A chemically pure and structurally perfect diamond is perfectly transparent with no hue, or color. However, in reality almost no gem-sized natural diamonds are absolutely perfect. The color of a diamond may be affected by chemical impurities and/or structural defects in the crystal lattice. Depending on the hue and intensity of a diamond's coloration, a diamond's color can either detract from or enhance its value. For example, most white diamonds are discounted in price when more yellow hue is detectable, while intense pink or blue diamonds (such as the Hope Diamond) can be dramatically more valuable. Out of all colored diamonds, red diamonds are the rarest. The Aurora Diamond Collection displays a spectacular array of naturally colored diamonds, including red color diamonds.
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[edit] Possible colors
Diamonds occur in a variety of colors — steel gray, white, blue, yellow, orange, red, green, pink to purple, brown, and black, virtually in every color of the rainbow.[1][2] Colored diamonds contain interstitial impurities or structural defects that cause the coloration, whilst pure diamonds are perfectly transparent and colorless. Diamonds are scientifically classed into two main types and several subtypes, according to the nature of impurities present and how these impurities affect light absorption:
Type I diamond has nitrogen atoms as the main impurity, commonly at a concentration of 0.1%. If the nitrogen atoms are in pairs they do not affect the diamond's color; these are Type IaA. If the nitrogen atoms are in large even-numbered aggregates they impart a yellow to brown tint (Type IaB). About 98% of gem diamonds are type Ia, and most of these are a mixture of IaA and IaB material: these diamonds belong to the Cape series, named after the diamond-rich region formerly known as Cape Province in South Africa, whose deposits are largely Type Ia. If the nitrogen atoms are dispersed throughout the crystal in isolated sites (not paired or grouped), they give the stone an intense yellow or occasionally brown tint (Type Ib); the rare canary diamonds belong to this type, which represents only 0.1% of known natural diamonds. Synthetic diamond containing nitrogen is Type Ib. Type I diamonds absorb in both the infrared and ultraviolet region, from 320 nm. They also have a characteristic fluorescence and visible absorption spectrum (see Optical properties of diamond).[3]
Type II diamonds have no measurable nitrogen impurities. Type II diamonds absorb in a different region of the infrared, and transmit in the ultraviolet below 225 nm, unlike Type I diamonds. They also have differing fluorescence characteristics, but no discernible visible absorption spectrum. Type IIa diamond can be colored pink, red, or brown due to structural anomalies arising through plastic deformation during crystal growth—these diamonds are rare (1.8% of gem diamonds), but constitute a large percentage of Australian production. Type IIb diamonds, which account for 0.1% of gem diamonds, are usually light blue due to scattered boron within the crystal matrix; these diamonds are also semiconductors, unlike other diamond types (see Electrical properties of diamond). However, a blue-grey color may also occur in Type Ia diamonds and be unrelated to boron.[4] Also not restricted to type are green diamonds, whose color is derived from exposure to varying quantities of radiation.[3]
[edit] Grading white diamonds
The majority of diamonds that are mined are in a range of pale yellow or brown color that is termed the normal color range. Diamonds that are of intense yellow or brown, or any other color are called fancy color diamonds. Diamonds that are of the very highest purity are totally colorless, and appear a bright white. The degree to which diamonds exhibit body color is one of the four value factors by which diamonds are assessed.
[edit] History of color grading
Color grading of diamonds was performed as a step of sorting rough diamonds for sale by the London Diamond Syndicate.
As the diamond trade developed, early diamond grades were introduced by various parties in the diamond trade. Without any co-operative development these early grading systems lacked standard nomenclature, and consistency. Some early grading scales were; I, II, III; A, AA, AAA; A, B, C. Numerous terms developed to describe diamonds of particular colors: golconda, river, jagers, cape, blue white, fine white, and gem blue, "brown".
[edit] Grading the normal color range
Refers to a grading scale for diamonds in the normal color range used by internationally recognized laboratories (GIA & IGI for example). The scale ranges from D which is totally colorless to Z which is a pale yellow or brown color. Brown diamonds darker than K color are usually described using their letter grade, and a descriptive phrase, for example M Faint Brown. Diamonds with more depth of color than Z color fall into the fancy color diamond range.
Diamond color is graded by comparing a sample stone to a masterstone set of diamonds. Each masterstone is known to exhibit the very least amount of body color that a diamond in that color grade may exhibit. When sample stones are compared with the master stone, the grader assesses whether the sample has more, less or equal color to the masterstones. A grading laboratory will possess a complete set of masterstones representing every color grade. However, the independent grader working in a retail will possess a range of masterstones that covers only the typical grade range of color they expect to encounter while grading. A typical grading set of masterstones would consist of five diamonds in two grade increments, such as an E, G, I, K, and M. It is not common for a grader to possess a D masterstone, as the E masterstone is more useful in dividing the D and E color grades. The intermediate grades are assessed by the graders judgement.
