This entry was posted on Friday, September 5th, 2008 at 11:06 pm and is filed under Engagement Rings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Well, this is an easy one. Diamonds do come in all colors (or mainly) -white, yellow, brown, gray, red, blue, orange, etc.-but the ones we are most concerned with are white or yellow diamonds. Ninety-nine percent of diamond purchases fall in these categories. Colored diamonds are very rare and very dear. Most people don’t like yellow diamonds. There is a good reason for this; the more yellow in the diamond (caused by nitrogen in the stone), the less sharp it looks. In contrast, a whiter diamond lets light pass through it a little easier, making it prettier. Another element of color is that we, as humans, are not all blessed with equal powers of color discrimination. Some people will detect yellow other people cannot see. These people will insist on a higher color grade while others are happy with a lower grade. The only way to pick a color grade that you might be happy with is to look at a master set of diamonds. A master set is a group that has already been graded in a laboratory. By looking at a master set and comparing one right next to another you will be able to pick the one you like. The average color purchase in the United States is M-N. The following GIA grading scale will enable you to compare one diamond to another.
Fluorescence is a diamond’s reaction to ultraviolet (UV) light. Some diamonds glow different colors, when viewed under a UV light. If a diamond glows strong blue, this diamond may look duller in sunlight. It is important to know if your diamond is fluorescent or not. Always check a potential diamond purchase under a UV light to see if it glows. If it does, you may not want to purchase it. Diamonds with strong fluorescence can be worth up to 20 percent less than those without it.
“For example, the term blue-white is a misused term describing a diamond as being white with a hint of blue color. A “blue-white” diamond really is a white or whitish diamond with blue fluorescence. Since fluorescence is not a desired feature, a diamond described as “blue-white” should be avoided. “Blue-white” diamonds will be discussed further in Step Six, under the heading “Tricks of the Trade.”
