February 05, 2021

Colour of a diamond

We recently added to our journal a post on the cut of diamond and here we follow on to explain a little about the colour of a diamond to help you better understand the diamonds that go into our collections and bespoke jewellery.   It was the GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) that standardised the diamond grading system that is now internationally recognised and used though out the diamond markets and jewellery trade. They wanted to distinguish their new grading system from any others that were utilised before hence their colour grading begins with the letter D and leads to the letter Z. Past the letter Z is a whole other scale to explain the fancy coloured diamonds but that would be a different blog post altogether.  

 

GIA colour scale

D is the purest of colourless diamonds, colours D E and F are known in the trade as collection colours. These colours are the crème de la crème of which you are often in awe when you see a stone of this colour as it is so captivatingly fresh. G H and I colour of diamonds are still up with the collection colour gods but are used more commercially as these are still regarded as ‘white stones’. From J and below you start to see colour tints becoming more and more yellow the further down the scale you go  

Enquire about your own bespoke diamond jewellery handmade by Origin 31

Colour of diamonds are assessed from looking through the side of the stone because when you look through the top of the stone the sparkle can be somewhat distracting and the colour can appear better than what it actually is. Looking at the image below you can really see the colours coming out as you go further down the colour scale. We diamond graders use a master set of stones to compare colour of a diamond, in our possession and in very particular lighting. Most people cannot differentiate between one colour and the next one, a trained eye helps. Again this is why you need to trust your jeweller and what they are sourcing.  

 Diamond colour diagram

The colour of a diamond

As the gemstones from H and above are still ‘white’ stones, they are still up with the gods and by choice this is our starting point for sourcing. We don’t go below this point unless specifically requested by our clients. Colour of a diamond is yet another variable to play around with, the purer the colour the rarer it is and therefore the price will reflect that accordingly.    
There is a lot of information to absorb about the 4 C's of a diamond, they truly are a mathematical equation when it comes to the cut, teamed with all the variables with colour, carat and clarity, diamond buying can truly be a minefield when you don’t know what you are looking for.  We are specialists in diamonds which is why we only source the finest ethical diamonds with the best 'life'.   Team these with a bespoke jewellery design, master goldsmiths using sustainable gold, cue one happy recipient!   
Contact origin 31 to create a piece of bespoke jewellery especially for you
If you found this interesting perhaps have a look at these articles or bespoke diamond jewellery gallery;