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Diamond Colours
- by Lilywho Ltd
Diamond colour refers to the natural tint present in both lab grown diamonds and natural diamonds. In nature, most diamonds are not perfectly colourless and often carry a very slight hint of yellow or brown. The closer a diamond is to being completely colourless, the rarer and more valuable it becomes. Because of this, diamond colour is one of the most important factors in determining both beauty and value.
The Jewellery industry worldwide grades diamond colour by comparing each stone against a master set and assigning a letter from D to Z. GIA and IGI. are the 2 main certification laboratories that dominate the diamond industry. Both grade diamonds using the same criteria and produce detailed diamond certs documenting quality & characteristics. Diamond Colours start with D. D is considered completely colourless, representing the highest and rarest grade, while Z shows a noticeable yellow tint. Most diamonds used in fine jewellery fall somewhere from colourless to near colourless where only the faintest traces of colour can be detected. Due to the difference in costs, it is more common to see Lab Diamonds at the higher scale of the colour charts, more so than Natural Diamond.
The colour of a diamond has a direct impact on how it looks when set in Jewellery. A higher colour grade diamond will be whiter and appear brighter, giving a crisp, icy sparkle. Diamonds with lower colour grades can show warmer tones, which may appear slightly yellow when viewed in certain lighting or settings. Metal choice can influence colour perception, as white gold and platinum tend to enhance a diamond’s colourless appearance, while a yellow or rose gold setting can soften the contrast and make diamonds appear warmer.
Fluorescence is another factor that can affect appearance. Some diamonds emit a soft glow under ultraviolet light, which in certain cases can make a stone appear hazy or milky in natural daylight. Because of this, high quality grading standards often avoid diamonds with strong or excessive fluorescence to maintain maximum brilliance and clarity.
Diamond colour is relevant in both lab grown diamonds and natural diamonds, and the same grading system is used for both. This allows consistency when comparing stones, ensuring that whether a diamond is created in the earth or in a laboratory, its colour quality is measured to the same standard.
There are also fancy colour diamonds, which include naturally rare shades such as pink, green and yellow, and are valued for their vibrant and unique appearance, rather than lack of colour. Coloured diamonds are not graded on the D–Z colour scale.
At Lilywho, our expert buyers hand select all diamonds and can talk you through all price and quality options.
Love Lily x
