Buyer's Guide | Best Diamond Buying Guide

Although most of the diamonds look colorless and the same, there are certain or uncertain color tones among all of them. When choosing a diamond, the most important issue to be considered is cut, clarity, and color options. Color is considered the most important feature after cutting. The scale determined by GIA (American Gemology Institute) is classified from D to Z and accepted as the color standard worldwide. The more colorless a diamond is, the more valuable it is. Perfect white is among the D-H class. This quality refers to classes that appear white to the eye. I and later grades are seen as pale yellow with the naked eye in the first place. Diamonds, which have been formed over millions of years, show their colors like pale yellow with nitrogen atoms and carbon atoms added to their structure. Therefore, the color scale is used. The color of the diamond is determined by the chemical contamination as well as the structural defects of the stone. D: completely colorless and best quality diamond, very rare extra white color.E-F: Colorless, free of yellow and green tones. It contains very subtle colors that can only be determined by gemologists.G-H: This color scale is almost colorless. There are yellow and green tones, even if it is small. It is a class whose color tone is not understood and perceived as white when compared to diamonds whiter than itself.I-J: It can be called colorless. It carries a warm tone that can be noticed with the naked eye, it is quite affordable compared to the top quality and is the last class as a colorless class.K-Z: It is colorful. It is the group that is never accepted by those who will buy diamonds. The 4C rule is very important when choosing diamonds. When you want to buy diamonds, you no longer have to go from shop to store. Diamond stores, after serving in this field for many years, followed the developing technology and switched to the e-commerce system and offered the same quality and confidence to customers who would shop online. I, J, K, L, Z varieties, where you can see the shades of yellow with many years of diamond making experience, are suitable in terms of price, but I recommend you to choose between the D-H color scale according to your budget so that you do not regret afterward. What is the Importance of Color in Diamond? It is considered that all diamonds are colorless, ie transparent. However, each diamond can have a different color tone. When looking only with the naked eye, it is not possible to understand the colors of diamonds or to determine their brightness level. Of course, we do not mean red, blue, or green tones. The quality of the stone is actually the determining factor of the colors in the diamond. If the stone is flawed or if the stone is contaminated due to various chemicals in nature, then it will have a color tone closer to yellow. In general, we can state that the colors of diamonds have a tone scale ranging from white to yellow. If you are wondering which is the best among these shades, we can tell you that the furthest color from yellow, that is, the whitest tone, is the best color in a diamond. In diamonds, colors are indicated by letters. These letters are evaluated in 5 different categories in total. We can list these categories as follows: Extra white: D, E, FWhite: G, H, I, JClose to white: K, L, MVery light yellow: N, O, P, Q, RLight yellow: S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z Color is generally considered to be the most important element in diamonds. Of course, color is an important factor in determining the value of the diamond. However, it would be wrong to state that the most important element is color. It should be underlined that it is extremely important in determining the value of the cut of the diamond along with the color. At the same time, the carat value is also among the important factors. As the color moves from white to yellow in diamond, its value decreases. In this respect, it is not possible to say that the color is an insignificant element in the price point. Of course, the importance of color is very important in determining the value of the diamond. We just want to point out that it is not a decisive factor alone. The most valuable diamonds are the ones whose color is closest to white. Because those that are closer to yellow in color have a slightly poorer appearance. Since it contains more stains, the price is lower than the white diamonds. However, these spots cannot be seen with the naked eye. That's why every diamond looks great from the outside! After deciding on the color of the diamond you will buy, to decide on the carat you can read my other related articles. More Information on the Best Diamond Colors Diamonds are stones that can be found in many colors. However, there are generally colored, near colorless and pale yellow ones in jewelers. The yellow color of the diamond you choose is related to the nitrogen content it contains. The presence in the part is the most important factor that determines the K color. As a rule, the yellower the diamond, the cheaper it is. The reason is that yellow stone reflects less light and has a brighter feature. If the stone is white, it will shine more by reflecting the light. In addition, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) has certain charts for determining diamond colors. For example, color D is the most expensive grade that is considered colorless. Yet the best, most sought-after diamonds are the so-called colorless diamonds like water droplets. The diamonds with lower quality have yellow to brown color tones. The color assessment of the diamond can only be determined with the help of the