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Diamond Color:
In general, the
less color a diamond has, the more valuable it
is, all other factors being equal. Diamonds are
found in nature in a wide range of colors, from
completely colorless (the most desirable trait)
to slightly yellow, to brown. So-called fancy
color diamonds come in more intense colors, like
yellow and blue, but these are not graded on the
same scale.
Diamond color is
difficult to discern when a diamond is viewed
face-up. Therefore, the grader turns the diamond
facedown against a pure white surface under
carefully controlled light. The diamond grader
compares the diamond to a so-called master stone
to determine color. A master stone is a diamond
of a predetermined color that is used for
comparison.
The color grading
system for diamonds uses the letters of the
alphabet from D through Z, with D being the most
colorless and therefore the rarest and most
valuable, and Z having the most yellow and the
least valuable. A diamond's color is determined
by looking at it under controlled lighting and
comparing them to the Gemological Institute of
America's color scale.
Colorless:
D - E -F
The highest color grade, extremely white
and very rare.
Near
Colorless:
G - H -
I - J
Color slightly noticeable only when
compared to diamonds of better grades.
They appear colorless when viewed
through the "face up" position or
through the table,
these diamonds do not appear to have any
color in normal circumstances. These
grades offer excellent value, and appear
completely white when mounted.
Faint
Yellow:
K - L - M -
Color slightly detectable to the human
eye, but still a nice diamond.
This grading range offers some nice
diamonds if they are proportioned
properly. A well cut diamond of the K-L
color range will still appear mostly
colorless and can save you a good deal
of money over a color grade of a higher
range. Again, the cut is the key to
keeping the stones of slight tint
beautiful.
Very Light
Yellow:
N to Z
The lower colors "N" through "Z" have an
increasing amount of yellow tint,
ranging through the off colors and
ending at the end of the scale, beyond
which diamonds are considered to have a
fancy yellow color. |
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