it is easier to pick G from D, and prices reflect that. Color also has more influence on prices in higher clarity grades.

We grade Color by placing diamonds face down and comparing them to color master stones with special lighting

Glassy looking cuts like Asscher and Emerald cut diamonds show more color than ideal cut rounds; brighter cuts face up more colorless; you can see their color when you look from the side.

It is easier to see the color of a diamond in a white setting (platinum or white gold). If you have a yellowish diamond, then setting it in a rubbed over bezel style setting can improve the apparent color by a couple of grades.

Some people just prefer warmer colors (J-L) others want to save money, get a bigger diamond or a better cut.

As with all the 4C's, color is a subject of preferences which can depend on cultural, social, or national background. Some nations prefer a higher clarity and are prepared to sacrifice color for "purity".

Fluorescent diamonds with a bluish tint (about 30% of diamonds) usually appear more colorless.

Trivia: When GIA developed the D-Z grading system they avoided A-C because some dealers use A1 to C3 for 'in-house' grading systems. There will never be better color than D!

Next Diamond Tutorial: Diamond Anatomy ť

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