The 5 C’s, Colour

Colour

Diamond colour chart
Diamond colour chart

Diamond colour refers to the presence or absence of colour in a diamond. The most valuable diamonds are those that are completely colourless or nearly colourless, with a grading scale ranging from D (completely colourless) to Z (a light yellow or brown colour).
Colourless diamonds, those in the D-F range, are the rarest and most valuable, as their lack of colour allows them to reflect light with maximum brilliance and fire. As you move down the scale to G-J, the diamonds begin to exhibit faint yellow or brown tints, which can be noticeable to the naked eye.
Diamonds in the K-M range have a more noticeable yellow or brown tint, and diamonds graded N-Z are considered to have a “fancy” colour, meaning they exhibit a more intense yellow, brown, or even pink or blue hue. However, these fancy coloured diamonds can also be very valuable, depending on the intensity and rarity of the colour.
The colour of a diamond can have a significant effect on its price, as it is one of the key factors that determine a diamond’s quality and rarity.
As mentioned earlier, the most valuable diamonds are those that are completely colourless or nearly colourless, with a grading scale ranging from D to Z. Colourless diamonds, those in the D-F range, are the rarest and most valuable, and their prices can be several times higher than those of diamonds with a visible yellow or brown tint.
This is because the presence of any colour in a diamond can reduce its brilliance and fire, which are the qualities that give a diamond its sparkle and beauty. In addition, because colourless diamonds are rarer and harder to find, they are more highly valued and command a higher price.
However, it’s worth noting that the price of a diamond is also influenced by other factors such as carat weight, clarity, and cut quality. So, even if a diamond has a lower colour grade, it may still be valuable if it has exceptional clarity, a large carat weight, or an excellent cut.
natural fancy colours, such as blue, pink, purple, yellow or red, the colorless grade is the most valuable.

Due to inaccuracy and inconsistency, colour machines are not used to grade diamonds by any of the internationally recognised laboratories. The prescribed method for grading colour is by comparing  the diamond to a registered master set.