Why is D the highest?

[VuittonGal]

Maybe this is a silly question, but I''m curious: Why does the diamond color scale start at the letter D?

 

[belle]

believe it or not, this has been asked before! maybe someone will come up with the link.

i''ll see if i can find it.

 

[bopitaddict]

Date: 6/23/2005 1:24:49 PM
Author: belle
believe it or not, this has been asked before! maybe someone will come up with the link.

here you go:

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/why-does-diamond-color-start-with-d-why-not-a.24129/

 

[Munchkin]

Hopefully an expert will chime in here, but in the meantime...

I believe an old color classification system used A, AA, etc. When the color classification system was revamped (to the one we are familiar with today), "D" was chosen as the colorless starting point so to avoid confusion with the old system.

Munchkin

 

[Spear]

Date: 6/23/2005 2:10:58 PM
Author: Munchkin

I believe an old color classification system used A, AA, etc. When the color classification system was revamped (to the one we are familiar with today), ''D'' was chosen as the colorless starting point so to avoid confusion with the old system.

Munchkin

This is the explanation that GIA gives in their courses, and since GIA created the D-Z system it must be the reason for the color scale to start with D instead of A.


However, (for the sake of curiosity) I read a different explanation somewhere. (Can''t remember were I read it though)
This explanation is as follows:
It may be possible for a diamond with less colour then D to exist in nature.
Unfortunately such diamonds have not been discovered yet, hence the scale starts with D.
lol

 

[Mara]

I think in the past it was discussed something along the lines of...

Before there was an official color classification system, the industry was using A, B and C for color grades. So I think when they started the color system for an official use, they started at D so that they would not be confused with any of the previous letters or the old systems. Can't recall who started the official color system, was it GIA?

May an expert can chime in, Richard, Dave, etc?

 

[belle]

gold star for bobitaddict! that is the link i was thinking of, with the explanation

thanks!

 

[oldminer]

The man who gave life to both the GIA and to AGS, Robert Shipley and his associates came up with using the D-Z scale. We are told it was to avoid confusion with other systems that used A, AA, AAA, B, C that already existed. It makes pretty good sense. There are not going to be any stones with less color than D. D is a rather easy color since there is no upper limit, but where E begins, D ends. All the other colors except Z have borderline situations on either their up or down side, making them a bit more difficult to delineate.

Where Z ends, Fancy color begins.....in Yellow, at least. This is a very blurred situation right now and probably will have a lot of attention paid to it over the coming years.