The colors of diamonds are as myriad as the rainbow. Among all,
colorless diamonds (also known as white diamonds) are the most popular
choice, and also form the parameter against which colored diamonds are
graded. The differences between various colors are subtle and it takes
a trained eye and comparison to a master set to understand the accuracy
and differences. These differences that appear minute, affect the price of the diamond. This ready reckoner has been designed to help buyers understand the various factors that affect the color of diamonds and how to purchase the most valuable stone.
Grades in color
Color Chart:
Just like cut, the GIA has established a set of guidelines for various
grades of color also. A lettering system starting from D to Z is
employed to grade various diamond colors . Among these, D grade is awarded to
highly rare and totally colorless diamonds.
Grades E and F are also
given to colorless diamonds while grades G, H and I are given to nearly
colorless diamonds.
Stones graded at K, L, M are faintly tinted in
yellow while diamonds with a slightly deeper tint visible to the naked
eye are graded at N, O, P, Q and R.
Grades S to Z are finally given to
those diamonds that are tinted deeper in yellow which progresses to a
brownish shade. The tint of grades S to Z is visible to the naked eye
even after the stone is mounted.
Finally the grade of Z+ is given to
fancy yellow diamonds. Many have wondered why the GIA grading system
begins strangely from D up to Z.
This is because earlier systems used
not only numbers for grading colors but also alphabets A, B and C.
These systems are still followed in a few places and in order to avoid
confusion between other grading systems and GIA, the organization
implemented this new system.
D Color Diamond (graded by GIA) side photo:
Low Colored Diamond (Brown Shade) side Photo:
Price and color of diamonds
Among the various grades of diamond color, keeping all other parameters
(cut , clarity and carat ) intact, the more colorless the stone, the
higher would be its value. Thus, a D to F grade stone would be quite
expensive as compared to stones of J to L grades and down to Z. However, purchasers
of S to Z grade diamonds need not despair that they are buying lower
quality diamonds. The diamond is of high quality, and will sparkle,
shine and glitter, whichever grade you buy.
Factors affecting color of diamonds
There are various factors that affect the color of a diamond. As a
buyer, it is important to understand these factors before purchasing a
stone.
Mounting of the stone
The metal on which a loose diamond is
mounted often makes plenty of difference to its appearance. For
example, if a light yellow diamond is mounted on white platinum or
silver, the stone will appear whiter. On the other hand if a colorless
diamond is mounted on gold it will look more yellowish. While
purchasing your stone it is thus vital to consider the metal it is
mounted upon, and how it will influence the original color of the
stone.
Color treatments
Various color treatments are also undertaken
for diamonds and colors can often be dramatically changed with these
treatments. One such prevalent treatment is the HP/HT processing where
high pressure and high temperatures are used to influence the color of
the stone. Besides these permanent treatments, various temporary
coatings can also be opted for to enhance a diamond's color.
Before
purchasing your diamond consider comparing between the different color
groups using Gemisimo price comparison engine!
we suggest you to notice
the big difference between the colorless diamonds search results and faint yellow diamond search results where
we feel the that with the right setting and by choosing a professional
jeweler you will save a lot of money and it will hardly be noticed.
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