| |
| |
COLOR
Diamonds come in the widest variety of colors of any gem material.
Most gem quality diamonds however are desired for their lack
of color. In fact, the closer a diamond is too colorless,
the more rare and valuable it is. The GIA grades diamonds
on a scale from D (Colorless) to Z (Light Yellow). When a
diamond is graded darker than Z on the GIA scale it is referred
to as "fancy yellow", and the more color and intensity
it shows, the more valuable it will be. Most diamonds have
a slight hint of yellow, though brown and gray are also common
modifying colors. Of all the diamond colors available, most
consumers select GIA grades from D to J color. D-E-F are the
"colorless" grades, and G-H-I-J are "near colorless".
The difference in each letter grade is very subtle, and color
comparison diamonds of known grades are used under controlled
lighting conditions. When viewed in the face-up position,
the average person begins to see color in a diamond at about
the I-J range. Therefore color is a rarity factor that does
affect appearance, rarity and price, about 10-15% per color
grade.
Fluoresce
This is a unique attribute of some diamonds that causes them
to "glow" a typically bluish color when exposed
to natural or man-made ultraviolet light (like a Black Light).
About 50% of all diamonds fluoresce and of those about 10%
fluoresce strongly. Most of the time, fluorescence is not
a factor unless the intensity is Strong or Very Strong. In
the very rare colors D, E, and F, Strong fluorescence is considered
less desirable. However, in the less rare colors of such as
J - K and below, Strong fluorescence may be desirable.
|
|
|
|
