Diamond Colour

When evaluating diamond colour, the absence of colour is deemed rarer, making the diamond more costly. In fact, colourless diamonds are considered to be the most desirable.

Although diamonds without colour are the most sought-after, a diamond with hues of yellow, pink, brown, or white may be more suited to you, depending on your personal taste and budget.

What is diamond colour?

As one of the 4 Cs in diamond quality, colour is an essential factor to consider when purchasing a diamond ring. When talking of diamond colour, this is in reference to the absence of colour in a diamond and is based on the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) scale. All diamonds come in naturally occurring colours, and it is rare to find one that is completely free of colour.

Different diamond colours occur when chemicals mix with carbon atoms during the diamond’s creation. This results in diamonds of all colours, including yellow, white, brown, and pink. The absence of chemicals during formation results in what is known as a colourless diamond.

When evaluating diamond colour, the absence of colour is deemed rarer, making the diamond more costly. In fact, colourless diamonds are considered to be the most desirable.

Although diamonds without colour are the most sought-after, a diamond with hues of yellow, pink, brown, or white may be more suited to you, depending on your personal taste and budget.

Did you know?

The appearance of a diamond’s colour can also be affected by the metal you pair it with. If you cannot afford a colourless diamond, then you can reduce the appearance of yellow in a lower-graded diamond by pairing it with a yellow-gold band.

Colour grades

Diamond colour is evaluated by GIA, the leading body in assessing the quality of diamonds. Each diamond falls into a different grade on the internationally acknowledged colour chart, which ranges from D-Z. All diamonds are examined by at least five gemologists who unanimously grade a diamond’s colour.

At 10x magnification

D-FColourless

At 10x magnification

G-HNear-colourless

At 10x magnification

I-JNear-colourless

At 10x magnification

KFaint yellow
tint

At 10x magnification

L-ZFaint, light, or
very light colour

D-F

G-H

I-J

L-Z

D-F

Diamonds that fall in the D-F grades are deemed colourless and are therefore the most expensive on the market. The differences between D, E, and F diamonds are minimal, even under 10x magnification. These diamonds pair well with platinum or white gold wedding ring bands since this enhances the stone’s colour purity.

G-H

These diamonds are near-colourless and, to the naked eye, will seem like D-F grade gems. However, a trained gemologist will be able to detect traces of colour when the diamonds are magnified. Since these diamonds appear colourless, they are a cheaper alternative to D-F diamonds.

I-J

Although I and J diamonds are also classed near colourless, they differ from G-H diamonds due to a slight yellow tint. Fortunately, this yellow hue is not easily visible to the untrained eye and is only apparent when the diamond is magnified or displayed next to a colourless grade gem.

K diamonds have a faint tint of yellow, making them far cheaper than higher-graded stones. Although these diamonds have a yellow tinge, they can appear whiter in wedding rings when paired with a yellow gold band.

L-Z

Diamonds graded L-Z have faint, light, or very light colour and can exhibit noticeable hues of yellow and brown. Although these diamonds are a lot more affordable, the presence of colour is much more apparent. Unless you are looking for a diamond with a visible hue, it is best to avoid these stones.

Fancy colour diamonds

The GIA certified colour grade scale is reserved for white diamonds, and, therefore, only comments on the appearance of yellow or brown in these stones. Fancy colour diamonds exhibit other tones and hues and come in more exotic colours such as pink, red, blue, and green.

The fancy coloured diamond scale consists of nine grades, from faint to fancy dark. For example, a faint pink diamond may have a slight pink hue, but it could be a deep red colour if it were graded fancy dark. Due to the rarity of some fancy colours, these diamonds can be precious and expensive.

Diamond Certificates at AURONIA

Each AURONIA ring made with a 0.3 carat diamond or bigger comes with a GIA-grade diamond to assure quality. All GIA certified diamonds that we use at AURONIA are Triple X cut, meaning the stone is excellent regarding its cut, polish, and symmetry.

GIA Certification

GIA (the Gemological Institute of America) is the leading global body regarding the grading and evaluating of gemstones. The GIA clarity scale enables all diamonds to be graded under an internationally standardised system to help customers purchase the best quality stone.

GIA examines diamonds before giving them a certificate that details all of the critical characteristics of the stone, including the clarity grade and whether there are any other noticeable surface blemishes.

As well as the above, certified GIA gemstone certificates include other information about the diamond, such as the shape, cut, carat, and colour. Certificates can also provide information about the fluorescence, polish, and symmetry of the diamond. Each certificate also contains a detailed diagram of the diamond’s proportions.

With a GIA-certified diamond, customers can rest assured that they are buying a piece of jewellery with a quality gemstone. The level of detail and research that goes into examining each diamond is first-class and carried out to the highest standards.

Diamond Certificates at AURONIA

Does colour matter?

Since colourless diamonds have a higher value, it would suggest that colour does, in fact, matter. For example, the less colour a diamond exhibits, the more fire it will have. Fire, which is the rainbow coloured effect that a diamond produces when it reflects light, can be affected by many factors including cut and clarity. However, colour plays a significant role in how light hits the stone, and ultimately a diamond’s fire.

When it comes to choosing a wedding ring, the band can affect the diamond colour's appearance. A colourless diamond will reflect the colour of the band it is paired with, which means you should set it in a white gold or platinum band. However, lesser grade diamonds look great with yellow or rose gold bands. If you want a fancy diamond for your wedding ring, pairing this with a white alloy band will make the colour appear more vibrant and distinct.

The larger the carat weight, the more prominent the colour will be.

Not only does the wedding band affect how the diamond’s colour appears, but so does the shape and cut. A diamond with fewer facets will have a larger surface area, meaning that the colour is more pronounced. If you have a lower-grade diamond and want it to appear as colourless as possible, stick to a round shape; this will make the yellow hue seem more muted.

Size also affects diamond colour. The larger the carat weight, the more prominent the colour will be; for this reason, most people tend to purchase a colourless diamond if they choose a large carat size.

AURONIA's Recommendation

Although it is essential to have a good balance regarding colour, cut, clarity, and carat to ensure that you get the best diamond ring possible, your budget may not allow it. Fortunately, the differences between the highest grade diamond colours are minute, meaning you don’t need to opt for the highest quality colour and sacrifice clarity and cut. Remember that the diamond cut is still the most important factor to consider.

The larger the carat weight, the more prominent the colour will be.

AURONIA's Recommendation

Colour at AURONIA

At AURONIA, we only sell diamonds that exhibit signs of the highest quality. We offer four diamond colour grades, D, E, F and G. Our colourless and near colourless diamonds suit well with the three clarity and various alloy options we have on offer, meaning you can create an exquisite looking ring.

AURONIA's Guarantee

All of our diamonds that are larger than 0.3 carats are GIA certified, meaning they have undergone assessment by expert gemologists to authenticate their value.