necessary light and reference stones. Stones are arranged upside down and compared with reference stones to reveal their differences. It is absolutely wrong to give a color value to a stone on a ring or mount. The GIA color order is color differentiated between the letter D and Z. Diamonds with D - E-F are colorless. Those with a range of G - H are close to colorless. As these stones grow in length, the color difference appears very, very slightly. Those in the I - J range, with very mild jaundice, can only be noticed by the trained eye. Finally, the K - Z interval is noticed even by a normally untrained eye. After a diamond is cut, how much you see the color is related to the size of the diamond, how it is cut, and whether it has the setting and the color is more pronounced in large stones. Some are very sensitive to the color of diamonds. A stone that looks light yellow when viewed may appear whiter to another. It is very difficult to distinguish the color difference of the diamonds sold from G to J or even K color. What we see as color is actually a combination of brightness, fire, and how the stone reflects light. The brightness of the stone is important to how much it reflects light from its surface. It is generally defined as the brightness and vitality of the stone. It is largely related to cutting. The better the cut of the stone, the better its luster. How much the stone absorbs the white light into rainbow hues and reflects it is a phenomenon called fire. Even a colorless diamond is successful in reflecting the colors of the rainbow. The color of the diamond is understood by turning the diamond upside down and looking under the light. In order to determine the color of the diamond, you should have a color scale called Master Set. Color is difficult to determine by looking at the diamond. What you see when you look is the light due to its cut. Color evaluation is not an exact science. The values given by one laboratory can be reported opposite to another. Color rating is just a scale. For example, if it says "G / H" on the certificate, this is; It indicates that the G color has evolved to the highest and lowest H color. On the color scale, the differences are so small that sometimes it may come out differently if you take it to the same laboratory for the second time. It is imperative that there is a Master Set that you will be comparing and an environment where certain light is provided. The differences between D, E, F, G, H, colors that can be considered colorless are more visible. While G color is close to colorless, color J is closer to very light yellow. I-colored diamonds are found in the market more than colorless ones. Therefore, their price is more affordable. The Color Scale of Diamonds When purchasing diamond jewelry, usually whiter (transparent) color stones are preferred. Color in a diamond is evaluated in five general categories on a scale from D to Z. These are extra white (colorless), white (nearly colorless), weak yellow (faint yellow), very light yellow, and light yellow. In fact, diamonds contain all the colors in nature. Here you will see the dominant color in the diamond while determining the color scale. The dominant color in transparent diamonds is the yellow color caused by the trace of the nitrogen element. As the rate of nitrogen in diamond decreases, its value and whiteness increase. Generally, when the color between two diamonds is compared, the diamonds should be at least two degrees different from each other so that the difference can be understood. The diamond color order or the diamond color table shows us that it is almost impossible to see a color difference between two consecutive color degrees. Although the diamond creates magnificence with its brightness and beauty when viewed from the upper angle, some color changes can be seen when viewed from the side. The most common mistake about diamond color grading is the structure of the grading. The diamond color scale, which is generally thought to begin with the letter A, begins with D. So why does this grading start with color D? Before the grading system established by the GIA (American Gemology Institute) was widely accepted, different diamond traders were designating the best diamond color with different descriptions of “A”, “AA” or other. As might be expected, in such an uncertain environment, there was a great inconsistency and it was inevitable that the terms used to describe a diamond would lead to the great complexity. The main reason for the starting of the GIA color grading system, which is widely used today, with D, is that it is not confused with the inconsistent grading systems used in the market at that time. Extra White Diamond (D-E-F): Diamonds that fall into the standard of extra white (in other words extra colorless) are the rarest and most valuable diamonds in terms of color. It is a diamond color class that is not preferred much due to its high prices. It is preferred by those who especially care about the color element in a diamond. D color diamond: It never shows the color and since it contains less different colors in its content, it increases the brightness by reflecting the incoming light in the most effective way. Its value is quite high. Although it is in the rarest diamond color class, it is less preferred due to its high price. E color diamond: It shows a very little color that can only be seen by gemologists. It is a rare stone color class. F color diamond: It is the diamond with the highest price/performance ratio in the extra white diamond class. It is the most preferred diamond color class of the extra white diamond class, as its difference with the color and E color diamond in its