Color

Diamond Color Scale Guide

Learn everything you need to know about the diamond color scale to select the perfect diamond for you.

Expertise you can trust: All of our guides are meticulously researched and reviewed by our certified gemologists, content, editorial, and brand teams before publication to ensure industry-leading excellence and accuracy.

What Is Diamond Color?

Diamond color refers not to the presence of color within a diamond but to the absence or lack of it. As one of the 4 C's used to describe and determine diamond quality, it is an important factor in a diamond's appearance and value. A technically perfect diamond, like a drop of pure water, is colorless, while others may contain a slight yellowish tint or a fancy color, such as pink or blue.

Diamond Color

J Color

Near-colorless. Slightly detected color—a good value.

I Color

Near-colorless. Slightly detected color—a good value.

H Color

Near-colorless. Color noticeable when compared to diamonds of better grades, but offers excellent value.

G Color

Near-colorless. Color noticeable when compared to diamonds of better grades, but offers excellent value.

F Color

Colorless. Slight color detected by an expert gemologist, but still considered a “colorless” grade—a high-quality diamond.

E Color

Colorless. Only miniscule traces of color can be detected by an expert gemologist—a rare, high quality diamond.

D Color

Absolutely colorless or icy white. The highest color grade—extremely rare and most expensive

Diamond Color Scale

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) developed the diamond color scale in the 1940s to standardize diamond color grading internationally. The scale begins with the letter D, which represents colorless, and increases in color presence to the letter Z, which represents as light yellow, grey, pink, or brown.

Colorless Diamond Grades

D, E and F are the top grades on the GIA color scale and are considered colorless diamonds. D graded diamonds are the rarest and most expensive diamonds as they exhibit absolutely no color whatsoever. Meanwhile, F graded ones can show a hint of faint hue only visible to a trained eye. As only trained experts can tell the difference between D, E or F-colored diamonds, they are the most valuable and desirable options you can go for, if you are looking for the finest diamonds.

Near Colorless Diamond Grades

G, H, I and J colors are considered near colorless. They can show faint traces of warm colors while these hints are still hard to notice for the untrained eye. G is the highest grade in the near colorless category, and it appears almost completely colorless. H, I and J graded diamonds also appear almost colorless although they can display a shadowy and faint yellow reflection under bright light. Diamonds falling into this category often come at a more modest price point when compared to colorless diamonds.

Faint Color Diamond Grades

K, L and M are faint color grades. They have a yellowish tint that can be seen with the naked eye. While colorless and near-colorless diamonds are the most sought-after options, faint colored diamonds offer an alternative at a more accessible price. If you’re after a classic bright white diamond, their subtle and warm hues may not be ideal for you. For quality considerations, we don’t offer diamonds graded K, L and M at Purple Carats.

Very Light and Light Color Grades

Diamonds falling in between N and Z grade scales are very light and light color ones. They showcase a yellow, brown or gray hue that is distinctly noticeable. Although they offer a budget-friendly option, their visible and dim color may not suit everyone's preference for a classic sparkling and eyeful colorless diamond. For quality considerations, we don’t offer diamonds graded between N and Z at Purple Carats.

Diamond Color Grading Process

To grade a diamond's color on the GIA scale, experts compare it to stones of known color, called master stones, under controlled lighting and precise viewing conditions on pure white paper. This comparative process allows for a precise and accurate description of the diamond's color on a scale between D and Z. Once the color grade is determined, it's added to the diamond's certified grading report alongside cut, clarity, carat, and other identifying details.

How Important Is a Diamond's Color?

Color can be a very important factor when picking your perfect diamond. Not only does the quality of color grading affect a diamond's price, but it can also significantly affect its appearance. Though icy, colorless diamonds are traditionally the most coveted, contemporary couples often opt for a diamond with a warmer tint, as it can display a unique and timeless look.

As always, finding the right diamond for you will involve discovering the right balance of the 4 C's and your budget. If color is the most important factor for you, you may need to sacrifice on carat weight, cut, or clarity. Or vice versa, if carat weight, cut, or clarity is the most important, opting for a near-colorless diamond can be a better option than a colorless one.

Should You Match Your Center Diamond Color with the Side Stones?

While your center diamond and side stone diamonds don't need to match exactly, it's important to remember that they can affect one another. For example, if your center stone is a warmer J-color and your side stones are an icy D-color, your center stone may appear to have more of an intense tint than it does in contrast with the more colorless side stones. The opposite is also true: if you have a colorless E-color center stone and G-color accent stones, your center stone may appear even more icy white.

Tips for Choosing Diamond Color

Shape

A diamond's shape can help to hide a low color grade or, unfortunately, better display it. Generally, round hide color better than any other cut, as they have numerous small brilliant facets that diminish the underlying color. A diamond with step facets, such as an emerald-cut, will show more color.

Carat

The carat weight New Window of a diamond can play a role in the intensity of its color presentation. A larger diamond tends to show its color more than a smaller one. For example, if you put a two-carat J-color diamond next to a half-carat J-color diamond, the larger diamond will appear to have more color based on its size.

Settings

The metal type of your setting can significantly impact the color presentation of your diamond. For example, D, E, and F (colorless) diamonds are best set in white gold or platinum as the silver tint of the setting helps the stone show off its icy white hue. Stones with a faint color look stunning in golden or rose settings, as they can help calm any brownish-yellow tint of the diamond.

Fancy Colored Diamonds

Fancy-colored diamonds feature colors that extend beyond the normal color range of D-Z. They are incredibly rare and come in every color of the rainbow, including blue, green, pink, yellow, orange New Window, and red.

While diamonds within the normal range decrease in value as their color becomes more apparent, the opposite is true for fancy-colored diamonds: their value increases exponentially with the strength and purity of the color. Generally, the more vivid a fancy-colored diamond is, the more expensive it'll be.

Lab-grown fancy-colored diamonds are available and can be more affordable than their natural counterparts while featuring the same physical, chemical, and optical properties.

Diamond Color FAQ

What is the rarest diamond color?

D is the rarest color for diamonds within the normal color range (D-Z). For fancy-colored diamonds, the rarest color is an intense red or vibran torange.

What is the most common diamond color?

The most common diamonds used in engagement rings and fine jewelry are diamonds within the near-colorless range: G, H, I, and J.

Diamond clarity vs. color: which is more important?

Both diamond clarity and color are important. Which one is more important depends on which quality factor is more important to you. If a perfect, flawless stone is the most important to you, clarity is the most important. If an icy white, colorless diamond is the most important to you, color is the most important.

Does diamond fluorescence make a yellow diamond look whiter?

It is very rare for diamond fluorescence| New Window to impact the color appearance of your diamond under normal lighting conditions. If your diamond is fluorescent, you should only be able to tell is under direct UV lighting.