GIA Diamond Color Grades

Remember, diamonds are not all truly colorless, but it is the colorless diamonds that other color shades are judged against. The diamond color grades below do not apply to fancy colored diamonds- fancy colored diamonds have their own color grading standards

Diamonds with Color Grade D, E, F

D: Absolutely colorless. This is the highest color grade, which is extremely rare.

E: Colorless. Only minute traces of color can be detected by an expert gemologist. This is a very rare diamond.

F: Colorless. Very slight color detected only by the trained eyes of an expert gemologist or independent jewelry appraiser, but still considered a "colorless" grade. These are very high quality diamonds.

Diamonds with colors of D–E–F are known as the colorless grades. Diamond color grade D is reserved for larger diamonds whose colors can be more accurately graded due to the diamond’s size. Diamonds that are less than .50 carats usually receive a top color grade of F due to the greater difficulty of precisely grading a small diamond. Diamonds with colors D, E and F are essentially without color and differ more in diamond clarity and cut proportions.

Diamonds with Color Grade G, H

G–H: Near colorless. Color is only noticeable when compared to diamonds of better color grades; these diamonds are known as the "face up colorless" grades because they appear colorless when mounted in an engagement ring. This is due to the brilliance or sparkle of the diamond masking this very slight tint when viewed through the table (or top) of the diamond. Diamonds with a color grade of G–H only show a slight tint of color when turned upside down for proper diamond color grading.

Diamonds with Color Grade I, J, K, L

I–J: Near colorless. Color is slightly detectable. These diamonds are an excellent value for the money. An ideal cut diamond of the I–J color range will still face up mostly colorless and can save you a good deal of money over a diamond with a color grade of a higher range. Diamonds in the K–L range may still be acceptable for diamond jewelry, but will appear to have a warmer color–tone than diamonds of higher grades.

Diamonds in this diamond color range include some very nice diamonds. Make sure the diamond is properly proportioned or has a "good make." Ask your local independent jewelry appraiser to help evaluate the diamond’s proportions. Medium to strong blue fluorescence can help cancel the yellow tint seen in I–K color diamonds, but only when viewed in natural light (such as the sun). Again, cut is the key to ensuring diamonds with a slight tint of color will still appear bright and beautiful. Within the lower diamond color grades, cut becomes an even more important C in the four C’s of diamonds.

Diamonds with Color Grade M to Z

The lower diamond colors M through Z have an increasing amount of yellow tint, ranging through the off–color diamonds and ending at the end of the diamond color scale (Z), beyond which diamonds are considered to have a fancy color grade (Z+). The yellow color in diamonds graded M–Z is especially noticeable when the diamond is set in mounting made of platinum or white gold. Sometimes jewelers set "off color" yellow diamonds in yellow gold mountings and then try to sell them as uncertified light fancy yellow diamonds. Be wary of jewelers offering uncertified fancy vivid yellow diamonds. They could be HPHT color treated diamonds. Without proper gemological evaluation by a recognized gemological laboratory (GIA, EGL, AGS), these diamonds are just off–color diamonds, not fancy colored diamonds, and should cost less than the white colorless diamonds in the store.

The term "fancy" beside any diamond’s color imparts a higher value and higher price to the diamond. Do not accept the term fancy for any diamond you purchase unless it is accompanied by an origin of diamond color report and a full diamond grading report from a recognized gemological lab that identifies the diamond’s color as being of natural color origin and truly fancy in color. When in doubt, take the diamond to your local independent jewelry appraiser for a pre–purchase verification.