Diamond Color Chart: D to Z Grades Explained
A diamond color chart for every GIA grade from D to Z: how each grade looks once set, which metal suits it, and which color grades give the best value for white, yellow and rose gold.
By Rafi Mizrahi, diamond dealer for 26 years
Diamond color measures how close a white diamond is to colorless. GIA grades it on a scale from D (colorless) to Z (a light yellow or brown tint). The less color, the rarer the diamond and the higher the price. But the steps between neighbouring grades are tiny: GIA grades color with the diamond face-down, next to reference diamonds, under controlled light, because face-up most of the difference disappears. Color is one of the 4Cs, alongside cut, clarity and carat.
Diamond Color Chart
How each grade looks face-up once it's set, and the metal that suits it best:
| Grade | How it looks face-up | Best metal |
|---|---|---|
| Colorless (D–F) | ||
| D | Completely colorless and icy white. The rarest color grade.White gold / platinum | White gold / platinum |
| E | Colorless. Only a grader comparing it with reference stones can tell it from D.White gold / platinum | White gold / platinum |
| F | Colorless and icy white face-up, like D and E to the eye.White gold / platinum | White gold / platinum |
| Near Colorless (G–J) | ||
| G | Looks colorless face-up. Faint warmth shows only side by side with D–F.White gold / platinumYellow goldRose gold | White gold / platinumYellow goldRose gold |
| H | Looks white face-up in almost any setting. A slight warmth shows only next to D–F stones.White gold / platinumYellow goldRose gold | White gold / platinumYellow goldRose gold |
| I | Looks white in most settings. A hint of warmth can show in larger stones or next to white metal.Yellow goldRose goldWhite metal works for smaller stones. | Yellow goldRose goldWhite metal works for smaller stones. |
| J | A slight warmth a trained eye can see, more noticeable in larger diamonds.Yellow goldRose goldWarm metal makes it look whiter. | Yellow goldRose goldWarm metal makes it look whiter. |
| Faint (K–M) | ||
| K | A faint warm tint you can see face-up, most of all in white metal.Yellow goldRose goldWarm metal complements the tint. | Yellow goldRose goldWarm metal complements the tint. |
| L | A visible warm tint face-up.Yellow goldRose gold | Yellow goldRose gold |
| M | Clearly warm face-up: the deepest tint of the Faint range.Yellow goldRose gold | Yellow goldRose gold |
| Very Light (N–R) | ||
| N–R | A clear yellow or brown tint you can see face-up.Yellow goldRose gold | Yellow goldRose gold |
| Light (S–Z) | ||
| S–Z | A strong yellow or brown tint. Past Z, diamonds are graded as fancy colors.Yellow gold | Yellow gold |
The Color Groups
GIA groups the 23 grades into five ranges:
- •Colorless (D, E, F) — No color visible, even to a grader face-up. The rarest and most expensive range; the differences between D, E and F are visible only face-down next to reference stones.
- •Near Colorless (G, H, I, J) — Looks white face-up to almost everyone, especially G and H. The best value range for most buyers.
- •Faint (K, L, M) — A faint warm tint you can see face-up. Much less expensive, and attractive in yellow or rose gold.
- •Very Light (N to R) — A clear yellow or brown tint. Rarely used in engagement rings.
- •Light (S to Z) — A strong yellow or brown tint. Beyond Z, a diamond is graded as a fancy color.
How the Setting Metal Changes Color
A diamond reflects the metal around it. White gold and platinum make any warmth easier to see, so they pair best with colorless and high near-colorless grades. Yellow and rose gold reflect warmth into the diamond and hide a slight tint, so an I, J or even K diamond can look just as good in a yellow-gold setting as a much more expensive F. Paying for a D–F diamond and setting it in yellow gold wastes most of what you paid for.
Size and Shape Matter Too
Color is easier to see in larger diamonds, so a grade that looks white at 0.75 carat can show warmth at 2 carats. Shape matters as well: round brilliants hide color best, while elongated shapes such as oval, pear and marquise tend to show more color at their tips, and step cuts such as emerald and Asscher show it through their large, open facets. Fluorescence can play a part too: medium or strong blue fluorescence can make a lower-color diamond look slightly whiter.
Which Color Grade Gives the Best Value?
The best value is the lowest grade that still looks white in your setting. A few rules of thumb:
- •White gold or platinum — G or H looks white for far less than D–F.
- •Yellow or rose gold — I, J or K. The warm metal hides the tint, so higher grades are money you won't see.
- •Larger diamonds (about 2 carats and up) — Go a grade higher than you would for a smaller stone.
- •Elongated shapes and step cuts — Go a grade higher than you would for a round.
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