Diamonds in the normal color range are graded loose, with the table facet facing downward and pavilion side upwards. When color grading is done in the mounting, other techniques will apply and the grade will usually be expressed as a range (for example F-G)
| GIA | Status: current | AGS | Status: current | AGS | Status: historical: pre 1995 | CIBJO Status: current | IDC | Status: current | Scan. D.N. | Status: current | Old World Terms | Status: historical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| grade and description[6] | grade and electronic colorimeter scale[7] | grade and electronic colorimeter scale[7] | grade[8] | grade and description[8] | grade for .50ct and over[9] | grade for under .50ct | series 1 scale[8] | series 2 scale[8] | ||||
| D | Colorless | 0 | 0 - 0.49 | 0 | 0 - 0.75 | Exceptional white + | Exceptional white + | Colorless | River | White | Finest White | Jager |
| E | 0.5 | 0.5 - 0.99 | Exceptional white | Exceptional white | River | |||||||
| 1 | 0.76 - 1.35 | |||||||||||
| F | 1.0 | 1.0 - 1.49 | Rare white + | Rare white + | Colorless when viewed through the crown | Top Wesselton | Fine White | |||||
| 2 | 1.36 - 2.00 | |||||||||||
| G | Near Colorless | 1.5 | 1.5 - 1.99 | Rare white | Rare white | Top Wesselton | ||||||
| H | 2.0 | 2.0 - 2.49 | 3 | 2.01 - 2.50 | White | White | Wesselton | White | Wesselton | |||
| I | 2.5 | 2.5 - 2.99 | 4 | 2.51 - 3.0 | Slightly tinted white | Slightly tinted white | Slightly colored | Top Crystal | Slightly tinted white | Commercial White | Top Crystal | |
| J | 3.0 | 3.0 - 3.49 | 5 | 3.01 - 3.75 | Crystal | Top silver cape | Crystal | |||||
| K | Faint Yellow | 3.5 | 3.5 - 3.99 | Tinted white | Tinted white | Top cape | Tinted white | Top cape | ||||
| 6 | 3.76 - 4.5 | Silver cape | ||||||||||
| L | 4.0 | 4.0 - 4.49 | ||||||||||
| M | 4.5 | 4.5 - 4.99 | 7 | 4.51 - 5.50 | Tinted color 1 | Tinted color | Slightly colored to colored | Cape | Tinted color | Light cape | Cape | |
| N | Very Light Yellow | 5.0 | 5.0 - 5.49 | Tinted color 2 | Low Cape | |||||||
| O | 5.5 | 5.5 - 5.99 | 8 | 5.51 - 7.0 | Light yellow | Cape | Very light yellow | |||||
| P | 6.0 | 6.0 - 6.49 | Light yellow | |||||||||
| Q | 6.5 | 6.5 - 6.99 | ||||||||||
| R | 7.0 | 7.0 - 7.49 | 9 | 7.01 - 8.5 | ||||||||
| Dark cape | ||||||||||||
| S | Light Yellow | 7.5 | 7.5 - 7.99 | Tinted color 3 | Yellow | |||||||
| T | 8.0 | 8.0 - 8.49 | ||||||||||
| U | 8.5 | 8.5 - 8.99 | 10 | 8.51 - 10.00 | ||||||||
| V | 9.0 | 9.0 - 9.49 | ||||||||||
| W | 9.5 | 9.5 - 9.99 | ||||||||||
| X | 10.0 | 10 + | 10+ | |||||||||
| Y | ||||||||||||
| Z | ||||||||||||
"D" color has a unique "icy" look to it. Diamonds that rate toward the colorless end of the range are sometimes known as "high-color" diamonds, and those toward the other end, "low-color" diamonds. These terms refer to the relative desirability (as demonstrated by market prices) of color grades, not the intensity of the color itself.
[edit] Grading fancy color diamonds
Yellow or brown color diamonds having color more intense than "Z", as well as diamonds exhibiting color other than yellow or brown are considered fancy colored diamonds. These diamonds are graded using separate systems which indicate the characteristics of the color, and not just its presence. These color grading systems are more similar to those used for other colored gemstones, such as ruby, sapphire, or emerald, than they are to the system used for white diamonds.
[edit] Colored diamond grading system
It refers to the color grading system used by internationally recognized laboratories (GIA and IGI for example) for colors that are not in the normal color range of diamonds. These laboratories uses a list of 27 color hues that span the full spectrum of colors. The tone and saturation of these hues are then described with one of nine descriptors:
- Faint
- Very Light
- Light
- Fancy Light
- Fancy
- Fancy Intense
- Fancy Vivid
- Fancy Deep
- Fancy Dark.
