Diamond Colour

Colour is probably the easiest quality to identify. Although there is only a very subtle difference between each colour grade this is a very important area to get right as this is one thing people will really notice. When we call a diamond white we are actually talking about the transparency of the diamond and the amount trace elements causing a tint or colouration in the diamond. In the white range of colours D-I there are three colour sections, exceptional white D and E, high white F and G and tinted white H and I. All of these grades will look great and will present up white but each will appear noticeably different when viewed beside each other. Colours F and G are what we consider to be standard high white and are the best value for money, the colour will never look inferior to the higher colours and will never show any tint of brown or yellow. Colours D and E are completely clear and have almost no tint of colour in them, they are exceptionally bright and are well worth spending the extra money if the budget allows. Both H and I colours by themselves will face up white and are great value they will only reveal the slightest tint of colour when compared against a higher grade diamond and are best explained as warm white. Any diamond of colour J or below will show an obvious tint of colour which dramatically decreases the price of the diamond as they slide lower down the scale.

How a Diamond is Graded for Colour

Diamonds are graded for their colour through the side of the diamond where there is very little refraction of light and the true colour of the diamond can be viewed against a standardised set of grading diamonds. When then viewed from the top of the stone how the colour presents itself is dependant on the quality of the cut and how well it refracts the light to help hide the colour. Although the diamond may be technically graded correct by most certifiers the quality of the cut and the type of certification can change the appearance of the colour of the diamond by up to three colour grades which is very significant and is often very reflective in the price of the diamond.

Diamond Colour Selection

When selecting a diamond the colour of the diamond is one of the main visible features of a good quality diamond. We recommend that a G colour diamond should be considered as the standard quality white diamond. Depending on your requirements and budget you can slide up or down from this standard point. This is quite an important feature to get correct and is probably the best quality to spend extra money on as it is the thing that people will really notice about a good diamond after the size.