Does Diamond Color Matter?
Does Diamond Color Matter?
If you have been using the 4 C’s as your guide to choosing the perfect diamond, then you will eventually come to the question of the diamond’s color. The short answer is yes, diamond color does matter. What we should be asking is why does diamond color matter? This question requires a longer answer which is the topic of today’s blog.
In general, color will affect the diamond’s price. However, a diamond’s color also helps determine how the diamond should be cut and what setting it should be placed in. Color in white diamonds is judged differently than color in fancy colored diamonds (such as yellows, pinks and blues), so we will cover them separately.
White Diamonds
Retailers use this diamond color chart to grade the color of white diamonds. Diamonds are rated on a scale from D-Z, with D being absolutely colorless and Z being slightly yellow. Since colorless diamonds are rarer than colored ones, they are much more expensive. Here’s what you need to know about the different grades.
– (D-F): ‘Colorless’ diamonds that are extremely rare and extremely expensive. A diamond of this grade should only be placed in a white-gold or platinum setting and cut to show off its brilliance.
– (G-J): These diamonds are considered ‘near colorless’ and are a fantastic value. They are almost identical to ‘colorless’ diamonds to the untrained eye, but can sell for half the price. Set in white-gold or platinum, or yellow-gold if you want to hide the color.
– (K-M): Diamonds in this range will have a noticeable yellow or brown tint. Despite not being in high demand, these inexpensive diamonds can still look great in a warm yellow-gold setting.
– (M-Z): Many retailers don’t carry diamonds of these grades due to lack of demand.
Fancy Colored Diamonds
A diamond is considered a fancy colored diamond when it’s color intensity is greater than a Z rating. Only 1 in 10,000 diamonds naturally fall into this category, so they tend to be more valuable than colorless diamonds. In fancy colored diamonds, the rarest and most expensive colors are pinks, greens, and blues, while yellow and brown are the most common and least expensive.
The color is what sets these gems apart, so you want to do everything you can to emphasize their color. Bring out the warmth of yellow diamonds in a yellow-gold setting. Deepen blue diamonds by contrasting them with a platinum or white-gold setting. Avoid clashing colors by setting pink diamonds in rose gold. And whereas white diamonds are cut for brilliance, a fancy colored diamond should be cut to showcase the intensity of its color.
Traditional or Trendy
Do you want to tap into tradition, or do you want experiment with modern trends? These questions are also important to consider when choosing diamond color. Recently, yellow diamonds have been in (good news if you’re shopping for colored diamonds on a budget). If you walk down 5th Ave in New York, you’ll see yellow diamonds displayed in Tiffany’s front window. At this year’s Golden Globes, yellow diamonds graced the wrist of Natalie Portman and glittered on the ear of Jennifer Lopez. Colored diamonds are fresh and bold, but white diamonds are charged with romantic tradition. Which qualities matter to you?
Final Thoughts
Today’s blog focused on the practical ways that diamond color matters. Color is related to price, cut, setting, and tradition. But a diamond is also an experience as well as a product. A colorless white diamond wows with its brilliant fire, while a yellow diamond comforts with its warm glow. A blue diamond draws us in with its mystery, while a pink diamond delights us with its energy. When you are buying a diamond for someone, also consider what color best brings out the poetry of that person.
If you’d like to learn more about choosing the right diamond color, our diamond experts are here to help!
