While diamonds can be found in almost every colour of the rainbow, colourless diamonds remain the most popular.

When describing the colour of a diamond reference is being made to the degree of colour found in that diamond. The less colour displayed in a diamond the better the colour grade. The notable exception to this would be in the case of fancy coloured diamonds, such as pink, yellow, green and blue. In fancy coloured diamonds a strong presence of colour would improve the diamond’s colour grading.

Diamonds displaying little colour will allow more light to pass though, creating a prism effect, with its spectrum of colours and flash, known as fire.

Diamonds are allocated a grade according to the level of colour they possess. This grading is alphabetical, starting with a D grade given to colourless diamonds and further movement down the alphabet for diamonds with progressively larger amounts of colour, ending in a Z+ grade.

The colour grades can be described as follows:

• D, E & F grades:
  These are clolourless diamonds. Only experienced diamond graders are capable of differentiating between D & E colours, and then only if these diamonds are unmounted. Diamond graders can more consistently identify F colour diamonds.
• G, H, I & J grades:
  These are near clourless diamonds, and very often appear colourless when mounted and graded face up. Non- diamond graders will not be able to detect colour in these diamonds. The average consumer will only be able to detect a subtle presence of colour around the J grade.
• K, L & M grades:
  Most consumers will be able to identify color in these diamonds, when mounted. However when these diamonds weigh less then half a carat and are mounted in white metal, they may still appear as clourless.
• O –Z grades:
  Most consumers will be quick to notice colour in these diamonds, regardless of how the diamond is mounted. These diamonds will range between a very-light yellow and a light yellow, however brown and grey tones may also be identified.

What to consider when deciding on your diamond’s colour:

• Where your setting is in yellow gold you may be able to chose a lower colour grade than if you were choosing a platinum or white gold setting;
• Yellow shades, found in K-M graded diamonds, may draw out the latent character of a jewellery piece, depending on the piece selected.
• DiamondCelebrations.com supplies diamonds in the D-J colour grading range only.

A word on fluorescence
Fluorescence is the reaction of some diamonds to exposure of UV lighting. Generally it has been understood that fluorescence makes clear diamonds appear as cloudy and yellow tinted diamonds appear as clear when subject to UV lighting. Under normal lighting conditions fluorescence is not detectable.

However, the presence or absence of fluorescence has had only minor importance in the purchasing decisions of most diamond buyers. This is because of the following:

• Fluorescence is only detectable under UV lighting;
• Under UV lighting even trained gemologists are unable to consistently agree on the effects of fluorescence and;
• Some buyers prefer the aesthetic effect of fluorescence.

Our suggestion is that buyers who are able to purchase colourless or near-colourless diamonds at reduced prices because of the presence of fluorescence, should seriously consider this option.