THE 4Cs OF DIAMONDS

CHAPTER 5

When it comes to diamond color, the best color is no color at all. While we often associate color with a diamond’s brilliance it doesn’t impact the fire and dispersion properties which result in fire and scintillation. The GIA, Gemological Institute of America’s, color scale begins at D representing no color at all and ends at Z representing obvious yellow or brown tints.

The GIA uses sets of “master diamonds” in order to provide the baseline for each color when comparing diamonds for grading. Without ideal laboratory conditions it is extremely difficult, even for seasoned diamond experts, to discern single grades. The GIA scale is broken down into sections for easier understanding. D-E-F graded diamonds fall into the “Colorless” category, G-H-I-J graded diamonds are deemed “Near Colorless,” while K-L-M graded diamonds are termed “Faint” in color.