Color
Normal, ‘white’ diamonds actually have some degree of yellow tint and are graded according to how noticeable the yellow is. Diamond color is graded on a scale from ‘D’ to ‘X’ with D being the best color grade. The scale is defined as follows:
DEF – Colorless
GHIJ – Near Colorless
KLM – Faint Yellow
NOPQR – Very Light Yellow
STUVWX – Light Yellow
In practice, in diamonds with color from D – J you will not be able to observe any yellow color with the naked eye. A good rule of thumb to remember is that you may need to use a whiter colored diamond in a setting made of silver, white gold or platinum. Yellow gold settings will make a yellower stone less noticeable.
Diamonds are also available in a range of colors, called ‘fancy’ color diamonds. These diamonds come in all the colors of the rainbow and they are graded differently to ‘white’ diamonds. Fancy diamonds are described by their primary color and a description of how strong the color is:
1. Faint
2. Very Light
3. Light
4. Fancy Light
5. Fancy
6. Fancy Dark
7. Fancy Intense
8. Fancy Deep
9. Fancy Vivid
So for example you might see a diamond rated as ‘Light Pink’ or ‘Fancy Intense Blue’.
The availability of fancy colors is one of the great features about created diamonds. Created diamonds can be purchased in a wide range of colors for a similar price. In comparison, good quality fancy colored natural diamonds sell for incredible sums. For example, fancy vivid pink natural diamonds can sell for well over $250,000 per carat!