Diamond Engagement Rings, Diamonds and Fine Wedding Jewelry - Perfect Diamonds

Evaluating a Diamonds Color with the Grading System

diamond buyers guide

Cut, Carats & Clarity

Evaluating Diamonds Color

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What exactly is Diamond Color? When you think of a diamond most people think of the classic, colorless diamond. The colors of diamonds actually range from colorless all the way to a black diamond. There are different saturations of diamond color and tones. The diamonds color is one of personal preference, so be sure to do a little research before making your final selection, as the price of fancy color diamonds can be quite costly.

The Gemological Institute of America, known as the GIA for short, is the most commonly used system for evaluating diamond color. They've created something known as the GIA Color Grade Scale, and it has placed a grading system on the many different colors and shades of diamonds, classifying into 22 letter grades.

How Diamonds are Graded

The Gemological Institute of America has certified diamond color grades as master color comparison diamonds. When a diamond is being graded, it is compared against these master color comparison grades, to find the shades that match it most closely. The diamond that is being graded must be thoroughly cleaned and all oil must be removed from the surface before being examined, since even small amounts of dirt or oils on the surface of the diamond can alter the color.

A line of master color comparison diamonds or shade chart is set up, with each grade placed about one inch apart, ranging from the lightest and highest graded D shade, to the darkest, graded Z diamonds. The diamond color that is being graded is moved from the left side of the comparison units to the right, until it matches one of the shades.

GIA Diamond Color Chart

The Black Orloff Diamond

Diamond grading should take place in a colorless environment, using a balanced fluorescent light source that has a filtered, cool white sun like ray. The room where the grading takes place is dark, all except for the special grading light, in order to obtain the most accurate grading of the diamond color.

Fluorescence of Diamonds

Yet another consideration when considering the diamond color is diamond fluorescence, and how it will effect the actual appearance in the diamond color. Fluorescence causes some diamonds to change color when viewed in our everyday, ultraviolet lighting, as well as under fluorescent light bulbs.

When a diamond color is graded, the strength of the fluorescence of that diamond must also be indicated. It may be considered to be strong, moderate, or weak fluorescence, and the diamond's grading report must also indicate what color the diamond will change to due to the fluorescence.

You can ask your jeweler to provide grading documentation and information about the fluorescent value of a particular diamond before purchasing, to make sure that you will be happy with the diamond you buy. Many jewelers also can show you their diamonds under different lighting conditions which will enable you to fully appreciate the beauty of the diamond before you buy it. Some individuals like a diamond color with a darker shade, while others are insistent on the colorless diamond.

If You Want to Buy a Diamond, Learn something about Diamonds

The internet has tons of information about diamonds, and believe it or not, there are jewelers who will not differentiate a diamonds cut from a diamonds shape. The focus tends to be on carat weight and has tried to forget about the other 3 characteristics of a diamond.

Here's another great reason to start learning about diamonds. Remember this saying: Diamonds are a girls best friend. You want to win your girl's heart and yet you do not know anything about diamonds? Don't get yourself scammed before you even present a diamond engagement ring to her. Anyway, you aren't trying to get a qualification in gemology, so it won't take you years or months to learn something about diamonds. There are plenty of articles and information on the 4Cs of a diamond. Spend some useful time on the internet and learn all you have time for about diamonds. Who knows, you may become an expert in diamonds.

And, finally, prioritize the 4 c's of diamonds. There are much more about diamonds than just the 4Cs. But at the end of the day, the 4Cs of diamonds are still the major factors influencing the quality and price of the diamond you'll eventually buy.