After sparkle, our eye is drawn to colour. Paradoxically, the colour grade of a diamond is based on the lack of colour present. To put it simply, it’s more about what you can’t see than what it is that you can.
Out of the Four Cs (cut, clarity, colour and carat), colour is considered to be the second-most important consideration, after cut. Why? Because the grade of the colour can be seen by the naked eye. Diamonds are valued by how closely they resemble “colourless”.
Despite being found in a spectrum of colours, including highly valued pinks, blues and even yellow, when it comes to white diamonds the presence of a yellow tint will lower the grade. This is because the less colour that appears in a diamond, the better the light will absorb through it, creating more sparkle.
Can you detect the difference?
Once a stone is set in a ring or placed next to another gem, compared to the white background used in a formal diamond colour grading, it becomes much harder for the human eye to detect colour. The vast majority of people cannot distinguish a colour grade from another unless the diamonds are shown side by side.
Importantly, a diamond’s apparent colour can be affected by the mounting it’s placed in. A slight tint of yellow in a diamond is less obvious in a gold setting, while it will be more apparent mounted in a white gold or platinum setting. Another factor is carat; as carat weight increases, colour is easier to perceive.
Charting colour
For white diamonds, the colour scale sets out how rare the diamond is, depending on its colour grade, and therefore how valuable it is.
| D | The diamond is completely colourless. This particular diamond is extremely rare and the most valuable. |
| E-F | While an experienced gemmologist would be able to detect a slight hint of colour, to the naked eye, the diamond is colourless. |
| G-H | In this case, the diamond is near-colourless. Colour, while difficult to detect, may be spotted when placed next to a diamond of higher grade. |
| I-J | Most people would be able to detect a hint of colour. However, the diamond is still considered near colourless and will be quite valuable. |
| K-M | Colour is easily detected and quite noticeable. |
| N-Z | The colour is exceptionally noticeable and very easily detected. |
Breaking the rules
Now that you understand “colourless” diamonds, it’s time to turn your attention to the rainbow of possibilities. While considering a diamond setting, why not break the rules and embrace the exceptions – the diamonds that are actually meant to be coloured.
In these rare beauties, in complete contrast to white diamonds, the brighter and more saturate the colour of the stone, the more valuable and expensive.
Coloured diamonds are valued according to three categories.
- Hue: the dominant colour
- Tone: the amount of light in the diamond
- Saturation: how strong the hue is
Pretty in pink?
The pink diamond is considered the rarest in the world, with the Australian pink diamond classified as one of the most sought-after. This is because the Argyle diamond mine in Western Australia is tipped to be depleted in 2017. Because there is no other source of the diamond, the value is tipped to keep rising.
The most common coloured diamonds are brown or light yellow, however these are generally marketed as champagne or cognac coloured. Because these diamonds are not are expensive as white diamonds, owning a coloured diamond in a brown or yellow hue is a more affordable way to own a larger sized stone.
Coloured diamonds have their own grading scale which reflects the rarity and value of the stone. The grading ranges from Fancy Vivid (the rarest) through to Fancy Light (the most common). Not all colours come in all intensities, and to add to the complexity it is common for a coloured diamond to be comprised of two or more colours, like Fancy Gray Blue Diamonds and Fancy Yellow Brown Diamonds.
In the eye of the beholder
While beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, as with most purchases, choosing the colour of a diamond often comes down to budget. If you’re searching for the right engagement ring you may not wish to go below an F-grade stone, generally, and G-H coloured diamonds are the most popular as there is no yellow tinge and they are still affordable.
When looking for a more bespoke piece of jewellery, you may desire a coloured diamond that reflects passion, intention and character, and Australian Diamond Brokers offers a wide range of hues and saturations that will fit harmoniously with your custom design.
by Australian Diamond Brokers : May 10th 2017 Come visit our store or browse our website to find out more.