Diamond Colour
Diamonds range in colour from colourless to light yellow to light brown. Colourless diamonds are the rarest and the most valuable.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has created a 12-letter alphabetical scale that is the industry standard for grading the colour of diamonds. Each letter represents a range of colour based on a diamond's tone and saturation. Every diamond is graded under controlled conditions – this is comparing a stone to a round brilliant diamond of known colour. These stones are called master stones.
This 12-letter alphabetical scale ranges from D- colourless to Z- light coloration. It is possible for a diamond to emit a colour more intense than a Z rating; these diamonds are called “Fancy Colour” diamonds. The value of an intensely coloured stone can jump dramatically, surpassing the value of a flawless diamond.
Fancy colours can include, canary yellow, blue, pink, champagne, green, red and even orange.
The colour of the diamond refers to how colourless the diamond is – perfectly white, colourless diamonds are extremely rare.
The colour of a diamond is determined by the Gemological Institute of America’s colour sale. This scale ranges from D (colourless) to Z (yellow).
Colourless
Near Colourless
Slightly Tinted
Slightly Yellow or Brown
Light Yellow or Brown
Chemistry – diamonds are made up of carbon, so when a diamond is formed other elements may be incorporated into the carbon, causing a reaction. Diamonds can also be enhanced – by altering their natural colour.
No, a natural diamond will never change colour.