Every diamond is unique, which is one of the reasons diamonds are so treasured But, even though your diamond will be special to you because of its individuality and what it represents, it is still a good idea to go shopping with a good understanding of what makes for a quality diamond. Learning about the color of loose diamonds helps you to make the best buying decision.
Other than the fancy diamond exceptions like yellow, pink and blue diamonds, we don’t think of these stones as having color. When we measure the color of a traditional, or “white” diamond, we are actually measuring its lack of color. The closer to “colorless” your loose diamond, the brighter it appears and the more it will sparkle. Almost all diamonds possess some color, but much of it is invisible to the naked eye.
Color Grades
Diamonds are graded by color, just as by cut and clarity. The grades break down into these categories:
- D, E, F – Colorless. All three of these grades are clear enough that you will not notice a difference between them. These diamonds are very rare.
- G,H, I – Near Colorless – When facing up, these diamonds display no color. Turned upside down, a small amount of color may be visible, even to the naked eye. However, since diamonds are set right side up, you will never notice the color when choosing these grades of diamonds.
- K – Faint Color – These diamonds have some visible color in the face up position. This grade is a great choice if you plan to set your diamond in yellow gold. The diamond will pick up some color from the setting anyway, so you lose nothing by choosing this grade for your jewelry.
When you purchase a diamond, your goal should be to get the best overall diamond for your budget. This means sacrificing in certain areas to get a better grade in another area. Most diamond experts agree that choosing a diamond from the D, E, or F color grade is a waste of money for most consumers. G, H, and I graded diamonds are your best value for the money because any color in the diamond will be invisible to the naked eye, particularly after the loose diamond is set into a piece of jewelry.
You can make your best purchase by considering all four c’s of diamonds. Color, however, is often one of the least important. As long as you remember to choose a diamond that is mid-range in color, you will be able to get a beautiful diamond without spending too much money.
