The importance of diamond color is clear.

Diamond Color

When most people think of diamonds, they imagine one with little to no color. However, when we refer to diamond color, we are actually talking about the absence of color.

Diamonds come in a wide range of hues, from colorless to shades of yellow, gray, brown, and even almost every color in the spectrum. Fortunately, evaluating diamond color is not a matter of personal preference—it's a precise skill.

The correct way to assess diamond color is under controlled lighting conditions, where diamonds are compared to masterstones with established color grades.

Once evaluated, diamond color is recorded using the GIA D-to-Z Color Scale, with D representing colorless and Z indicating light color.

The GIA D-to-Z Color Scale.

Color is subjective. Before the establishment of a universal grading scale, the terminology used to describe diamond color was inconsistent, ranging from letters and numbers to Roman numerals and even phrases like "blue white." This led to confusion, misinterpretation, and, in some cases, misrepresentation of a diamond's true color.

Today, the GIA's D-to-Z diamond color scale is recognized worldwide as the universal standard for grading diamond color.

Starting where others left off.

The GIA D-to-Z Color Scale starts at D to eliminate confusion and association with previous grading systems. D represents the highest grade, colorless.

This approach has created a universally recognized scale, bringing consistency and clarity to the way we discuss diamond color.

The Evolution of Diamond Color Grading

Before the introduction of the GIA D-to-Z Color Scale, the terminology and methods for evaluating diamond color were inconsistent and often confusing. Establishing a clear grading system is only effective when the evaluations are standardized and precise.

In 1953, the GIA introduced the D-to-Z Color Scale, providing the diamond industry with a much-needed framework. This scale allowed for objective, accurate, and consistent color grading.

The GIA D-to-Z Color Scale evaluates the depth of a diamond's color, with the range spanning from D (colorless) to Z (light yellow, light brown, or light gray). Variations in color receive specific grades within this range.

Today, the GIA D-to-Z Color Scale is the internationally recognized standard for grading diamond color depth. It not only captures visible color but also the subtle differences within each hue that influence a diamond’s overall quality.

Understanding Fancy Color Diamonds

"Fancy color" refers to diamonds that fall outside the typical D-to-Z color range. While there are no universally standardized guidelines for using the term "Fancy," it is generally understood within the gem and jewelry industry to describe yellow or brown diamonds that have a richer color than a Z masterstone or diamonds displaying colors other than yellow, gray, or brown.