Similar to the process for grading colorless diamonds a diamond s fancy color is graded by comparing it to master stones of predetermined color.
Best quality diamond color.
Red stones are the most rare of the fancy colored diamonds.
Keep reading to learn the smart rules to shop by.
In general the highest quality diamonds are totally colorless whereas lower quality diamonds can often have a slight yellow tint.
The perfect diamond is colorless and any hint of color makes a colossal difference in the quality of your diamond.
But these ratings are determined by expert gemologists comparing against a set of master stones.
These diamonds are extremely rare and command an excessively high premium in their prices.
Diamond color is measured using gemological institute of america or gia color scale which goes from d colorless all the way to z light yellow or brown in color.
For example if you are buying a yellow gold setting or looking to get a vintage design diamond ring i would recommend getting lower color diamonds in the i j and k range to complement the setting.
Best can be very subjective especially when it comes to diamonds.
As you move down the color scale tinges of yellow or brown appear in the stones and this colored tint reduces the value and quality of the diamond.
See d graded diamonds diamond grades at blue nile range from d colorless to k faintly colored.
The highest grade for diamond color is d or completely colorless.
The ftc provides no guidelines for the use of the term fancy color in the us but there is general agreement in the international trade about what diamond color range is customary for fancy color diamonds.
The less body color in a white diamond the more true color it will reflect and thus the greater its value.
The naked eye can t tell between colorless d f diamonds and the slight yellow tint of grades g j.
The naked eye won t be able to detect the slight tint of yellow in a set diamond several grades lower.
Colorless diamonds need a white gold or platinum band to enhance their icy appeal while yellow gold complements to g j grade ones.
Setting and style matter too.
Naturally occurring diamond colors include gray white blue yellow orange red green olive pink purple brown and black.
However there are times when the best color grade to buy is actually one with a yellowish tint.
Technically speaking the best ratings a diamond can achieve in terms of its material properties are.
D color diamond is the highest grade and is extremely rare the highest color grade that money can buy.
Eight percent of customers choose a d color diamond.
These are either yellow or brown diamonds that have more color than a z master stone or they exhibit a color other than yellow or brown.
