What Color Actually Means

Most gem-quality diamonds contain trace amounts of yellow or brown tint, caused by nitrogen atoms present during formation. Diamond color grading measures the degree of colorlessness by comparing a stone under controlled lighting to a set of master stones with known color values.

Many of these distinctions are so subtle they're invisible to an untrained eye — but they make a real difference in a diamond's rarity and price.

The Color Scale

Diamonds are graded on a letter scale from D (completely colorless) to Z (light, visible color):

Why Charlie Recommends Near-Colorless

For most settings — especially white gold or platinum — G–J near-colorless diamonds look essentially colorless to the naked eye at a noticeably better price than D–F. Warmer metals like yellow gold can even flatter slightly lower color grades. Charlie will help you find the sweet spot for your specific setting and budget.