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Mieke Vranken Jeweldesign & Goldsmitthing
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The 4 C's of Diamonds :
Diamond Colour
A diamond's colour is usually referring to the presence or absence of colour in white diamonds. Colour is a result of the composition of the diamond, and it never changes over time.Because a colourless diamond allows more light to pass through it than a coloured diamond, colourless diamonds emit more sparkle and fire. The formation process of a diamond ensures that only a few, rare diamonds are truly colourless. Thus the whiter a diamond's colour, the greater its value. To grade 'whiteness' a professional colour scale is used. It begins with the highest rating of D for colourless, and moves up the alphabet to grade stones with traces of very faint or light yellowish or brownish colour. The colour scale continues all the way to Z. Diamonds graded G through I show virtually no colour that is visible to the untrained eye. Diamond Color Gradings [NOTE: Fancy colour diamonds do not follow this rule. These are very rare and very expensive diamonds. They can be any colour from blue to green to bright yellow and are actually more valuable for their colour.] Which Colour Grade to choose? Diamonds graded D through F are a treat for the eyes of anyone. They are naturally the most valuable and desirable because of their rarity. But you can still obtain very attractive diamonds that are graded slightly less than colourless. Diamonds graded G through I show virtually no colour that is visible to the untrained eye. Depending on your setting (white gold or platinum), you may wish to opt for a higher colour grade than if the setting is yellow gold. And while a very faint hint of yellow will be apparent in diamonds graded J through M, this colour can often be minimised by selecting the right jewellery in which to mount your diamond. There are many people who actually prefer the warmer glow of lower-colour diamonds to buying the most colourless diamond they can afford. Diamond Color Table
What is Fluorescence? Fluorescence is an effect that is seen in some gem-quality diamonds when they are exposed to long-wave ultraviolet light (such as the lighting frequently seen in dance clubs). Under most lighting conditions, this fluorescence is not detectable to the eye. While most gemologists prefer diamonds without this effect, some people enjoy it. It's really just a matter of aesthetics. |
