Diamond Color

A chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond is transparent with no color whatsoever. In reality, however, almost no gem-sized natural diamonds are perfect. The color of a diamond can be affected by chemical impurities and/or structural defects within the crystal lattice or framework. Dependent on the hue and intensity of a diamond"s color, a diamond"s coloration can either detract from or possibly enhance its inherent value. For example, most white diamonds are discounted in price as more yellow coloring is present, while intense pink diamonds can be dramatically more expensive and valuable.

Most diamonds used as gemstones are basically transparent with little tint. Nitrogen sometimes replaces a small amount of carbon atoms in a diamond"s structure and causes a yellowish or brownish tint. This effect is present in almost all white diamonds. The GIA system uses a set of natural diamonds of a known color grade, along with standardized and carefully controlled lighting conditions. The GIA use a system that rates diamonds on a scale from "D" to "Z", with "D" being colorless and "Z" have a bright yellow hue. Diamonds with a higher color grade are rarer, and are usually more expensive. Oddly enough, diamonds graded Z are also rare, and the bright yellow color is also highly valued. So, value exists on both ends of the color chart.

Diamonds of other colors than yellow and brown are even more rare and valuable. While even a pale pink or blue hue will most likely increase the value of a diamond, the more intense the color is, the more desirable and expensive a diamond will most likely be. Diamonds with unusual or intense coloration are sometimes labeled "fancy" by the diamond industry, with yellow coloration considered one of the fancy colors, and is separate from the color grades of white diamonds. Gemologists have developed rating systems for colored diamonds, but is not in common use because of the relative rarity of colored diamonds.


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