COLOUR 

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COLOR GRADING arbitrarily begins with "D" to avoid confusion.  "A", "B", and "C" are assumed to not exist but there is room in the color range to allow for finding them.  With grades "A", "AA", or "AAA" how do you know which one is the brightest white color?  Diamonds are color graded by a gemologist against a master set of colors.

• D-Fare the finest & brightest colorless diamonds, usually for the discriminating customer who can afford the most beautiful and the rare.
• G-H are very white & bright face-up colorless diamonds that are not as expensive, and when mounted in jewelry it is difficult to see the a difference between these and the higher grades.
• I-J are are not quite as bright or have very slight hardly noticeable tint.
• K-L have a slight tint even the average person will begin to notice.
• M or Lower the color will be noticed.

Each grade can have a 10-15% variance in it's price range for a given size group, down to M, and then it changes again depending on the Hue & Color for the Fancy Colored Diamonds.

Diamonds occur naturally in all spectral colors, from red to blue, however the most commonly occurring colors are yellow and brown. The amount of color a diamond possesses is graded by an alphabetical scale D through Z. They began at D in case a whiter diamond was later found.  Color & Cut are the two factors that influence a diamond's beauty the most.
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Color should reflect one's tastes and budget.  i.e.: You may be able to go with a higher color grade and lower clarity grade to suit your taste and stay within budget.
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Diamonds of a colorless grade in the D-F range are much more valuable than diamonds in the L-P range because of the rarity of these colorless diamonds. This is not to say that the diamonds in the lower color range are not pretty, they can have just as much brilliancy and sparkle but with a stronger color tone. The effects of color to the cost of a diamond can be dramatic. Two diamonds of the same weight, clarity , size and shape can have a cost difference of over 100% for the difference between an F body color to a J body color . Color can only be graded accurately if the diamond is un-mounted or "loose" and it is highly recommended that the diamond be independently certified for its color as well as the other following quality grades. The color of your diamond will be simply a matter of personal taste and if you don't like the color - just plan to spend more money!
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Another color factor to consider is Fluorescence, properly called photo-luminescence.  Fluorescence is caused by a trace amount of the element boron found in the diamond. It is activated by UV light.  Fluorescence in a diamond is usually described on a certificate (GIA, EGL, etc.) as None, Faint, Medium, Medium blue, Strong, Strong blue and Intense Blue. Other colors of fluorescence do occur, yellow and white for example (try to avoid them), but it is the blue we are most commonly involved with.  In the old days people used to come looking for the perfect "blue-white" diamond. The blue referred to the fluorescence and the white to the diamonds body color.  Some people think diamonds exhibiting fluorescence is out of fashion, but Gems and Gemology (put out by GIA) GIA states that typically fluorescence is a plus in a diamond.  Most people feel that fluorescence is beautiful and rare in a diamond, so in a few years fluorescent diamonds may be back in fashion and will demand a premium.  If you want a diamond that exhibits fluorescence be sure you examine it under all light conditions, especially direct sunlight and a jewelers black light, since some fluorescent diamonds will actually become hazy in the sunlight and others will glow in a black light environment (including a dance floor) if the fluorescence is Intense (and sometimes Strong).  With Strong or Intense fluorescence I advise you to fully examine the stone, each diamond will exhibit its own traits, and in many cases these traits will have a positive effect, often causing the diamond to have a little "extra life" in the sunlight.  If you are dealing with a diamond of D, E, or F color, fluorescence is usually a negative since it won't make it look whiter, and may make it look a bit hazy in sunlight.  On the other hand, if you are dealing with a diamond in G, H, I, J, or K color, fluorescence is normally a plus, and will whiten the diamond one or more grades, thereby increasing the diamonds beauty and desirability.
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So to sum up, examine any diamond with fluorescence under all light forms and make up YOUR mind for YOURSELF, as to whether it is a plus or minus. 

COLOR GRADING SCALES

COLOR	GIA*	CIBJO*
COLORLESS	D	EXCEPTIONAL WHITE+
	E	EXCEPTIONAL WHITE
	F	RARE WHITE+
NEAR COLORLESS	G	RARE WHITE
	H	WHITE
	I	VERY SLIGHTLY TINTED WHITE
	J	SLIGHTLY TINTED WHITE
FAINT YELLOW to FAINT BROWN	K	TINTED WHITE
	L
	M	TINTED COLOR 1
VERY LIGHT YELLOW to VERY LIGHT BROWN	N	TINTED COLOR 2
	O
	P
	Q
	R
LIGHT YELLOW to LIGHT BROWN	S	TINTED COLOR 3
	T
	U
	V
	W
	X
	Y
	Z
CHAMPAGNE COGNAC GREENISH BROWNISH YELLOW	C+	FANCY COLOR
	LIGHT FANCY
CANARY YELLOW GREEN BLUE PURPLE PINK RED	FANCY
	FANCY INTENSE
	VIVID
* GIA = Gemological Institute of America.  * CIBJO = Confederation Internationale de la Bijouterie, Joaillsrie, Ortevrerie, des diamants, perles et pierres precieuses.

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