What is Colour?

The majority of diamonds that are mined have a yellowish hue, usually as a result of structural atomic impurities. The general rule of thumb for diamond colour is that the more yellow there is in a diamond, the less valuable it is.

How to Evaluate a Diamond's Colour

Like clarity, a diamond should be examined loose to evaluate its colour properly. A diamond that is already set in a ring will pick up the reflection from the ring's metal making it very difficult to subjectively evaluate the diamond's true colour.

The diamond should be turned upside down so the bottom of the stone is facing upwards. From this angle, you can view the diamond from the side so you can see the body colour of the stone.

At Engage, you'll get to view loose diamonds under a diamond light so you can pick out the best colour for the love of your life.

How Colour Affects Price

You will pay the highest premiums at D and Z. A 'D' colour diamond has absolutely no yellowish hue whatsoever and is extremely rare, whereas, a 'Z' colour diamond is also very rare but actually exhibits so much yellow that it actually looks exceptional.

With all other factors being equal, you can expect a 5-15% difference in price from one letter grade to another.

What We Recommend

We recommend going with a diamond that is 'I' in colour or higher. Because diamonds reflect whatever they're set in (usually white gold or platinum), as long as your diamond is 'I' in colour or higher, it will look very white in the setting.

Keep in mind that this is a general rule of thumb only. Some diamond shapes tend show colour more than others so the minimum colour threshold may change. Our expert consultants will help you to choose the best colour for your shape preference.