Diamond Color
Diamond color runs from D, entirely colorless, down to Z. See what separates one grade from the next, and where the difference stops being visible.
How do you choose the best diamond color for you?
When we talk about diamond colors, we enter a magnificent world of shades. Color is one of a diamond's central characteristics, and we will try to help a little with how to choose the best diamond color for you… Diamonds come in a spectrum of colors, from a colorless diamond through to a light yellow one. A diamond's color is a matter of personal preference, of supply and demand, and of what suits your budget.
Diamond color is graded on a letter scale from D (colorless) to Z (yellow or brown).
The diamond color chart
Within this color range, colorless diamonds are the rarest and therefore the most valuable. Colorless diamonds are used to set the benchmarks for grading and pricing the other diamonds across the color range. The G.I.A. scale (the most highly regarded gemological laboratory for grading diamonds), running from D to Z, is the industry standard for grading diamond color. Each letter represents a range of color based on the diamond's tint.
| Grade | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| D | The highest color grade, reserved for a truly colorless diamond. Entirely colorless to the naked eye and much sought after because it is so rare. |
| E | Almost entirely colorless, with only microscopic traces of color that can be identified only by diamond experts - gemologists. |
| F | Almost entirely colorless, with only the faintest hints of color, detectable only by experienced gemologists. |
| G | Looks almost colorless to anyone who is not a diamond expert. This color grade offers excellent value for money. |
| H | A very slight tint of color, noticeable only when examined beside a colorless diamond. Looks almost colorless to people who are not in the diamond trade, and is a genuinely excellent investment. |
| I | The very slightest traces of color, apparent only in comparison with a colorless diamond. To anyone outside the diamond trade it looks almost colorless. |
| J | A very slight yellow tint. An excellent choice for those on a budget who are not looking for a colorless diamond, and particularly for anyone who wants a yellow gold setting. |
| K | A very minor yellow tint. A popular choice when the budget is not high, and especially suitable for a yellow gold setting. |
| L | A faint, deeper yellow color. A good alternative for anyone not looking for a colorless diamond and wanting good value for money. |
| M | A slightly noticeable yellow color. Usually a good choice for those who are not looking for a colorless diamond, and especially suitable for a yellow gold setting. |
| N and below | Light yellow in color. A good alternative for anyone whose budget is not large and who prefers a diamond with a little color; especially suitable for a yellow gold setting. |
Lower color grades are not "worse" so much as different: because a warmer tint is more easily masked by the metal around it, near-colorless grades in the G-J range often give the best balance of appearance and price, especially in a yellow gold setting (opens in new tab). If you are drawn to deliberate, vivid color rather than a faint tint, that is a different category altogether - see fancy colored diamonds (opens in new tab).
In summary, we would stress that color is mainly a matter of personal preference: some people look for an almost colorless diamond while others prefer a hint of color. Budget, of course, also guides the choice, and viewing a few stones one or two grades apart side by side is the easiest way to see how little difference a color grade can make to the eye while it changes the price.
