Article: Understanding the 4C's
Color
The best color is no color. Diamonds allow light to be reflected and dispersed
as a rainbow of color. This light dispersion, or color flash, has no effect on
the technical grading of color. The absolute finest colorless stone carries a
D rating, descending through each letter of the alphabet to Z, designating a diamond
of light yellow, brown, or gray. The body color may be caused by the presence
of trace elements, such as nitrogen, within the atomic framework of the carbon
crystal. These trace elements are so minute that they are scientifically measured
in parts per million (ppm). As the color becomes more intense, the grade for color
descends the scale. These gradations are so minute and precise that discerning
a single grade (even by an expert) under less than ideal laboratory conditions
is extremely difficult. It is always best to compare diamonds graded by either
the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or the European Gemological Laboratory
(EGL) for accurate color grading. When directly comparing diamonds for color,
most consumers are unable to detect a difference unless they are at least two
or three color grades apart.
