The Diamond Colour
See also > Carat >Cut >Clarity > Colour > Fluorescence
 In
the late 1950's GIA (The Gemological Institute of America) introduced
the colour grading system that is used today. The GIA grading
system replaced grades such as Top Wesselton and Capes and is
internationally accepted. In most cases, unlike all other gems,
it is the absence of colour that makes the stone more valuable.
With the exception of "Fancies", or fancy coloured diamonds,
which are rare, all diamonds are graded on the scale shown below.
Most diamonds are either a light yellow, light brown or light gray.
The separation between grades is almost undetectable to the untrained
eye.
An analogy would be five pieces of white paper of differing qualities.
Looked at Individually they are all look white, but when placed side
by side the distinction can be made. |
| Trained Gemologists will grade diamonds in a loose table
down position using comparison stones and properly controlled lighting
to make their judgments. The same specialist will be able
to grade a set stone within two colour grades, although to the
inexperienced grader the colour in a diamond will be virtually
indiscernible until the stone reaches a "J". Even a
"J" colour diamond will appear white when mounted and face
up. The value in a stone changes dramatically with each colour
grade. |
|
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