If you know anything about diamonds, whether you’re an expert jeweler or a casual jewelry enthusiast, you’ve probably heard of the 4 Cs. The 4 Cs, which stand for color, cut, clarity, and carat, are the factors by which diamonds are judged and graded. But how much do you know about each of these factors and how they influence the overall look of a diamond? In this series, we’ll be doing a deep dive into each of the 4 Cs, explaining each one so that you have a better understanding of what to look for in a quality diamond. In this article, we’ll take a look at diamond color: what it is, how we grade it, and how it affects the appearance of a diamond.
How Do Diamonds Get Their Color?
To explain why some diamonds have color and others don’t, we’ll need to do a quick and simple geology lesson. You probably already know that diamonds (at least, natural diamonds) come from deep within the earth. They form when carbon atoms are subjected to extreme pressure and extreme heat over the course of millions of years.
Because Mother Nature isn’t perfect, and because the process takes so long, it’s almost impossible for diamonds to form without some degree of impurity. Other elements and minerals often interact with carbon as the diamond forms, and they can give diamonds different tints. Natural diamonds can form with brown, yellow, green, blue, and even pink tints.
But the most common tint for a diamond, by far, is yellow. When it comes to giving diamonds a yellow hue, nitrogen is the culprit. As diamonds are exposed to nitrogen during their formation, they gain a yellow tint. The more nitrogen a diamond is exposed to, the stronger that yellow tint will be.
Keep in mind that a perfectly colorless diamond is exceedingly rare. Most diamonds have some degree of yellow or brownish tint. Oftentimes, it’s imperceptible to the human eye. Skilled gem cutters can also use certain techniques to further disguise any hint of color within a diamond.
Diamond Color Grading
Diamonds are graded on the absence of color. A diamond that appears completely colorless to the naked eye is considered the ideal. Diamond color is graded on an alphabetical scale, starting with D and ending with Z. This scale was established by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) to set up a universal standard for judging diamonds based on color. The GIA also established scales and standards for other factors that influence a diamond’s quality, including clarity and cut. We’ll discuss those later in this article series.
To judge a diamond by color, expert gemologists use advanced tools to closely inspect a diamond for the presence of any tint. They conduct these inspections in rooms with controlled, standardized lighting so that diamonds don’t get different grades based on differing lighting conditions.
Diamonds in the D-F range are considered colorless (though technically, they’re not entirely colorless–the tints are just too faint to be seen by the human eye). Diamonds in the G-J range are considered nearly colorless, diamonds in the K-M range are considered faintly colored, diamonds in the N-R range are considered very lightly colored, and diamonds in the S-Z range are considered lightly colored.
Diamonds graded beyond a Z are no longer considered traditional white diamonds. They are instead called ‘fancy colored diamonds’ and have an appeal all their own. Rarer tints like pink and green tend to be very expensive.
Most diamonds you see in fine jewelry stores like Ancona Jewelers will fall within the D-J range. As you may suspect, the higher a diamond falls on this scale, the higher it will cost, with diamonds in the D-F range being the most expensive.
How Does Color Impact a Diamond?
A diamond’s color has some impact on its sparkle. A diamond’s sparkle comes from how well it reflects light, and a colorless diamond is most effective when it comes to returning the light it takes in. Diamonds should ideally refract and reflect most of the light that they absorb back out into the world as sparkle. However, the tints in colored diamonds can be too absorbent, losing light before it can be bounced and reflected back out into the world. This can make a diamond look duller and less sparkly.
How Yellow Do These Diamonds Really Look?
In truth, diamonds in the D-J range rarely look yellow at all to the naked eye. This is especially true if they are well cut diamonds.
Diamond cut has a huge impact on the perceived color of a diamond. While we’ll discuss diamond cut in more detail in a later article, here is a brief overview of how cut impacts color so that you can see how these two qualities influence each other:
Diamond cut affects how a diamond interacts with light. A well cut diamond will absorb just the right amount of light and disperse it throughout the diamond so that it bounces and reflects back into the world as a scatter of dazzling sparkle. By maximizing a diamond’s brilliance, a good cut can make any color in the diamond imperceptible–or at least, far less noticeable.
Other jewelry design techniques can help mask any tint in a diamond. Setting a lightly yellow or brown tinted diamond in a white gold or platinum band can distract from those faint hues, as the light colors enhance the diamond’s brightness. Conversely, a rose or yellow gold setting may emphasize a yellow or brown tinted diamond’s warm undertones and make the coloration more obvious.
The mounting and setting of a diamond can also mask some of its color. Settings that allow more light to flow through a diamond will allow the stone to disperse more sparkle. Increased sparkle will help disguise any tint.
The Beauty of Colored Diamonds
Looking beyond their market value, what should you make of colored diamonds? In the end, it’s all about your own personal tastes.
Colored diamonds can be desirable, depending on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for something like an engagement ring, for instance, you are more likely looking for a traditional colorless diamond. But as mentioned before, when a diamond’s color gets vivid enough, it actually becomes more valued as a fancy colored diamond. These diamonds come in shades of yellow and brown, for the most part, but can also be found in pink, blue, and green hues.
Fancy colored diamonds are often used to make statement jewelry pieces. If you’re looking for fine jewelry like tennis bracelets and pendants, but with a bold twist, then you may want to seek out colored diamond pieces.
While white diamonds and vividly colored diamonds are both adored by jewelry collectors, lightly colored diamonds are less popular. However, some people still find that lightly colored diamonds have their own unique charm. Their gentle warmth can be a draw for some, especially those that are already intrigued by warmer tones like yellow gold and velvety reds.
Find Diamonds in All Shades at Ancona Jewelers
We hope this blog helped you better understand diamond color: how it develops, how it’s graded, and how it impacts the look and price of a diamond. Now it’s time to put that knowledge to the test as you search for your next piece of diamond jewelry.
Whether you’re looking for traditional colorless diamonds, lightly tinted diamonds or fancy colored diamonds, you can find the diamond for you at Ancona Jewelers in Addison, Illinois. We’re proud to carry one of the finest diamond jewelry collections in the Chicago area, with everything from diamond stud earrings to diamond cross pendants and more, not to mention a wide selection of engagement rings and wedding bands.
Visit our store to speak with our friendly and knowledgeable staff, or start your diamond jewelry shopping journey online.