What Is Body Color?

When we discuss body color we are referring to how much yellow or brown tint is observable in the diamond.

The color designation frequently used to grade an absolutely colorless diamond is the letter D. This letter designation is part of a color-grading system introduced by the GIA and is used extensively in the diamond trade. The GIA classification progresses from D, the finest classification on this scale (colorless), through the alphabet to Z, getting progressively more yellow or brown. The grades, D, E, F are exceptionally fine and are the only grades that should be referred to as colorless.

What Color Grade Is Most Desirable For The Consumer?

For the average consumer, the colors D, E and F can all be grouped as very fine and may be referred to as "colorless," "gem," or "gem white," as they are often described by diamond dealers; G and H may be referred to as "fine white." This does not mean, however, that diamonds having color grades less fine than I aren't beautiful or desirable. They can make beautiful, highly desirable jewelry.

What Extent Does The Color Grade Affect Value?

To an untrained eye, discerning the difference in color from D down to H in a mounted stone - without direct comparison - is almost impossible. Nevertheless, the difference in color greatly affects the value of the diamond.

This sounds complicated, but the range of color will become clear to you the moment you begin looking at diamonds. It is our intention to inform you of the variations so that you will be watchful when you go to purchase diamonds in the future.

Most diamonds of gem quality vary in shade from colorless to yellow.

To determine the correct color, all submitted diamonds are compared to an internationally accepted master set of stones, the color of which ranges from D, or colorless (the most sought after) to Z, the yellowest.

Other colors occur in diamonds such as brown, orange, pink, blue, etc. The most intense of these shades are determined as "Fancy" colors and referenced on the IGI Diamond Report.

		IGI	CIBJO	IDC
	Colorless	D	Blanc Exceptionnel	Exceptional White+
		E		Exceptional White
		F	Extra Blanc	Rare White+
	Near Colorless	G		Rare White
		H	Blanc	White
		I	Blanc Nuancé	Slightly Tinted White
		J
	Faint Yellow	K	Blanc Légèrement Teinté	Tinted White
		L
		M	Teinté	Tinted
	Very Light Yellow	N
		O
		P
		Q
		R
	Light Yellow	S
		T
	Yellow	U
		V