Diamonds: The Four Cs - Diamond Colour

The first quality grade of a diamond is its colour grade. Diamonds occur naturally in all spectral colours, from red to blue. However, the most commonly occurring colours are yellow and brown. The amount of colour a diamond possesses corresponds to the alphabetical scale show below, beginning with D and ending with Z (the originators of the system began with D in case a whiter diamond was ever found!).

Diamonds of a colourless grade in the D - F range are much more valuable than those in the L - P range because of the rarity of colourless diamonds. The affect of colour on the cost of a diamond can be dramatic. Two diamonds of the same weight, clarity, size and shape can have a cost difference of over 100% between a colour F and J. The colour of your diamond will be a matter of personal taste. So if you don't like the colour, spend more money!

The less colour a diamond carries the more sought after it becomes. colour to a diamond is likened to that of sunlight to the sky. The less colour a diamond possesses the less impedance it has to its brilliance. colourless diamonds allow light to be untainted and reflects light and brilliance to its highest potential. Our shop carries the best grade of colourless diamonds.

While we may think of diamonds as being colourless, they can have hints of yellow or brown. Truly colourless diamonds, ranked D - F on the diamond quality pyramid, comprise the highest grade of colour. Near colourless, or white diamonds are ranked G - J. Diamonds labeled K and L are also called top silver: M and N are known as faint yellow: O, P and Q are very very light yellow or top brown in colour.

Why less is more!

A whiter or colourless stone allows the diamond to cleanly reflect and refract light. When white light enters the diamond, part of the ray is reflected back to your eye, but the rest penetrates the stone. That ray is deflected toward the centre of the stone by the facets, then bounces back to the surface. Like a prism, the diamond refracts the white light into its full spectrum of colour. The whiter the stone, the greater the refraction

Colour is actually one of the most difficult factors to evaluate. For one thing, everyone sees colour differently. Differences in colour between stones are very, very subtle, and may be imperceptible to an untrained eye. In fact, even the experts will compare an ungraded stone to one previously graded to properly assess its colour. Small differences in colour can make large differences in the price.

Colour and the setting

A diamond may exhibit the colour of its setting, which is why most ring settings will have a white gold or platinum head. White gold and platinum have the least effect on the diamond's colour. Conversely, a diamond with more body colour is often best enhanced by a yellow gold setting. Of course, the setting you choose is a matter of personal preference.

Diamond colour is the most confusing of the 4 C’s. You really do not notice colour until “I - J”. Brilliant cut diamonds are colour graded upside down and through the side. Facing up brilliant cut diamonds true colour is hard to see unless you have other loose stones for comparison. Once the stones are set, colour is even harder to grade. Fancy shape diamond colours are easier to see. Most of the time the colour is apparent in the tips of the marquise, pears and ovals. Princess cuts are similar to brilliant cuts in the fact that they hide colour quite well. Emerald cuts start to show colour around “K-L”. We have sold many faintly coloured Emerald cuts and they are still beautiful and elegant to the naked eye.