Diamond Colour
There are many common misconceptions that surround the selection and valuation of a diamond. Of these, one of the biggest is that the diamond colour is somehow a make-or-break proposition, and that anything less than perfect whiteness will quite literally cast a pall over the stone – and its owner.
In fact, a little knowledge demonstrates that the importance of the diamond colour tends to be greatly overstated by the vendors who hawk such items, perhaps owing to the tremendous price bump they get by convincing you to upgrade.
How are the colours determined?
Diamonds tend to be graded on a scale from D to Z, with D being totally colorless, and Z being visibly tinged with yellow. Most gemologists further break down this scale into sections – D through F are considered colourless, G through J nearly colourless, K through M faintly yellow, and N through Z light yellow. It is easy to get lost in these letter designations and believe they represent important distinctions, but the truth is that even experienced diamond sellers often cannot identify such subtle gradations with the naked eye.
What does matter tremendously is the setting in which you place that diamond. There is a reason why the experts only evaluate diamonds as loose stones: place them in a cradle of gold or platinum, and suddenly the very character of that diamond changes dramatically. These are, after all, translucent minerals, and they pick up hues and highlights from everything in the environment. Gold settings in particular will deepen the yellow caste of any diamond, which is why choosing a colorless stone is essentially meaningless if it will live in gold for its lifetime anyway.
What colour grade should I choose?
Another clear way to bring out the dazzle in any diamond is by ensuring it has a flawless cut. Far too many diamond sellers outsource their cutting tasks to inexperienced professionals who may create an angle that is too steep or shallow. The danger with improper cutting is that the light can escape out the bottom, or else bounce back at the viewer before it has a chance to pick up all the prisms and facets of that stone's interior. Get the right angle, however, and your diamond's colour will glow all the brighter, adding value and luster with one or two well-aimed slices.
There are few purchases that carry the emotional heft and permanence of a diamond, which is why so many people rightly want to educate themselves before they buy. Do some in-person research, however, and you will soon discover that what really makes one ring speak to you can differ from one person to the next – it could be the weight, the cut, the setting, the colour, or even the history of that stone. Your eye is the ultimate and final arbiter of beauty, and no letter grade can ever substitute for the impact of a truly personal gift.