Diamonds occur in many colors, some of those colors are red, blue, pink, violet, green, brown, black, orange, yellow, yellowish-green and colorless.

These colors will vary in hues and intensity and can occur naturally or be induced by man.

We will be discussing diamonds that are colorless, near colorless, very faint color to faint color.

Color is one of the four “C”s that determine a diamond’s value.

Color generally refers to slight variations of tint or hue in near colorless diamonds. This color variation is seldom distinguishable by the average layperson.

Over the past few years, I conducted a small study with approximately 300 of my customers. They were asked to compare several diamonds.

One diamond was a G.I.A. Color grade of “H” while the other diamond was a G.I.A. Color Grade of “M”.

Fewer than 20% were able to discern the color difference.

Most of those who noticed the color difference thought that the difference was one-maybe two grades, while the actual difference was 5 grades.

Color in a diamond is very subtle, consisting of very fine nuances. Most diamond graders consider color to be very difficult to grade.

My favorite way to describe color is not to think of it as color but more as a feeling or look.

The less color a diamond has the harder, colder, brighter and ice like it will appear.

The more color a diamond has the softer / warmer it will appear.

As a general rule, you are not going to see color!

Fortunately for the average consumer, color has a greater impact upon a diamond’s rarity and value than it does on a diamond’s beauty.
See “Cut”.

Color is graded by comparing the diamond to a set of “Master Diamonds”.

These Master Diamonds have been very meticulously graded for color and match the standards of the lab or firm that the jeweler is using.

Hopefully they are using G.I.A..
See “Diamond Grading”.

To aid and enhance the accuracy and consistency of the grading process, a “Color Box” is used so that the diamonds are viewed under a standardize light source.

There are many different grading systems used to describe a diamond’s color.

Many of these systems copy or use charts or graphs that look similar to each other.

Seldom do they mean the same thing.

That is why the Federal Trade Commission requires Jewelers to identify which grading system they are using.  See “Diamond Shopping”.

A Color Grade of “H” in one system does not mean the same as a Color Grade of “H” in another system.

So be very careful and make sure the Jeweler follows the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines and identifies which grading system they are using.

I strongly recommend the G.I.A. Grading System for it is the industry standard!
See “Diamond Grading”.

Once a diamond has been mounted into a piece of jewelry, that diamond can no longer be accurately graded for color.

Appraisals!!! Generally, they just guess!