Diamond Color and Clarity

Diamond color is an ironic name because it refers to the absence of color. Diamond color and clarity is really about what is NOT there. The less color the more valuable the stone.

Of course we've all heard of some pink, purple, and blue diamonds to name a few (just ask Mariah Carey) but these are considered fancy-color diamonds not white diamonds. They sit outside of the color range we're discussing here and are not included in the standard color chart. Fancy-color diamonds are very rare and very pricey and unlike white diamonds they are judged on the intensity of color rather than the absence of color.

Engaging fact: Diamonds that have a color other than clear are called "fancy colors" and cost a pretty penny. J. Lo's 6.1 carat rock from Ben Affleck was a pink diamond worth apparently $1.2 million. It's back at Harry Winston's if you have the dough.

The goal in purchasing a white diamond (which is what you will find in most jewelry stores) is that it be entirely colorless. These reflect the most light and inherently have the best and most coveted brilliance and shine.

Diamond Color and Clarity Chart :


The diamond color grade scale goes from colorless to near-colorless which contains traces of browns and yellows. Each grade is assigned a letter value going from D (which means colorless) to Z (which is referred to as near-colorless) and has a range of benchmark colors associated to it.

So just remember the following when evaluating diamond color and clarity:
 

D E F = Colorless G H I J = Near Colorless K L M = Faint Color N O P Q R = Very Light Color S T U V W X Y Z = Light Color

A jump from one letter to the next (even within a grade) can mean a difference of thousands of dollars and reflects on the 'quality' of the stone. The 'theory' behind diamond color and clarity is that the more yellow the diamond, the less it will shine.

Now let's move on to the next of the 4Cs: Diamond Carat.

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