Learn about diamond whiteness in just 5 minutes flat.
What is diamond colour?
What is diamond whiteness? In just five minutes or less, bring yourself up to speed with our concise guide to the colour scale of diamond whiteness.
Jewellers and diamond experts grade diamonds on a scale from D to Z.
‘D’ colour represents the best and whitest colour grade for a diamond. Moreover, D-colour represents an absence of colour within the body of the diamond.
As diamond experts, we grade whiteness in a laboratory viewed on a white diamond grading trough under white light. We inspect diamonds from the side using a master set of diamond colours to compare one whiteness grade with another. As a result, we maintain accuracy and consistency.
Diamond whiteness is one of the characteristics recorded on the laboratory report, or certificate when a diamond arrives back from certification.
Does whiteness make a diamond sparkle?
The whiteness of a diamond does not affect sparkle or brilliance.
In fact, a diamond’s sparkle and brilliance result from the cut, polish and proportions of the diamond.
What is the best colour grade to choose for an engagement ring?
D-colour diamonds represent the most expensive colour grade, especially in high-clarity grades. For this reason, some buyers favour lower-clarity diamonds with the best possible whiteness grade.
Alternatively, by dropping the colour slightly to E or F colour, the difference will be negligible with a reduction in cost.
Lab-grown diamond whiteness
At Serendipity Diamonds, we now provide both natural and lab-grown diamonds. Lab-grown options provide a cost-effective way to reduce the price of a high-colour-high-clarity diamond. Their value falls way beyond a natural diamond with the same physical, chemical and optical properties by comparison.
Are tinted yellow diamonds cheaper?
Tinted diamonds are typically cheaper than white diamonds. Two diamonds of a similar cut, clarity and carat weight may vary enormously in the price for this reason. If you are prepared to accept a tinted diamond, it is possible to reduce your overall diamond cost significantly. Feel free to talk to us about diamond whiteness grades that fall outside our website specifications. We carry many alternative diamond colours at different prices.
How to find out the colour of your diamond
The quickest way to find out the colour of your diamond is to look at your valuation or diamond report. Most diamond certificates list a colour grade on the report. If you do not have a valuation or certificate, many experienced jewellers will provide an estimate of the diamond colour. Diamonds set into yellow gold can be difficult to colour grade. For this reason, diamonds are typically graded for colour before they are set into a piece of jewellery.
About Mark Johnson
Mark founded Isle of Wight jewellers Serendipity Diamonds in 2007 after a career on the polished diamonds industry. Today he works in the Serendipity showroom, helping clients with jewellery, creating handmade designs and updating their two jewellery websites SerendipityDiamonds.com and Isle-of-Wight-Jewellery.co.uk
