How Diamonds Are Colour Graded
The GIA colour scale runs from D (completely colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown tinge). The scale exists because no diamond is perfectly colourless in nature — trace elements of nitrogen cause faint to visible yellow or brown tints.
The Colour Scale
- D–F (Colourless) — Virtually no colour detectable even by experts under magnification. Premium pricing.
- G–J (Near Colourless) — Colour difficult to detect with the naked eye. Excellent value range.
- K–M (Faint) — A slight warmth visible in larger stones face-up. Beautiful in vintage and yellow gold settings.
- N–Z (Very Light to Light) — Visible tint. Not carried in our main catalogue.
Colour and Carat Weight
Colour becomes more visible as carat weight increases. A faint tint barely noticeable in a 0.5 ct stone will be more obvious in a 2 ct stone of the same grade. For diamonds above 1.5 ct, we recommend G or better.
Lab vs Natural Colour
Lab-grown diamonds follow the exact same colour grading scale as natural diamonds. Our lab-grown inventory skews D–H, offering colourless quality at 50–70% below natural diamond prices.
Our Recommendation
For a white gold or platinum setting: choose G–H for best value. For a yellow gold setting: H–J will look stunning and save budget for a larger stone or better cut.