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Diamond Color

Diamond color refers to the presence or absence of color in a diamond. While most diamonds appear to be colorless, they often have some degree of yellow or brown tint. Most diamond grading labs grade diamonds on a spectrum of D to Z, with D being a diamond which is colorless.

The higher rated the diamond is on the spectrum (closer to D) the more valuable it will be (assuming the other factors are the same), unless it is a fancy colored diamond which are graded on a different scale.

The Diamond Color Scale

The color grading scale as mentioned before ranges from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow or brown).

  • D-F: Colorless – exceptional quality. No visible color even under magnification. Very rare, and often highly valued.
  • G-J: Near Colorless – Slight traces of color that are difficult to detect with the naked eye and unless compared to diamonds higher on the color scale. Great value and still very bright.
  • K-M: Faint Color – Noticeable warmth or yellow tint, especially in larger stones. Even with the presence of color, these diamonds can still emit fire and beauty.
  • N-Z: Very Light to Light Color – More noticeable color, often a brownish-yellow tint. In larger stones the color can be noticeable to an untrained naked eye.
Samples of Diamonds showing different color grades

Settings for Each Diamond Color Grade

The right type of setting can significantly influence how a diamond’s color is perceived. Matching the metal to the diamond’s hue can either highlight its color or mask any tint allowing you to make the most of your stone.

  • Colorless Diamonds (D-F): Platinum or White Gold – Since these diamonds are completely colorless, it makes sense to pair them with white metals to help maintain their icy brilliance without introducing any warm tones to the jewelry.
  • Near Colorless Diamonds (G-J): Platinum, White Gold, or Yellow Gold – Diamonds of these colors will generally look great in white metals, and using yellow gold for diamonds in the lower range (I, J) can help create a nice, warm contrast.
  • Faint Color Diamonds (K-M): Yellow or Rose Gold – Diamonds in this range have a noticeable tint, so setting them in yellow or rose gold can help make the tint less obvious. Platinum or white gold settings would make the tint more apparent.
  • Very Light and Light Colored Diamonds (N-Z): Yellow Gold, Rose Gold, Custom or Vintage Settings – These diamonds have more noticeable tint, which can look good in yellow gold or rose gold. Another option is to use custom or vintage-style settings to emphasize the design and possibly draw attention away from the color of the diamond.

Fancy Color Diamonds

In most cases, diamonds are valued for their lack of color, but fancy color diamonds are prized for their vivid hues. These diamonds contain trace amounts of certain elements during the formation process of the diamond, resulting in a unique color. They are rarer than colorless diamonds, especially the diamonds which have an intense color. These diamonds come in an array of colors, including yellow, pink, blue, green, brown, orange, purple and even red. Red diamonds are the rarest color, with an estimated 20 to 30 authentic red diamonds that are known to exist.