Shopping BasketThe Presence or Absence of Colour in White Diamonds
Most diamond jewellery gemstones are essentially transparent with very little tint and can be described as white diamonds. Because of this, determining the subtle differences between colour grades is an expert task requiring a set of colour comparison diamonds and special light conditions.
Diamond colour is measured on a scale from "D" (colourless) to "Z" ( bright yellow). Diamonds graded:
* D-F are considered "colourless"
* G-J are considered "near-colourless"
* K-M are "slightly coloured"
* N-Y usually appear light yellow or brown
We Use Only D-H Colour Grade Diamonds
Here at 1791, all our diamonds are colour graded H and higher to ensure that you receive a white gemstone.
View our designer diamond rings
Where Does the Colour in Diamonds Come From?
A variety of impurities and structural imperfections cause different colours in diamonds, including yellow, pink, blue, red, green, brown, and purple or black. The most common impurity, nitrogen, replaces a small proportion of carbon atoms in a diamond's structure and causes a yellowish to brownish tint. This effect is present in almost all white diamonds; in only the rarest diamonds is the colouration from this effect undetectable.
The Effect of Colour on Price
Depending on its hue and intensity, a diamond's colour can either increase or decrease its value. With white diamonds, the whiter they are, the rarer and more expensive they are. Only when a diamond is very yellow does it class as a 'fancy coloured diamond' and therefore begin again to increase in value. In contrast to the more common yellow or brown hues, diamonds of other colours are more valuable. Diamonds with higher and more intense colour grades - such as pink or blue diamonds - are rarer and in higher demand, and are therefore more expensive than lower colour grades. |
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What Colour Diamond Should I Buy?
Colour grade will directly impact the value of a diamond. But while a D colour diamond may be the epitome of "colourless", the untrained eye would not distinguish the difference between the D, E or F colour grade stones. And when shopping for a diamond for your perfect engagement or wedding ring, it is worth considering that any colour upwards of "J" will present very well.
