Guide to Diamond Colors

The Auctentic Guide to different diamond colors

Diamonds have always been treasured for their remarkable beauty. From being hailed as "a girl's best friend" to DeBeers famous "a diamond is forever" marketing campaign, they hold deep personal and cultural significance for many. Central to this allure is the incredible variety of colors they come in, each with their own captivating brilliance and unique symbolism.

If you’re considering selling your diamond jewelry, understanding the different diamond colors and their significance can help you determine the market value of your precious jewels. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover important topics such as the varying types of diamond colors, how many diamond colors there are, and how diamond colors are graded.

The types of diamond colors

 From the purest white to spectacular rainbow hues, diamonds come in a dazzling array of colors. These reflect the natural conditions of creating a diamond, and also the preferences of each individual diamond owner. White diamonds, for instance, have historically been favored for their timeless elegance and classic beauty. On the other hand, fancy colored diamonds in shades of yellow, hue and pink, are chosen for their vibrancy and rarity, making them popular with diamond collectors.
 
While colorless diamonds derive their lack of color from an absence of impurities, fancy colored diamonds get their color from structural anomalies that form as they are created. This can be due to the presence of nitrogen, boron, or other trace elements. It is these chance inclusions that make them so rare. You'll find fancy colored diamonds in a number of shades, but red and green colored diamonds are exceptionally rare. This is reflected in their value in both the primary and second-hand markets.

The most famous fancy colored diamonds

Famous fancy colored diamonds include the Hope Diamond, which is housed in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. Weighing a staggering 45.53 carats, it is valued at 400 million USD. Another iconic fancy colored diamond is the fancy yellow Tiffany Diamond, which was famously set in a necklace with 100 carats of more diamonds. This breathtaking piece was later adapted and worn by Lady Gaga at the 2019 Oscars. The extraordinary pink star diamond is also worth a mention. Weighing 132.5 carats, this beautiful stone was discovered in 1999 by the DeBeers Group. After later being sold to diamond cutters at the Beny Steinmetz Group, who preserved its mesmerizing color, it was eventually auctioned by Sotheby’s and sold to the Chow Tai Fook group for a record-breaking 71. Million USD.

The Diamond Color Scale 

Diamond color scales, such as the one devised by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), allow professionals to evaluate the presence of different diamond colors. The scale gives colored diamonds a letter grade that spans from D (colorless) to Z (slightly tinted yellow or brown). Colored diamonds graded D are the most colorless, and are considered particularly rare for their purity. Those with clearly evident yellow or brown hues are graded Z. Our experts have provided the following breakdown of the scale:
 
Diamonds D, E, F
 These diamonds are classified as colorless. You are unlikely to be able to see any color with the naked eye.
 
Diamonds G, H, I, J
 These diamonds are categorized as nearly colorless. This means with a close look; you may be able to see slight traces of color.
 
K colored diamonds and onwards
 From K colored diamonds onwards, you will be able to see more traces of noticeable color. These can range from faint yellow or brown, to other saturated as grey or greenish hues towards the end of the alphabetical scale.
 
If you have a diamond to sell at the higher end of the diamond colors scale, it is likely to be worth more than those at the lower end. Diamonds with high grades, such as D colored diamonds, are of particularly high value as they exude exceptional brilliance, while those with low grades such as K colored diamonds and onwards have coloration that can take away from their overall beauty.

In summary, the world of diamond colors is as fascinating as it is useful for those considering selling their diamond jewelry. From the classic beauty of white, colorless diamonds to the awe-inspiring rarity and vibrant hues of fancy colored diamonds, these differences showcase the breadth of nature's artistry and the spectrum of human taste. 
 
By understanding the different diamond colors and what they mean for the sale of your diamond, you can be better equipped to make wise decisions. To further talk through selling your diamonds, get in touch with our professional team today. We would be delighted to help you unlock the value of your heirloom pieces or diamonds you no longer wear. Plus, with our convenient online calculator, you can pre-estimate the value of your diamond.