content can only be distinguished by gemologists and its price is more affordable than D and E color diamonds. White Diamond (G-H-I-J) Diamonds that are classified as White Diamonds appear white in top view. However, they show a small amount of color when viewed from the white background and from the lower angle. This degree of low color content is too large to be observed after the diamond is mounted on the jewelry. Diamonds in the white diamond class are the diamonds with the highest price/performance in the diamond color grading. They show a high value for their price. It is the most popular and sold diamond color category. Since the diamonds after the J color diamond look yellow, they are traded very little, while the extra white diamonds, which are the diamonds before the G color diamond, are available on special orders due to the excessive price. G - H Color Diamond: The difference between these two degrees is not a difference that can be observed with the naked eye or by comparison. In the diamond color grading, it is the last diamond grade that does not contain any trace of yellow color. They are the most preferred diamonds in the world. It is a diamond with both white colors and affordable prices. After it is mounted on jewelry, the difference with extra white is too little to be noticeable. I - J Color Diamond: As in G and H color diamonds, the difference between I and J color diamonds is too small to be observed. They show traces of yellow color in their content, but they appear in white color. It is the most preferred is the second diamond type in the world. Near White Diamond (K-L-M): Although diamonds in the category of diamonds that are close to white, in other words weakly colored, show slight color when viewed from above, stones in this category may be a suitable option for those who are not sensitive to color. K - L - M Color Diamond: The color classes in this class and afterward have a direct yellow or brown color and this is also visible to the naked eye in this mounted diamond. For some, it may be preferred in terms of color. Very Light Colored Diamond (N-O-P-Q-R): N - O - P - Q - R Color Diamond: They are very light yellow or brown colored diamonds. This color can be clearly observed even in small size or mounted diamonds. It is the diamond color class with the most affordable prices that can be preferred in jewelry. The reason for this is that they are not included in the color class because they cannot have the yellow or brown color completely and they stay away from the white class because they do not show too many traces of white. Light Color Diamond (S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z): S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z Color Diamond: This class is the last color class before the yellow or brown color diamond. Light-colored diamonds make up this class. Generally, it is not preferred for diamond jewelry. Their prices are very low because although they are diamonds, they are not considered as diamonds. Color Selection in Diamonds: Choosing the Best Color When viewed from the outside, diamonds appear colorless. However, when you have some knowledge about diamonds, it will not take long for you to realize that each one is in different shades. It is much easier to make sense of the difference between them than expected. According to the general point of view, it is correct to say that the diamond is transparent and sparkling. In addition, one should not neglect a color scale of the glow. For this reason, diamonds that look colorless when viewed from the outside have a much different color scheme than they actually are. The main factor that determines the diamond color is the quality of the stone. If the stone is flawed and the chemicals used have caused pollution, the colors in the stone decrease its value. The most accurate information states that the diamond is white. It has many color tones from white to yellow. For this reason, the color scale of the diamond is arranged with the letter system. Diamond color is not one of the details that require being professional. For this reason, you can see the big differences when you look from the outside. The statement that determines the value of a diamond is a carat is extremely wrong. Carat is important, but there are other factors that determine value besides carats. The most important of these is cutting. The cut is followed by color. The value of a white and pure diamond is not the same as that of a yellow diamond. Color is important because it is one of the elements that change the life, appearance, and price of a diamond. As the color turns from white to yellow, the value of the diamond decreases. White Shades in Diamond The color scale in diamond progresses from white to yellow. In these tones determined by the letter system, the D, H and L group is known as the white group. D group diamonds are the most valuable diamonds. They are divided into subsets as D, E, F. The whitest diamonds are in this group. It is a group also called extra white. The H group is divided into subsets as G, H, I, J. They are named only as "the white group". Their quality and appearance are also very good. Group L is named as the group close to white. Composed of K, L, M sub-clusters, these diamonds are in pale white tones. It would not be very correct to say that they are clear white. Yellow Shades in Diamond In addition to the white tones of the diamond, the yellow tones look a little lower quality. For this reason, yellow tones are referred to as the P group and Z group in the color scale. It contains N, O, P, Q, R sub-steps within the P group. Each color formed in this subset gets darker towards R. P group