The grading has an additional aspect that describes how well is the color applicable on the diamond.
[edit] Gran colorimeter
Color can also be determined using a device called the Gran Colorimeter, manufactured by Sarin Technologies. It measures from D to Z to Fancy Intense with an accuracy within ±½ of a color grade on loose stones from 0.25 to 10 carats (50 to 2,000 mg) (as low as 0.15 carat (30 mg) or as high as 20 carats (4 g) with reduced accuracy), and you can specify which grading scale it should use (GIA, GEM, IGI, AGS, HRD, and others). The accuracy is within ±1 color grade for mounted stones. If your diamond is a "G" color it will tell you whether it is a "high G" or a "low G."
The Gran colorimeter was first developed by Paul Gran in 1972 at Gran Computer Industries Ltd.
[edit] Value of colored diamonds
The Darya-I-Nur Diamond is one of the world's largest diamonds and is one of the rarest because of its pale pink color. It weighs about 182 carats (36.4 g). Its exact weight is unknown because it has been mounted in its brooch setting for over 130 years. Its Persian name 'Darya-I-Nur' translates into English as the 'River of Light'.
Diamonds that enter the Gemological Institute of America's scale are valued according to their clarity and color. For example, a "D" or "E" rated diamond (both grades are considered colorless) is much more valuable than an "R" or "Y" rated diamond (light yellow or brown). This is due to two effects: high-color diamonds are rarer, limiting supply; and the bright white appearance of high-color diamonds is more desired by consumers, increasing demand. Poor color is usually not enough to eliminate the use of diamond as a gemstone: If other gemological characteristics of a stone are good, a low-color diamond can remain more valuable as a gem diamond than an industrial-use diamond, and can see use in diamond jewelry.
Diamonds that go out of scale in the rating are known as "fancy color" diamonds. Any light shade of diamond other than light yellow or light brown automatically falls out of the scale. For instance, a pale blue diamond won't get a "G" or "K" color grade, it will get a Faint Blue or Light Blue grade. These diamonds are valued using different criteria than those used for regular diamonds. When the color is rare, the more intensely colored a diamond is, the more valuable it becomes. Another factor that affect the value of Fancy-Colored diamonds is fashion trends, so pink diamonds fetched higher prices after celebrity Jennifer Lopez was photographed wearing a square-shaped pink diamond.
Fancy-colored diamonds such as the deep blue Hope Diamond are among the most valuable and sought-after diamonds in the world. In 2009 a 7 carat blue diamond fetched the highest price per carat ever paid for a diamond when it was sold at auction for 10.5 million Swiss francs (US$9.5 million at the time) which is in excess of US$1.3 million per carat.[10]
The Aurora Diamond Collection of natural color diamonds is one of the most comprehensive diamond collections in the world.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Fred Cuellar. How to Buy a Diamond: Insider Secrets for Getting Your Money's Worth. p. 19. ISBN 9781402204098. http://books.google.com/books?id=QDstlJ8PebMC&lpg=PA19.
- ^ Antoinette Matlins, Antonio C. Bonanno. Jewelry & Gems, the Buying Guide: How to Buy Diamonds, Pearls, Colored .... p. 37. ISBN 9780943763712. http://books.google.com/books?id=WUBWz22wRtEC&lpg=PT37.
- ^ a b J. Walker (1979). "Optical absorption and luminescence in diamond". Rep. Prog. Phys. 42: 1605–1659. doi:.
- ^ Iakoubovskii, K (2002). "Optical characterization of natural Argyle diamonds". Diamond and Related Materials 11: 125. doi:.
- ^ Organizations: GIA - Gemological Institute of America, AGI - Antwerpse Gemologische Instelling, AGS - American Gem Society, CIBJO - Confédération International de la Bijouterie, Joaillerie, Orfèvrerie des Diamantes, Perles et Pierres (World Jewellery Confederation), IDC - International Diamond Council, Scan. D.N. - Scandinavian Diamond Nomenclature
- ^ Diamond Grading: Lab Manual Gemological Institute of America, Carlsbad, 2004
- ^ a b The AGS Way: Diamond Grading Standards American Gem Society, 1999
- ^ a b c d Pagel-Thielsen, Verena G.G., F.G.A. Diamond Grading ABC: The Manual Rubin & Son n.v., Antwerp, 9th edition, 2001, ISBN 3-9800434-6-0.
- ^ Engagement Diamond FAQ
- ^ Nebehay, Stephanie (13 May 2009). "Corrected: Rare blue diamond sells for record $9.5 million". Reuters. http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE54C0S620090513. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
That is a great article about diamond color. I think that the entire diamond color grading scale is very comprehensive but at the same time today actually only the GIA grading scale is used to make things easier. It's just something to bear in mind...
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