Understanding the Diamond Colour Grade Scale | BNT Diamonds
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Understanding the diamond colour grading scale

02 Dec 21

A diamond’s value is determined by the 4 Cs: carat, cut, clarity and colour. For colourless diamonds (as opposed to coloured diamonds), the diamond industry has adopted an alphabetical scale from D to Z, with D being the highest grading. As you go down the scale, the diamond starts to develop a yellow tint.

Diamond experts determine the colour by comparing a diamond against a master set of diamonds of different colours. Therefore, without comparing diamonds side by side, it is difficult to see the difference between grades. However, it plays a vital role in determining the price of the jewel.

In this guide, we will cover the following topics to give you a better understanding of the role colour plays in the value of a diamond:

DEF colour graded diamonds: The colourless range

Below, we provide a brief breakdown of diamonds graded DEF on the colour scale. These are considered ‘premium’ colour grades and are, therefore, highly sought-after. But, they are also more expensive than lower-graded diamonds.

Colour grade D diamond: D is the highest on the diamond colour grading scale, indicating that the stone is completely colourless (or white). D colour diamonds are rare and come at high prices.

Colour grade E diamond: The difference between a D and an E colour graded diamond is not typically noticeable from the naked eye of a non-expert. In fact, it would only be visible to an expert gemologist in a lab using master stones for comparison. Nevertheless, E graded stones are usually slightly cheaper in price.

Colour grade F diamond: F grade diamonds are the lowest of the premium colourless diamonds. However, most people are not able to easily discern between DEF colour graded diamonds.

Loose diamonds on a limited budget

GHI colour grade diamonds: The near-colourless range

Diamonds within this range fall just shy of the premium colourless set of diamonds. Yet, there is only a slight visible difference between them.

Colour grade G diamond: Diamonds with colour grade G are almost colourless, and a slight colour difference only becomes apparent when compared to D or E premium diamonds. Because of this, G diamonds represent excellent value for money as they are usually cheaper than premium diamonds while still appearing colourless to the naked eye.

Colour grade H diamond: The H colour is generally thought of as the watershed between colourless diamonds and slightly tinted diamonds.

Colour grade I diamond: I colour diamonds are quite a lot more affordable than diamonds with other near colourless grades. However, they may not be as attractive a choice for investment purposes.

Colourless vs colour diamonds

Beyond the near-colourless scale, diamonds develop a slightly more visible tint. However, it is critical to understand that a colourless diamond with a yellow tint is not the same as a yellow coloured diamond, which is rare.

Natural fancy colour diamonds are found in nature with their exceptional colours. It is this natural phenomenon that makes them special. While all diamonds were created underneath the earth’s surface, some were exposed to additional elements that altered their structure. This unique alteration comes across through stunning colours, such as blue, which stems from the element boron, or yellow, which is caused by nitrogen.

While colourless diamonds receive a score of D to Z on the colour grading scale based on their yellow or brown tint, fancy colour diamonds are graded on the intensity of the colour — and the rarer the colour, the steeper the price.

Remember, colour is just one of the 4 Cs and should be considered along with the other factors that influence a diamond’s quality.

High-quality colourless diamonds from BNT Diamonds

BNT Diamonds buys diamonds straight from the source to offer you the best quality diamonds at the best price. In addition, all our diamonds have passed through a renowned certification agency, such as GIA, HRD or IGI.

If you are interested in buying diamonds — whatever their position on the colour grade scale — as a value investment, contact our expert team today.

Fabienne Rauw
About Fabienne Rauw
BNT Diamonds Antwerp

Fabienne, manager of the German market is able to guide every client with finding the right jewel. She takes care of most of the German orders, but also takes other task on her plate. Thanks to her six years of experience at BNT Diamonds she acquainted well with the product and the marketing around it. Her degree in PR ensures that BNT Diamonds is well presented across all media channels. For anyone looking into a new investment opportunity, Fabienne is the perfect guide in this process. No question will be left unanswered, and she will help you every step of the way.

With this article, BNT Diamonds strives to inform you thoroughly about investing in diamonds. No investment can be guaranteed to be without risk or fully according to your expectations. That is why we recommend to research the risks and aspects of investing in diamond properly to ensure that you make the right choice for your portfolio.