What Is the Diamond Color Scale?

The diamond color scale measures a diamond’s color grade. Starting from D, meaning colorless, the scale goes the alphabet all the way to Z. D through J diamonds are considered colorless or near colorless, and will appear clear on the scale. But anything beyond J will have slight hints of pale color begin to appear.

The diamond color scale starts with D because of the nearly-universally accepted standards set by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Before the GIA set these standards, some gemologists would give diamonds the color grades A, B, and C or the numbers 1-10. When the GIA began to enforce stricter standards of diamond grading, they started their scale at D to eradicate any confusion.

What Is Diamond Color?

Diamond color actually refers to the absence of color. It helps determine a diamond’s beauty, quality, and value.

Gemologists grade a diamond on the absence or presence of color to give each diamond a letter grade that corresponds with the color scale — from D, a truly colorless diamond, to Z, which is brown. The closer to colorless a diamond is, the rarer and more valuable it becomes.

While diamonds can come in a variety of colors, such as white, yellow, and pink, diamond color grades are what is listed on a diamond certificate, not the physical color of a diamond.