This month, we are breaking down the 4 Cs of the diamond world: clarity, cut, color, and carat weight. Click here to see last week’s entry on cut (or shape). When a stone or diamond is graded, it is given a letter to identify its value. All of the 4 Cs are based on a grading scale from Gemological Institute of America, the largest and most respected nonprofit source of gemological knowledge in the world. The color scale, was developed by the GIA. From the GIA 4 Cs Guide app: "a chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond has no hue, like a drop of pure water, and consequently, a higher value." Ratings of this scale begin at the letter D (colorless) and continue to Z (heavily tinted). Investing in a diamond that is in the DEF range or at the worst, an H or I is a good benchmark.
Below is the chart developed by GIA to determine the precise color of your diamond.
DEF – colorless
GHIJ – near colorless
KLM – faint
NOPQR – very light
STUVWXYZ – light yellow
