Diamond Color

The diamond color greatly influences its value.

A pure white diamond is worth far more than one that has a faint yellow hue.

However, a canary yellow diamond is worth more than a white diamond. All that is assuming that the color of the diamond is natural.

A diamond can be treated to change its color. A diamond may be made whiter, a white diamond could become canary yellow or some other color artificially.

A diamond with natural color is worth more than one which has been treated to change its color, all other things being equal.

White diamonds

White diamonds, or rather, colorless diamonds are far more valuable than the off white diamonds. A color grade of D is the best color grade a white diamond could have.

Grades, D, E and F are considered colorless and therefore the most valuable. These are known as the exceptional white or rare white diamonds.

Grades G, H, I and J are near colorless. The average person probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between these and the colorless diamonds. These too are known as rare white diamonds. They may be referred to as the fine white diamonds.

Grades K, L, M  are faint yellowish. This would be more obvious in the larger diamonds.

Grades N, O, P, Q and R have are very light yellowish tint. They are off white.

Grades S,T,U,V,W,X,Y and Z are tinted light yellowish in color. With the exception of grade Z, these are the least expensive of the color grades. Grade Z, if it is a beautiful canary yellow is worth more than a colorless diamond.

Fluorescence in diamonds.

Some diamonds have a blue flourescence. That means, when the diamond is exposed to UV light, it appears blue.

In sunlight or under flourescent light, such diamonds appear whiter than their actual color grade.

Some diamonds on the other hand have a yellow flourescence. When exposed to UV light, these appear yellow.

Such diamonds would appear more yellowish in daylight than their actual color grade would dictate.