Color grading system for diamonds

In history, diamonds have been a much coveted gemstone. Treasure chests of kings and queens have been abundantly filled with such extravaganza. Be it men or women, high or low, diamonds made a special place in hearts.

Around cultures, diamonds have played a prominent role in mythological records. In Indian culture, possession of diamonds marked the four main castes. Brahmins possessed colorless diamond; Kshatriyas valued brown/champagne colored one; Vaisya called in (the color of a kodali flower); and the Sudra were identified with a polished blade like color or gray/black diamond. Kings and royalties possessed the most valued red and yellow as royal gems.

In other major cultures, it was credited to have magical powers. It could remove the evil eye over the wearer, bring good luck, and provide super strength.

A diamond is the simplest yet hardest form of carbon. Treated as a precious gemstone, chemically it is a plain, crystallized from of the element. Regarding its unsurpassable physical properties, its wearable durability is due to its hardiness. Along with it, brilliance and color are the deciding factors of its salability.

There are many colorful varieties in this magnificent one. The most popular one calls for the colorless or white. However, fancy diamonds come into shades like pink, light blue, light green, light blue, and lavender which occur rarely.

Historically, India has been the erstwhile source of quality diamonds and the most important one until eighteenth century. The colored diamonds were sold at high prices than its colorless counterpart.

Talking about color, as mentioned above, within 4 Cs, color is a main criteria to find the most beautiful and brilliant diamond. Others are clarity, cut, clarity, and carat weight.

Affecting the cost, body color is very essential because it’s the first thing that buyers notice first and admire. Most attractive ones count on the colorless or white diamonds which are extremely rare.

Moreover, it’s the skill which is needed to look at a diamond and evaluate its color. Actually, the various color shade varieties are graded on a color grading system. It is suggested to best examine a stone when unmounted or loose.

Currently, color grading system introduced by GIA (Gemological Institute of America) is used extensively for color grading of diamonds. Color grading system also works on the fire within or brilliance of diamond through the pavilion or bottom.

For your ease, a table consisting color grades is given below:

Diamond Color Grades

COLORLESS D,E,F Loose diamonds appear colorless

NEAR COLOLRLESS G,H,I,J When mounted in a setting, these diamonds may appear

colorless to the untrained eye

FAINT YELLOWISH TINT K,L,M Smaller diamonds look colorless when mounted. Diamonds of ½

carat or more show traces of color.

VERY LIGHT YELLOWISH TINT N,O,P,Q,R These diamonds show increasingly yellow tints to even the

untrained eye, and appear very “off white”.

TINTED LIGHT YELLOWISH S,T,U,V,W,X,Y,Z

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