The diamond color scale, something to behold! Like the other 4C’s of diamonds, color has a huge impact on how much the stone is worth. So, wouldn’t you like to actually be familiar with the color aspect of diamonds so that you can make a wise decision at the jewelry counter? For your information, the other 3C’s are diamond cut, diamond carat weight, and diamond clarity.
The Diamond Color Scale Explained
We are here to help you understand the diamond color scale. And, show you the true importance of color when it comes to picking a precious gem. It may seem like this 4C thing is a little intense, but hey, this is an intense purchase- So, suck it up and learn something!
What is Diamond Color?
Diamond color is the color of the diamond…duh! Diamond colors range from what seems to be a clear translucent sort of stone to a more yellowy-colored gem. Obviously, the bling-bling we usually see on the rings are clear and sparkly, which is what all diamonds aim to be. Of course, nobody is perfect.
You’re a guy, you fell in love with a girl and she’s so great you want to ask her to take the vow. Before you get there, you have this deep-seated desire to make the lady see that you are the greatest guy on the planet. I don’t mean ‘buying her love.’ It’s showing her love. Like the story of the great industrialist who began his career at the rock bottom.
When he met the girl, he wished to marry he poured a small bag of peanuts into her hands and said, “I wish they were diamonds.” Many years later after he made his wealth, for one of their last anniversaries together he poured a small sack of diamonds into her hands and said, “I wish they were peanuts.” If you have the romantic chops, you can do it! Diamond color really does matter to her!
Then think about other cultures, like my friend. He fell in love with a lady while in Mozambique and wished to marry. To impress her with his ‘vast knowledge’ of African culture, he told her the story of The Ten Cow Woman. The story goes that in this one African village a woman’s worth was viewed according to how many cows a man was willing to pay the father for a marriage contract.
So this young man noticed that in a family of beautiful sisters, one girl stayed back, out of the limelight. She didn’t smile, her hair hung. Not an attractive young lady at all. But the man went to her father and announced he wished to pay 10 cows for her hand. The father and the whole village was shocked, because who would ever give such an amazing amount for this girl? One cow, maybe two, but ten?
Diamonds are natural gems made from carbon combined with the pressure and heat of the earth, so it’s no wonder they get some bumps and bruises along the way. The color of the diamond is naturally compromised when chemical impurities infuse the stone.
Diamond Color Scale
Now, of course, because it’s a science or whatever, there is a scale to determine the purity of the color. The scale tends to be confusing with its alphabet letter rating. But, don’t worry, we’ll dumb it down for you a little. We want this to be as stress-free and easy-to-understand as possible.
For regular colored diamonds, which would be considered white diamonds, the scale runs from D-Z. A D grade diamond is the best you can get. It is colorless to the human eye and sparkles brightly. A Z Grade diamond looks almost yellow. It is considered a lesser quality diamond. But, hey- they’re still beautiful to us!
Fancy Diamond Color Scale
Of course, it can’t be that easy-peasy! There is also a separate scale for fancier colors such as true yellows, pinks, and blues.
Diamond Color Myths, Busted – Diamond Color Chart
They married and soon something happened. The woman began smiling. She braided her hair. Her clothes were clean and lovely…people noticed. She walked everywhere like a beautiful queen because now she felt her life was that valuable to her beloved husband. After telling this story my friend smiled at his girlfriend as if to say, ‘Pretty cool, huh?’ Only to have his lady demurely reply, “My ex-husband gave twenty cows for me.”
Thirty cows later they were happily married.
Personally, I think an engagement ring, as a token of love, sounds much easier! Yes, you want to give this lady the best engagement ring you can. However, like all guys not named Bill Gates, you don’t have the cash to buy a monster-sized rock. That’s not a problem; you can still find her a ring that will make her eyes pop while not sending you into soul-crushing debt for the next 20 years. It just takes a bit of study.
There are four main areas to look at when buying a diamond. These are known as 4C’s – They are color, cut, clarity and carat weight. Let’s talk about color. With diamonds the less color the higher the value. A pure, structurally perfect stone is colorless. Like a single, fresh raindrop. According to the Gemological Institute of America (the GIA), this lack of color raises the diamond’s value.
Grading diamond color is determined via the GIA’s system.
This measures colorlessness under controlled lighting and comparisons to master stones of established color value. The final grade is on a D-Z scale so when you see a D-H-N or Z under a diamond description you’ll know what it means. D meaning the least color.
Here’s the good news: while differences in color can make a very big difference in price, the color distinctions are so subtle that they are invisible to the untrained eye. So this means you could find a perfect, clear stone for $5,000.00.
Yet, you could also find a diamond of less than perfect color, looks the same as the colorless one, but costs $1,500. Which one interests your wallet? Hey, me too, buddy. Me, too!
This chart loves to use the word “fancy” because in the diamond world the rarity of the gem means a higher price tag. A general rule for colored diamonds is the more intense and vivid the color, the more expensive it’s going to be.