When it comes to evaluating the quality of a diamond, colour plays a significant role. The colour of a diamond is one of the "Four C's," along with cut, clarity, and carat weight, that all contribute to its overall value. Diamond colour grading has a rich history and has evolved into a precise and standardized grading process in the world of gemology.
The diamond colour grading scale ranges from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). The official process of grading diamond colour started with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), which introduced the modern diamond colour grading scale in the 1950's. They wanted to start afresh without any confusion from previous grading systems and so started with 'D' - the top of the range. Before this, diamond color grading was much more subjective and inconsistent.
Diamond colour is determined by evaluating the presence and intensity of a diamond's body colour. Colourless diamonds are therefore highly sought after for their purity and brilliance. As you move down the colour scale, diamonds begin to show more visible hints of yellow, grey or brown. However, some coloured diamonds, known as fancy diamonds, actually possess vibrant and rare colours like pink, blue, or green.
Diamond colour grading is typically done under controlled lighting conditions to ensure accuracy and consistency. Gemologists use master stones of known, agreed colour grades as standards to compare and assess the colour of a diamond being graded.
Understanding diamond colour grading allows consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing diamonds. Whether selecting a colourless diamond for its classic beauty or opting for a fancy coloured diamond for its uniqueness, it is important to understand the system. For example, if you are budgeting for your purchase and colour is one of the 4 C's that is important to you, you may want to put this above the other 3 C's when looking for the perfect diamond stone. You may also want to lower the colour of your diamond, in order to make you budget stretch elsewhere, for example, the carat size.
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