The most Internationally accepted color scale in the diamond industry is provided by the Gemological Institute of America (G.I.A.). G.I.A. introduced their color grading scale in the late 1950's. Color with reference to diamond grading refers to subtle differences in the body color or hue. The G.I.A. color scale runs a range from D thru Z, or colorless to light yellow. The distinctions between color grades are very subtle, and for the most part are undetectable to the untrained eye. In general, all diamonds in the D to Z range are considered 'white' in color.
Price vs Color
To the untrained eye, it is usually very difficult to tell the differences in diamond color. This will be particularly true if the diamond is mounted. Only experienced graders can distinguish the difference between diamonds graded as D & E in color on a consistent basis, and then only in diamonds that are unmounted. Also, be advised that halogen lighting does not provide a good environment for accurate color grading. It makes diamonds appear much whiter than they really are.
Your reputable jeweler will be more than happy to show you how they determined the color grade of each diamond. It most cases, he will use either a GIA Diamondlite and /or master stones for this demonstration. For consistent grading, industry professionals rely on a "master set" of diamonds or laser-tinted cubic zirconia that have been laboratory certified as to their color. When used properly under controlled lighting, such as a GIA Diamondlite, master stones provide a reliable method of comparing color in unmounted diamonds.
The following Table provides a summary of diamond grade vs color according to GIA:
| GIA COLOR SCALE | TRADE TERMS | |||
| D | ColorLess | Finest White |
jager | ColorLess |
| E | River | |||
| F | Fine White |
|||
| G | Near ColorLess |
Top Wesselton | Face up colorless Slight traces of color apparent to trained eye only |
|
| H | White | Wesselton | ||
| I | Commercial White |
Top Crystal | ||
| J | Top Silver Cape | Crystal | Small mounted stones appear colorless but larger stones appear tinted |
|
| K | Faint Yellow |
Silver Cape | Top Cape | |
| L | ||||
| M | Light Cape | Cape | Mounted stones in these grades will display a yellowish tint even to the untrained eye |
|
| N | Very Light Yellow |
Low Cape | ||
| O | Cape | Very Light Yellow |
||
| P | ||||
| Q | ||||
| R | ||||
| S | Light Yellow |
Dark Cape | ||
| T | ||||
| U | ||||
| V | ||||
| W | ||||
| X | ||||
| Y | ||||
| Z + | Fancy | |||
Diamond Clarity | Diamond Weight
S D Diamond Lists: ROUND | PRINCESS | MARQUISE
PEAR SHAPE | OVAL | EMERALD | RADIANT | HOME (Ordering)
Whether your shopping for one diamond or several diamonds, S D Diamond Company is here to serve you.
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