Color
The most fine quality as per color grading is totally
colorless which is Graded as "D" color diamond across the globe
which means it is absolutely free from any color. The next is
very slight traces of color which can be observed by any expert
Diamond valuer/grading laboratory. However when studded in the
jewelery these very light colored diamonds do not show any
color or it is not possible to make out color shades. These are
graded as E color or F color Diamonds. Diamonds which show very
little traces of color are graded as G or H color diamonds.
Slightly colored diamonds are graded as I or J or K color. A
diamond can be found in any other color also other than
colorless. Some of the color diamonds such as pink are very
rare diamonds and are priceless.
A chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond is
perfectly transparent with no hue, or color. However, in
reality almost no gem-sized natural diamonds are absolutely
perfect. The color of a diamond may be affected by chemical
impurities and/or structural defects in the crystal lattice.
Depending on the hue and intensity of a diamond's coloration, a
diamond's color can either detract from or enhance its value.
For example, most white diamonds are discounted in price as
more yellow hue is detectable, while intense pink or blue
diamonds (such as the Hope Diamond) can be dramatically more
valuable. The Aurora Diamond Collection displays a spectacular
array of naturally colored diamonds.
Most diamonds used as gemstones are basically transparent
with little tint, or white diamonds. 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 coloration from this effect
undetectable. The GIA has developed a rating system for color
in white diamonds, from "D" to "Z" (with D being "colorless"
and Z having a bright yellow coloration)[1], which has been
widely adopted in the industry and is universally recognized,
superseding several older systems once used in different
countries. The GIA system uses a benchmark set of natural
diamonds of known color grade, along with standardized and
carefully controlled lighting conditions. Diamonds with higher
color grades are rarer, in higher demand, and therefore more
expensive, than lower color grades. Oddly enough, diamonds
graded Z are also rare, and the bright yellow color is also
highly valued. Diamonds graded D-F are considered "colorless",
G-J are considered "near-colorless", K-M are "slightly
colored". N-Y usually appear light yellow or brown.
In contrast to yellow or brown hues, diamonds of other
colors are more rare and valuable. While even a pale pink or
blue hue may increase the value of a diamond, more intense
coloration is usually considered more desirable and commands
the highest prices. A variety of impurities and structural
imperfections cause different colors in diamonds, including
yellow, pink, blue, red, green, brown, and other hues. Diamonds
with unusual or intense coloration are sometimes labeled
"fancy" by the diamond industry. Intense yellow coloration is
considered one of the fancy colors, and is separate from the
color grades of white diamonds. Gemologists have developed
rating systems for fancy colored diamonds, but they are not in
common use because of the relative rarity of colored
diamonds.
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