Colored Diamond Grading

The value of colored diamonds is based on the rarity of color; followed by color intensity. The more intense the color, the more valuable the natural colored diamond is.

HOW ARE FANCY COLORED DIAMONDS GRADED?

Some colored diamonds are so rare and beautiful that their market value is only determined through a bidding process similar to fine art and antiques. Most sought after are red diamonds, followed by yellow, black and champagne diamonds. Extremely rare are pure green and orange diamonds, followed by yellow and then black and champagne diamonds.

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) system for color-grading is based on the attributes of hue, tone and saturation.

Hue:

Refers to primary or characteristic color.

Saturation:

Refers to the strength or weakness of the primary hue or color, while tone is the amount of light or dark coloration present in the diamond.

Grade:

The diamond’s color is determined from one of the twenty-seven hues of color like red, pink, blue and green to brown and black. The finest color grade for colored diamonds is Fancy Vivid followed by Fancy Deep, Fancy Intense, Fancy, Fancy Light, Very Light, to Faint; very different than evaluating transparent or colorless diamonds.