But one does not need the highest-grade of colorlessness to create dazzling diamond
jewelry. In fact, most magnificent marriage-jewelry utilizes diamonds that have
earned middle grades from industry’s standard color chart, created by the Gemological
Institute of America (GIA).
That GIA color standard grades diamond-colors alphabetically, from Totally Colorless
(D) down to Z (heavily tinted toward yellow, gray or brown). (We know of no diamond in
the marketplace completely colorless as to have earned a GIA “A,” “B,” or “C” for
colorless purity.)
D = Absolutely colorless (extremely rare)
E = Colorless (very rare)
F = Colorless (an expert might detect a bit of color [rare])
G-H = Nearly colorless (color detectable when compared, side-by-side, with diamonds
of better grades)
I-J = Nearly colorless (only slightly detectable color)
K-Z = Increasingly noticeable color.
For an accurate color-evaluation process, diamonds are unmounted (since the color
of the setting’s precious metal alters the apparent color of the diamond). For this
reason, your personal preference in your jewelry’s metal-color (yellow or white) may
influence your diamond-color decision-making process. White metals (platinum, white
gold) do best with diamonds of higher color grades (e.g., D – G); diamonds from the
middle grades can appear colorless in yellow-gold settings.
Many jewelers have “reference sets,” featuring an array of sample gems of various
established color grades. The diamond under scrutiny can be compared (face down
on white paper), side by side with reference samples of known color grade, to determine
the best color match and, therefore, the diamond’s color grade.
Clarity
Absolutely flawless diamonds are as rare as absolutely colorless diamonds. In fact,
almost all diamonds have at least a few imperfections, external/internal blemishes or
irregularities, when viewed under a microscope or with 10x jeweler’s loupe.
Nevertheless, the presence and location of inclusions bears upon diamond value since
they can impact a gem’s brilliance. Certified diamonds come with a description of the
type and location of each imperfection.
jewelry. In fact, most magnificent marriage-jewelry utilizes diamonds that have
earned middle grades from industry’s standard color chart, created by the Gemological
Institute of America (GIA).
That GIA color standard grades diamond-colors alphabetically, from Totally Colorless
(D) down to Z (heavily tinted toward yellow, gray or brown). (We know of no diamond in
the marketplace completely colorless as to have earned a GIA “A,” “B,” or “C” for
colorless purity.)
D = Absolutely colorless (extremely rare)
E = Colorless (very rare)
F = Colorless (an expert might detect a bit of color [rare])
G-H = Nearly colorless (color detectable when compared, side-by-side, with diamonds
of better grades)
I-J = Nearly colorless (only slightly detectable color)
K-Z = Increasingly noticeable color.
For an accurate color-evaluation process, diamonds are unmounted (since the color
of the setting’s precious metal alters the apparent color of the diamond). For this
reason, your personal preference in your jewelry’s metal-color (yellow or white) may
influence your diamond-color decision-making process. White metals (platinum, white
gold) do best with diamonds of higher color grades (e.g., D – G); diamonds from the
middle grades can appear colorless in yellow-gold settings.
Many jewelers have “reference sets,” featuring an array of sample gems of various
established color grades. The diamond under scrutiny can be compared (face down
on white paper), side by side with reference samples of known color grade, to determine
the best color match and, therefore, the diamond’s color grade.
Clarity
Absolutely flawless diamonds are as rare as absolutely colorless diamonds. In fact,
almost all diamonds have at least a few imperfections, external/internal blemishes or
irregularities, when viewed under a microscope or with 10x jeweler’s loupe.
Nevertheless, the presence and location of inclusions bears upon diamond value since
they can impact a gem’s brilliance. Certified diamonds come with a description of the
type and location of each imperfection.
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