diamonds are known as very light yellow tones. Z group diamonds are known as light yellow tones. Light yellow tones consist of S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z subsets. Z group diamonds are the least preferred yellow diamonds. Therefore, the value of this group is much lower than the others. Diamonds available in different shades in the market can be selected from the color scale according to the accessory used. The Effect of the Color Factor When Purchasing Diamonds Certain standards are used all over the world to understand the color of diamonds. Diamond colors have an alphabetical classification. However, they go down to Z, starting from D color, not from A. D, E, and F diamond colors are considered to be the whitest stone colors. Although D or E color diamonds are declared as rare stones, on the contrary, they are not a hard diamond color class to find when needed. In addition, the consumer, that is, the ladies who will use the solitaire ring, and even the jeweler may not notice the stone between the D and E color diamonds. The same comparison is valid between F and G color diamonds. It is very likely that the consumer cannot distinguish the two F and G diamonds with the naked eye. H is an intermediate solitaire diamond color that can be considered as a transition color between yellow tones and white tones. All over the world, H or I color diamonds are mostly considered as commercial gems. Our personal experience has shown that you can clearly distinguish a diamond of H color with G or even higher colors D, E, F. I and H color diamond rings, earrings and necklaces have been sold in the world for years. You would be thankful if you found a G color solitaire ring. Without a more accurate certification, I color diamonds were sold as G color and H color stones as E color. Fortunately, diamond certification institutions such as GIA, HRD or IGI entered our lives and all consumers saw true color and clarity. In addition, diamond consumers and jewelers have learned many features such as the cutting of the diamond and its fluorescence. Apart from that, both the consumer and the jeweler have learned about the existence of fake diamonds. Internationally validated diamond products strengthen both your trust in the seller and your trust in product quality. Now, thanks to these institutions, we know that we buy neither color nor clarity diamond and we are not at the mercy of the jeweler for this color or clarity diamond. We can even add diamond carats to it. What if the product is 0.17 carats when you buy the product as 0.20-carat solitaire diamond? What color diamonds to buy is a matter of budget, a little bit of taste. Because the higher the color of the diamond, the higher the price. If both the carat and the color of the diamond increase, the price increases more exponentially. What if both carat, color, and clarity increase, it increases much more. So what should we do? Then we can talk about many combinations, such as reducing the color to E, not D, and increasing the diamond carat, or reducing the diamond clarity a little, decreasing the solitaire carat a little, and increasing the color. European diamond buyer thinks that the stone should be large in carats, that is, the size of the stone should be large, the color of the diamond should be as white as it can, but the clarity may be slightly lower. For example, VS2 or SI1. In the American consumer, even SI3 can be an option, that is the diamond clarity group with the most traces, which is considered to be pique. Choosing Between F and G Color Diamonds: Which is Best? Everyone knows that the brilliance of a diamond is the tempting point. Today, the reason why the diamond turns other stones upside down is definitely the bright world it contains. When we want to get rid of our ordinary world and go to a more magical land, we want to do it with everything beautiful. It is another way to feel good and safe. Diamonds are the doors to happiness. In diamond, F is part of the 4C feature of a diamond. Set the criteria for Cut, Carat, Clarity, and finally Color, 4C property. 4C determines the price and quality standards in diamonds. Private firms examine the 4C properties of diamonds. In diamond, F is a value of Color classification. Classification starting from D ends at Z. D and E have the highest gloss and color quality. They are very rare. F color comes after these two. As it approaches Z, it is seen that the diamond becomes colorful. The closer we get to D, the more colorless the diamond becomes. So you can see the perfect perfection in D. In diamond, G is another value of Color classification. Like F color, it explains the color of the diamond. It is more colorful than the F alone. Of course, this color can be noticed very well when examined with a professional eye and tools. It has the color quality that comes after F. It is not possible to see the difference between F and G with the eyes. So if you're looking for options that fit your budget, G has more affordable prices for you. You may not see obvious differences as it involves a very subtle difference. You can see these differences more clearly between F color and M color. In other words, the answer to the question of F or G in diamond is in your preferences. It is not only the color that determines the quality difference. Color is only essential for a brighter and whiter look. Cut, carat, and clarity are also part of the quality. As long as your budget allows, you can choose F color diamonds. If you are considering your economic situation, G color diamonds are a better option. In the end, the diamond will shine on your finger either way. 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