GLOBAL GEMOLOGY - RARE GEMS & JEWELS
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The 4 Cs:  Color


The value of a diamond depends on the 4 Cs:  cut, color, clarity, and carat weight.

Scroll down for more information on diamond color.

D-Z Color Scale

GIA's D to Z diamond color grade scale

GIA has developed a universally-accepted color grading system for colorless diamonds.  This scale ranges from D to Z, with D being completely absent of any body color and Z being a light yellow diamond.  Diamonds that are more yellow than Z color would be graded using the fancy color grading system.

Examples of GIA's D to Z diamond color grades
Photo courtesy of GIA

Diamonds can occur in nearly all colors including yellow, brown, gray, black, blue, pink, orange, green, and red.  These colored diamonds are graded using GIA's fancy color grading system.

For colored diamonds, the color strength grades are:


• Faint

• ​Very Light

• Light

• Fancy Light

• Fancy

• Fancy Intense

• Fancy Vivid

• Fancy Vivid Dark

• Fancy Vivid Deep

Fancy vivid blue diamond ring
Photo courtesy of Forbes
Fancy yellow radiant cut colored diamond ring
Fancy yellow radiant cut diamond ring
LeVian fancy vivid brown
Fancy brown chocolate diamond ring
Princess cut fancy black diamond & pavé white diamond ring in white gold
Princess cut black diamond ring
All photos courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CMA (NAJA)
  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
  • SHOP
  • GEMOLOGY
    • GEM ENCYCLOPEDIA
    • DECORATIVE PRINTS
    • THE ART OF GEMOLOGY
  • APPRAISALS
    • INSURANCE
    • DIVORCE
    • ESTATE TAX
    • ESTATE DISTRIBUTION
    • CHARITABLE DONATION
    • LIQUIDATION
    • APPRAISALS THRU EMAIL
  • SELL YOUR JEWELRY
  • JEWELRY EDUCATION
    • DIAMOND FACTS
    • JEWELER DIRECTORY
    • JEWELRY PERIODS
    • POCKET WATCHES
    • NATIVE AMERICAN JEWELRY
  • GLOSSARY