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Diamond Colour

Some of us have been entranced with stunning yellow, blue, pink, green and red diamonds - which are very rare.

Traditionally diamond engagement and wedding rings use clear diamonds. In this context the closer a diamond is to being completely colourless, the more valuable it becomes.

The colour of a diamond is judged on a scale established by the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) and the range is from D (colourless and therefore extremely valuable), through Near Colourless, Slightly Tinted, Very Light Yellow, Light Yellow, Yellow, to Light Fancy.

Often diamonds that appear colourless will still possess their own intrinsic colour and may have slight yellow, brown and grey tinges; admittedly in often-miniscule proportions, but enough that experts can identify. The colour can add character to a diamond – many of the world's most beautiful diamonds have colour in them.

The Diamond Colour Scales

There are three predominant grading scales: GIA, CIBJO AND AGS (as shown below) but it is without doubt the scale starting from D to Z which is today the most universally accepted one.

GIA 

AGS  

CIBJO
IDC

Colourless

D

0

Exceptional White +

E

1

Exceptional White

F

2

Rare White +

Near
Colourless

 G 

3

Rare White

H

4

White

  I

5

Slightly
Tinted White

  J

Faint
Yellow

  K

6

Tinted
White

  L

  M

7

Tinted

Color

Very
Light
Yellow

  N

  O

  8

  P

  Q

  R

  9

Light
Yellow

  S

  T

  U

  V

  10

  W

  X

  Y

  Z