Colourless diamonds are probably among the most sought-after stones but have you ever wondered what makes them so desirable? Let’s see what the real reason is behind the high price of colourless diamonds and find out if you should always choose the top colour grade stones.
What Are Colourless Diamonds?
In the context of diamonds, colourless stones are those that do not have any visible yellowish tints.
According to the GIA colour grading scale, such diamonds are put in Colourless grading scale and are assigned a letter grade of D, E or F.
The next best colour range is Near Colourless and diamonds classified here have G, H, I or J grade.
These stones don’t have any significant colour when looked at in isolation, but they appear slightly darker and yellowish if put next to Colourless diamonds.
There are also diamonds that have visible yellowish tints and they fall within K to Z grade. These stones are not considered colourless.
Why Colourless Diamonds Are More Expensive Than Yellowish Ones
Jewellers bring a lot of arguments supporting the high prices of colourless diamonds such as how pure they look or how incredible they are, but the main and most reasonable argument is simple: colourless diamonds are rare.
It’s really hard to find a truly colourless diamond. Most diamonds found in nature are not colourless, they have visible yellowish and brownish tints. And this makes such stones relatively affordable.
And yes, if the roles were reversed and tinted diamonds were rare while the white ones were abundant, yellowish diamonds would be very expensive while whites would be quite cheap.
Are Colourless Diamonds Always More Expensive Than Other Diamonds?
Colourless diamonds are not always more expensive than tinted diamonds. If you want proof just look at the prices of fancy-coloured diamonds.
For example, red and blue diamonds are among the rarest in the world and they cost extremely expensive.
In general, naturally coloured diamonds with rare hues and saturated colours command high prices because such stones are not widely available.
Should You Always Choose Colourless Diamonds?
In case you are looking for a white diamond, you don’t necessarily need to pay the premium cost. For example, round diamonds with G, H or I grade look pretty much as colourless stones graded D, E or F.
The only time you would be able to see the difference is when they are put next to each other.
However, when choosing a setting for your diamond, be sure not to choose the metal colour that will highlight the tints in your stone.
For a yellow or rose gold setting, you may pick a diamond with slightly yellowish tints since the colour of the metal will mask it easily. On the contrary, the same stone may look even more tinted if set in white gold or platinum.
Cover image credit: Harry Winston
